Serrans are lay Catholics, men and women from all walks of life: lawyers, doctors, accountants, business people, engineers, sales people, clerks, retires, and more, all dedicated to promote and foster vocations.
We are the only lay organization to be aggregated to supporting Pontifical work.
Calendar of Events
June 2, 2018. Celebration of the Eucharist with Rite of the Ordination of Deacon Michael Steffes, 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Andrew. June 3, 2018. The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)
June 11, 2018. Meeting and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at Ss. Peter and Paul.
June 19, 2018. 11th Annual Dinner to Benefit the Bishop Robert J. Carlson Seminarian Endowment Fund, Sponsored by the Saginaw Serra Club, Swan Valley Banquet Center, 9521 Highland Green, Saginaw, MI 48609. Registration/Social Hour at 6:00 p.m., Dinner at 7:00. June 24, 2018. Nativity of St. John the Baptist.
June 25, 2018. Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Ss. Peter and Paul.
June 27-July 1, 2018. 76th Annual Convention of Serra International, Nashville Tennessee.
October 28, 2018. Priesthood Sunday. Prepare in advance to celebrate this day with your parish.
January 17-20, 2019. Serra Rally.
About the Saginaw Benefit Dinner.
The cost is $65 per person, with a table of 8 available for $500. A silent auction and raffles will be held as well. For information and tickets call Mary Catherine Siers at 989-792-1334. Make checks payable to Serra Club of Saginaw. Mail to Serra Club, c/o Mary Catherine Siers, 4882 Lynndale Drive, Saginaw, MI 48603. Sponsorships to a priest, nun, or seminarian may be made as well.
We will discuss or club's participation at our June 11 meeting. At this point, Weldon does not plan to attend, but either Weldon or I would be willing to serve as a link to those who might want to attend and share rides.Notify us at njking50@gmail.com or kazu12769@gmail.com.
Bishop Carlson was appointed the fifth Bishop of Saginaw on December 29, 2004, in one of the last episcopal appointments to the American Catholic Church made by Pope John Paul II. He focused on priestly vocations, Catholic schools, service to the poor, stewardship, and evangelization.
In demonstration of his dedication to vocations, Carlson filled the role of diocesean vocations director himself. In 2005 the number of seminarians increased from 4 to 12, and in 2006 the number of seminarians increased to 19. In August 2006, the first permanent deacon in 25 years was ordained in the diocese. Ine 2007, two men were ordained to the priesthood and five to the transitional diaconate.
He is now serving as the Archbishop of St. Louis, Missouri
Thank You.
Thanks to all of you who attended the joint meeting of the Grand Rapids and Muskegon Serra Clubs on May 14 at St. Stephen's. Also, many thanks to Greg Schwietz, who spoke on the topic, "Vocations are Everybody's Business.
Another guest speaker at this event was Catherine Babbitt, from Grand Haven, who is now discerning her vocation. She spoke of her connection to the Laboure Society, an organization formed to help rescue vocations from the problem of college debt. Each member of the society is expected to raise $70.000 for the cause. This society, and especially donating in Catherine's name, offers us the opportunity to become directly involved in the nurturing and fostering of vocations.
Why is this society needed?
*There are an estimated 10,000 individuals discerning a priestly or religious vocation in the U. S. annually.
*42 are blocked from pursuing this call because of education loans.
*The average vocational aspirant in Laboure owes $60,000 in education loans.
*Most religious communities cannot assume this debt.
*Most dioceses will allow some debt but have a limited threshold for acceptance.
If you would like to donate but did not pick up a brochure and a contribution envelope. donate online, watch videos, see updates, meet new aspirants, and learn more at www.LaboureSociety.org.
