give me 5 is a series in our Vincentian Voices newsletter that asks five random questions to an Eastern Province Priest or Brother.

Meet Fr. John Timlin, CM, in this edition.

Fr. John Timlin, CM, has served as pastor of St. Mary Church in Greensboro, since Aug. 16 of 2021. He also served at St. Mary’s from 2012 to 2016, making Greensboro a second home for the Philadelphia native and Niagara University graduate. 

Let’s learn a little about his perspectives and experiences with these five questions:

The Vincentians have been here since the late ‘30s or early ‘40s, primarily through the invitation of the Daughters of Charity where they were there before us, running a school. We had men that were stationed there in the time of segregation. It was a black Catholic parish. The African Americans welcomed a new wave of immigration. Now, we’re still a parish of immigrants, predominantly Latino and Hispanic.

So, there’s the legacy of Vincentians being open to where the greatest need of the church is. And, they’re also open to try and minister to all peoples, especially those who might be pushed aside or forgotten, still continues right here.

So, how can we continue to do it?

Quite frankly, we need to begin to look at ourselves as a part of the Vincentian family. We can continue to develop lay participation, lay leadership, have men who are committed Vincentian priests and brothers who are willing to be among God’s people especially the poor and the marginalized.
Now, we’re also looking at how to make ourselves become more connected with the international Vincentian family.

Fr. John Timlin, CM

I really started in grade school because I met a Vincentian priest, Father Francis Quinn, who introduced me to our high school Seminary.
He was very happy, a very jovial priest, a good priest.

Then I went to our minor Seminary. I started it at 14 and met some very good Vincentian priests who were just

 . . . 

good, kind men, good teachers.

Now, I had an interest in being a priest as a kid. You know, it was something we talked about in the family. My parents always encouraged us to look at religious life.

Fr. John Timlin, CM

In college, I was really introduced to the work of the Vincentians among the poor.

I went to Niagara and was in the college seminary. We would do some stuff in the summertime: We would go to parishes, go to Panama.

So, it was a combination of their joy – they were ordinary guys like us –, their sense of prayer, their work among those who are forgotten or marginalized, and their faith.

Fr. John Timlin, CM

For me, with faith, there’s a simplicity about it. It’s not very complicated for me.

Love God.

Take time for God.

God loves us.

God will help us when we need.

And, God sends us forth.

Now, it gets a little bit more complicated in the works that you do. us forth.

Fr. John Timlin, CM

Oh well, one is because of immigration. The community’s growing and Saint Mary’s is a welcoming place. That’s primarily due to the parishioners. They’re very welcoming and accepting.

We grow as a Vincentian parish and our outreach and our care is for the poor, the marginalized, the Immigrant, and the refugee. That’s that makes up the fabric of our Parish.

The Diocese of Charolette continues to grow, and within it we’re different and unique.

Fr. John Timlin, CM