Stained Glass Window depicting the Death of Vincentian Martyr – Thady Lee (left)

This window (left) describes the harrowing death of Vincentian seminarian, Thady Lee in the presence of his mother during the Cromwellian wars.  He was born in County Limerick, near Adare, in 1623.  He joined the Vincentians in Paris on 21 October 1643.  In 1649, while he was still a student, he was chosen by St. Vincent to be part of a mission team to be sent to Ireland.  The team certainly included four Irishmen, two Frenchmen and a lay brother from Jersey, and there is a distinct possibility that there were two further Irishmen as well.  One was the Frenchmen was still a student, like Thady Lee.

On 22nd March 1652 St. Vincent wrote to the Vincentian superior in Warsaw, and at the end of the letter added this postscript :

‘Our unfortunate student Lee was in his native area and fell into the hands of enemy forces, who based in his head and chopped off his feet and hands in the presence of his mother.’

Artist Ray Carroll

Stained Glass Window depicting the Life of St. Vincent de Paul

This window (right) captures St. Vincent’s vision of service as a response to the Gospel.  The four symbols of the Evangelists, the Cross, the Children and scene of Marseilles Harbour each capture an important aspect of his down to earth yet profound faith.

The corners contain a symbol of the four Gospels which act as the framework for Vincent’s practical response.  Vincent embracing children in a spirit of love expresses his practical concern for the poor.  For Vincent it wasn’t enough just to be enthused about the Gospel,  one had to serve the poor to ‘touch God’.   The Cross was central to his prayer life as a missionary.  In Marseilles Vincent came face to face with the harsh realities of poverty in his own time .

Artist Ray Carroll