Priests' Anniversaries for June. Once again we have the happy task of announcing this long list of our June anniversaries:
The Most Reverend David J. Walkowiak, June 9, 1979; Bishop Emeritus Walter A. Hurley, June 5, 1965 Michael Alber, June 1, 2001; Msgr. Gaspar Ancona, June 1, 1963; Reverend Louis Anderson, June 1, 1963; Reverend Matthew Barnum, June 2, 2007; Reverend Mark Bauer, June 14, 2986; Reverend Thomas Bolster, June 12, 1982; Reverend Edward Boucher, June 14, 1960; Reverend James Bozung, June 3, 1961' Reverend Douglas Braun, June 6, 2015; Reverend Charles Brown, June 6, 1999; Reverend Michael Burt, June 6, 2009; Reverend Bernard Carlin, C. S. s. R., June 1, 1978; Reverend Thomas Cavera, June 4, 2016; Reverend Patrick Cawley, June 6, 1970; Reverend James Chelich, June 6, 1976; Reverend Michael Cilibraise, June 7, 2008; Reverend Michael Danner, June 5, 1965; Reverend Thomas DeYoung, June 18, 1983; Reverend Norman Droski, June 6, 1964; Reverend George Fekete, June 5, 1965; Reverend Aaron Ferris, June 6, 2009; Reverend Patrick Jegar N. Fickel, June 4, 2016; Reverend Joseph Fix, June 1, 1968; Reverend Melvin Fox June 1, 1963; Reverend Luis Garcia, June 4, 2011; Reverend Pedro Garcia, June 5, 1965; Fr. Eugene Golas, June 4, 1955; Reverend Patrick Grille, June 24, 1971; Reverend David Gross, June 5, 2010; Msgr.
Edward Hankiewicz, June 24, 1979; Reverend Victor Kynam, June 2, 2007; Reverend John LaGoe, June 3,, 1961; Reverend Donald Lomasiewicz, June 2, 1962; Reverend Richard Lewis, June 7, 1969; Reverend Thomas McKinney, June 3, 1961; Reverend Paul Milanowski, June 5, 1965; Reverend Colin Mulhall, June 4, 2016; Reverend Ayub Nasar, June 28, 1985; Reverend Troy Nevins, June 1, 1996; Reverend Scott Nolan, June 1, 2013; Reverend Godfrey Onyekwere, June 7, 2003; Reverend Thomas Page, June 16, 1979; Reverend Mark Peacock, June 2, 2007; Reverend Anthony Pelak, June 7, 2003; Reverend Jose Quintana, June 1, 1996; Reverend Chris Rouech, June 1, 1996; Reverend Kenneth Schichtel, June 2, 1962; Reverend Ronald Schneider, June 4, 2016; Reverend Daniel Schumaker, June 4, 2016; Reverend Charles Schwartz, June 1, 2013; Reverend Phillip Sliwinski, June 7, 1997; Msgr. Louis Stasker, June 5, 1965; Msgr. Terrence Stewart, June 19, 1970; Reverend John Thome, June 15, 1946; Reverend Anton Tran, June 1, 2002; Reverend Anthony Vainovicaz, June 3, 1961; Reverend John Vallier, June 13, 1987; Reverend James Vander Laan, June 1, 2013;
Reverend William Vander Werff, June 6, 2015; Reverend Thomas Vesbit, June 6, 1984; Reverend Peter Vu, June 7, 1997; Reverend John Wisneski, June 6, 1964; and Reverend William Zink, June 1,
1968.
A Possible Sainthood Close to Home.
Did you know that our diocese has connections to a possible future sainthood? for Grand Rapids native Fr. Joseph Walijewski? His cause advanced on May 27, 2018, with a Mass at the Cathedral of St. Andrew to mark the completion of the investigation of his life. Watch for further developments.
The Asian Connection.
Grand Rapids Serrans Dennis Leiber and Dan Grady attended the recent convention of Asian Serrans. Both are past presidents of Serra International,
A Message from our President.
We will not be holding the meeting this Monday, since it's Memorial Day. However, in lieu of our regular meeting, I would like you to consider joining the Muskegon Serra Club at Prince of Peace Church Thursday evening to support fundraiser for seminarians from the Diocese.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!
