Ora et labora. Pray and work for a successful 2017 for our club. Note carefully some important changes in our regular meeting schedule. For January 9, we will proceed as usual at 5:30 p.m. at the University Club. THE JANUARY 23 DATE IS SOMETHING NEW. PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION CAREFULLY AND MARK YOUR CALENDARS ACCORDINGLY.
And we especially invite you to visit the new website at serraus.org. It's attractive, it's informative, and it's user friendly. The site offers a wealth of information about each of the Serran committees and how they operate. As we invite our membership to serve in various capacities, now is a good time to read and study the possibilities. Also, don't miss the link to the download of the Serran Magazine.
Calendar of Events.
January 9, 2017. Evening meeting at the University Club, 5:30 p.m. Board meeting 4:30 P.M.
January 23, 2017.
THIS IS NEW. PLEASE NOTE.
Weekday Mass in the chapel at the Cathedral, 12:05 p.m. Bring a sack lunch or a sandwich for a group meeting following mass. Explanation follows below the Calendar.
January 28, 2017. International Rosary for Vocations call. 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
February 2-February 5, 2017. World Day for Consecrated Life.
February 16-19-2017. Serra Rally in Sunny Phoenix.
May 7, 2017. World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
As a result of our December board meeting, we have discussed a plan to reinstate a second monthly meeting in some form in order to add a spiritual element to the club's activities. On Saturday, December 24, John Osterhart wrote as follows:
"We are planning to re-institute a second monthly meeting on the 4th Monday at Cathedral Square beginning with Mass at 12:05 p.m. beginning in January and will use that first meeting following Mass to discuss and address some of the topics listed below...
We need to address issues of membership, meeting times and locations, meeting formats, vocations activities, programs, and member spirituality components. We also face nominations
for filling officers' positions currently vacant, and going forward...."
The note was in reaction to earlier correspondence from Dan Grady as he was putting out suggestions for what a second Monday meeting might look like:
"...We should schedule three or four special evening events: June Charter Night (combine with Catholic Legacy Award, and two or three other Member-Guest Events with a high-profile speaker. These could be co-sponsored with another Catholic organization to broaden the base.
2nd Meeting Ideas:
I think we should continue to encourage a second activity that is conducted as either a club-wide activity or smaller group activities in which all members are expected to participate, such as Monthly Vocation Rosary/Adoration/Friday Benediction/Bible Study or Book Club...
Other Ideas:
For certain 'big vocation days' (Good Shepard Sunday, Sunday of National Vocation Awareness Week, Feast Day of St. Junipero Serra) we should schedule some 'whole club' event--attend Mass together at the Cathedral, especially if Bishop Walkowiak is presiding, visit Trinitarians in Lowell, whose purpose is praying for priests, for prayer and fellowship.
Professional Support Group: List of club members and contact information willing to provide advice and services for accounting/business management, insurance (personal or business), legal counsel (personal/business), dental/medical investment advice, and so on...Many of these activities are probably now handled through Diocesean benefit programs or Dioscean-wide
contracts, but there may be things that we can do.
Dues: I would suggest that we may at least consider reducing dues to $125, billing for each lunch event attended (too much work for Treasurer/Secretary?), and passing the hat for special needs."
I, Nancy, also add a few of my suggestions for topics for the upcoming year:
Friday Stations of the Cross and Benediction are scheduled at Our Lady of Sorrows at 7:00 p.m. each Friday of Lent. All are invited. Or, if your parish schedules a similar Lenten activity, please let us know.
Foods: Lenten menus and Lenten spiritual activities.
The spiritual benefits of Kosher cooking, with prepared readings from Exodus. Can Catholics benefit from these practices? Resources may be available from Congregation Ahavas Israel.
Catholic Education series:
Sacred Heart Academy or other speakers from West Catholic or Catholic Central.
Growing up in a large Catholic family: Perhaps Fr. William Vander Werff or Dominic Niewald could speak.
Seminarians with unusual backgrounds about their spiritual journey to the priesthood.
Dr. Burns spoke to our club once about how his faith influenced his practice. I'm sure he could speak to us about other related topics.
Cynthia Bailey recently spoke about the Seven Sorrows of Mary. I believe she would like to return to the club to speak on another topic.
Liturgical Music.
Resources unique to the bookstore at Cathedral Square.
(I jotted down some of these suggestions after our December meeting). You're welcome to offer your own suggestions.
From Greg Schweitz, President, Serra's National Council for the United States:
"The Serran Litany. We're called: It's our Vocation: We're Catholic leaders. We're committed to our Mission. We're focused on vocations. We're do-ers. We rise to the challenge. We're called..
Also, visit the website to find Greg's thoughts on how to recruit new Serrans, from November 7th, 2016.
Priests'Anniversaries for January.
Why not start 2017 by sending one or more of these priests a card? Find addresses at the Diocese of Grand Rapids website.
Fr. Joseph Kenshol, January 19, 1973.
Fr. Mark Mitchell, January 25, 1976.
Fr. Ernest P. Schneider, Jauary 30, 1977.
Fr. Thomas Simons, January 30, 1977.
The following priests have no exact date of ordination listed. We are following our policy of recognizing them in January of each year.
Fr. Anthony Aduaka, Chaplain, Spectrum Health, Blodgett and Butterworth Campuses,Spring 2004.
Fr. Bartholomew Okagbue, Chaplain, Mercy Health Muskegon, 1988.
A Message from Our President.
Dear Serrans:
In January we have no scheduled speaker and want members to bring their ideas for how we go forward. For example, some have suggested sponsoring a bus trip for prospective seminarians, among other things. We look forward to your fellowship and your suggestions.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!
