Preparing altar for Mass is his duty
HOWARD — Vince Devroy humbly downplays his contributions to the weekly Mass at Brookview Meadows, the senior community where he has resided since 2008. He enjoys attending the Mass each Wednesday afternoon, so helping out is his way to give back.
Your Catholic Neighbor: Vince Devroy (Sam Lucero | The Compass)
Not only does Devroy set up the altar and read at the liturgy, he, along with another resident, purchases the wine, hosts and candles.
“I was invited by a fellow to start reading,” he explained. “We always read the epistles. I would read one and the other fellow would read the other one. After he died, they asked me if I would fill in for his duties. I found out where they bought the wine and the hosts. The candles are expensive. I usually buy four at a time and that costs me $20.”
Devroy sets up the altar by preparing the chalice and paten for Fr. Bob Groher, a senior priest of the Diocese of Green Bay, who regularly celebrates the Mass.
“When Father has a cold, he has me distribute Communion as well,” said Devroy.
“Father stays for dinner after Mass,” he added. “I usually eat with him. I admire how he doesn’t turn anybody down. Sometimes after Mass, I will ask him if he is going to eat here and he tells me he has to go someplace to hear confessions or help out. He goes all over.”
Devroy grew up in Green Bay during the Great Depression. His father worked for a wholesale fruit and vegetable business, but money was tight, he said. He recalls going to a milk booth as a child.
“You took a bucket down there to buy a gallon of milk,” he explained. “I had a police dog and I had a harness for him. I would harness the dog up and he would pull me to the milk booth and back home. When a squirrel crossed the street that was the end of that. The dog went after the squirrel. My dad was mad because I lost the milk.”
Devroy, the second oldest of four children in his family, was baptized at St. Willebrord Church in Green Bay, but for most of his youth, he was a member of Annunciation Parish on the city’s west side.
“I was born and raised Catholic, but I never had the opportunity to go to Catholic school,” he said. “I attended Elmore School. Annunciation was built in 1932. I got married at Annunciation in 1947. After we got married, we rented a place on the south side, so I attended St. Joseph Church for a couple years.”
Devroy’s wife, Geraldine, also a Green Bay native, died in September of 2007. She served as a public health nurse making visits to schools and farms.
Devroy’s career path was put on hold due to World War II. He was drafted in 1942.
“I waited until they dragged me in,” he said with a smile. “I was in the Air Force, but I was not a flier. Most of my time was spent in the South Pacific. I was with a heavy bombardment group. We had B-24s. I worked in operations and intelligence.”
His military stint ended in 1945. Devroy landed a job with Dun and Bradstreet, a credit reporting agency. His responsibilities included obtaining financial statements from business people and writing credit reports.
A meeting on the golf course with Norb VanderZanden, president of Citizens Securities, led to a new career. He encouraged Devroy to become a stockbroker.
“I didn’t have any money to go to college,” he explained. “I took a course from the New York Institute of Finance in order to get enough knowledge to pass the exam for my initial start in the business.”
Devroy still follows the stock market, but he no longer trades. He receives requests for stock advice from other residents.
“I didn’t buy all winners,” he said with a laugh.
In addition to supporting the Mass at the assisted living facility, Devroy gives financially to St. Jude Parish in Green Bay, where he remains a member. His generosity also included the purchase of a flag pole erected this fall at Brookview Meadows.
“I bought the flag pole and the night lights,” he said. “There is now a fund that people can contribute to, to buy flags as they become worn. I enjoy seeing it. Some guys from the service were here for a special ceremony.”
Devroy is glad to help where needed.
“I enjoy it,” he said. “I feel alright at my age, except my knees are bad. I move kind of slow. I plan to help out as long as I am here.”
Your Catholic Neighbor
Name: Vince Devroy
Parish: St. Jude, Green Bay
Age: 97
Favorite saint: Jude
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