IMPORTANT NEWS REGARDING CHANGE OF VENUE FOR MONDAY MEETINGS.
Please note that Louis Benton Steak House is being closed on Mondays during July and August for remodeling. July 13 and August 10 meetings will be held at the University Club, Top Floor, Fifth Third Bank Building on Lyon Street downtown. Bring parking ticket to the meeting to receive reduced parking rate.
Calendar of Events for July.
July 6, 2009. Adoration, St. Isidore, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
July 13, 2009. Luncheon and speakers, 12:00 Noon at University Club. Topic will be the NDVI Student Report.
July 27, 2009. Annual Serra Club Picnic at the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, Lowell. The picnic will take place rain or shine. 5:30 p.m. Mass in the chapel, Fr. Ed Hankiewicz, celebrant. Social time to follow. Dinner at 7:00 p.m. The theme will be Pulaski Days in July, featuring Patty Polega as the chief cook. The picnic dinner will feature homemade, traditional Polish food, beer, and wine. There will be hot dogs and chips available for children and adults unable to eat the Polish menu. Cost is $20.00 per person, or $45.00 for a family of three or more. Billing will be included in your next dues statement. RSVP to Pam McKenzie or Kathy Westdorp by Wednesday, July 22, 2009.
Your RSVP is very important.
The address of the picnic site is as follows:
Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist
Life Process Center
11650 Downes St. NE
Lowell, MI 49331
Telephone 616-897-7842 for directions or get them from Mapquest or Yahoo Maps.
Looking Ahead.
August 10, 2009. Luncheon and speaker, 12:00 Noon at University Club. Speaker will be Deacon David Gross.
August 24, 2009. Prayer service and luncheon meeting, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart.
Our speaker will be Mr. Paul Guild, a West Catholic religion teacher who is taking students to Minnesota for a visit to the seminary there.
August 27-30. Serra International Conference, Omaha, Nebraska. Nate McKenzie has been chosen as our club's delegate, with John Osterhart serving as alternate delegate.
September 14, 2009. Luncheon and speaker, 12:00 Noon, Louis Benton Steak House.
Our speaker will be Mr. Woody Hoover, Aquinas professor of business, who will be talking about ethics based on Pope John Paul II's writings.
A Joyful Event. A joyful event took place at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, the ordination of two priests and a deacon, on June 6. Let us welcome them into our diocese:
Reverend Michael E. Burt, 54, was born in Petoskey to Anne and the late Edward Burt. He has one sister, Catherine Richter. His only brother David passed away in 2008. St. Paul Campus Parish and St. Mary Parish, Big Rapids, are his home parishes. Father Burt graduated from George Washington University with a B. S. in health science in 1993 while serving in the U. S. Navy. He retired from the Navy after serving 22 years with an honorable discharge in 1996. He completed his final year of seminary at St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein last fall and received his Master's of Divinity in May.
Reverend Aaron R. Ferris, 27, is the youngest child of Brian and Pauline Ferris of Newaygo. He has one brother, Jacob, and one sister, Danielle. All Saints in Fremont is his home parish. He graduated from Seton Hall University in 2004 with a B. A. in classical studies. He completed his final year of seminary at St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein and received his Master's of Divinity in May.
Reverend Mr. David C. Gross, 33, is the son of Leonard and Roberta Gross. He has two siblings, Doug (Tina) Gross and Cathy (Eric) Buehler. His home parish is St. Stephen. He attended the University of Michigan, where he earned a B. S. in education and received his M. S. in education at GVSU. He entered the Mundelein Seminary in 2005 and completed an internship last year at St. Jean Baptiste and St. Mary Parishes in Muskegon under the mentorship of Thomas Page. Deacon Gross will enter his final year of seminary at St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, in the fall.
An added note: The newly ordained Deacon David Gross delivered the Homily at the Our Lady of Sorrows annual picnic on June 28 and will visit the parish on at least two more occasions in July.
Letter from Patty Hughes. June 17, 2009. Dear Serrans: Please convey the deepest appreciation of the Diocese of Grand Rapids for the participation of the Serra Club of Grand Rapids in the Ordination Mass on June 6. Not only were you prompt, but also your group was most gracious and welcoming to our visitors and guests. It's always a pleasure to have the Serrans, and to have you serve as visible supporters of your mission to promote vocations. This annual celebration in the diocese is a perfect opportunity for you to witness the good work that you have done, prayerfully and in direct support.
We hope you noticed that we joyfully printed our thanks to you in the worship aid, and please know that it is a delight to be able to work with people who are as detailed and organized as you are. Thank you for brining ministers of hospitality that we could depend upon. All of the Serrans contributed to making certain that the Communion Rite was well enacted, and that all received communion.
Again thank you for you willingness to take responsibility as major volunteers of the Ordination Mass.
In gratitute, with kindest regards,
Patty Hughes, Director
Office for Worship
Year for Priests. A year of prayer and support for priests has been proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI for June-2009 until June 2010. Please note the following prayer for priests and priestly vocations: Heavenly Father, please grant to Your faithful servants the grace and strength to carry our Your mission for the church each day. Keep our priests close to You and continue to inspire them to serve others in Your holy name.
Good and gracious God, hear our prayer for an increase in priestly vocations. Touch the hearts of young men in our world today. Instill in them a burning desire to serve you. Give them the courage to answer your call with generous hearts.
Reveal to them a vision of Your Kingdom. Help them to see the joy of priestly ministry. Lead them in the footsteps of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
We ask you to bless our seminarians and guide them on the path toward priesthood. Strengthen them as they are educated and formed in the duties and responsibilities of the priesthood. Help them to become faithful servants and leaders in the Church today. We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever. Amen. Source: Our Lady of Sorrows Bulletin, June 28, 2009.
More about the Year for Priests. A letter from Fr. John Corapi. JUBILEE YEAR FOR PRIESTS ANNOUNCED BY THE VATICAN.
Pope Benedict XVI announced that the universal Church will celebrate a Jubilee Year of the Priest, beginning June 19, 2009, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and celebrating the 150th anniversary of the death of the saintly Cure D'Ars.
It is my personal experience of 25 years this month living inside the Church in novitiates, seminaries, pontifical universities, parishes, and chancery offices that we are always in need of renewal and energizing in every vocation, more so than ever in the priesthood. The Holy Father knows this, as do a great many of us priests. So, beginning June 19, 2009 we will try to move toward this goal of strengthening and energizing the priesthood. This happens one priest at a time. Holiness is an individual work in progress for all of us, the priest included.
The patron saint of parish priests, St. John Mary Vianney, should be used as a model in principle, remembering that every man or woman must be a person of (his or her) time. Nonetheless, there are principles and practices that transcend time and space. These we should know and exercise. The preeminence of prayer and the spiritual life must come first for the priest--or any practicing Catholic, for that matter.
St. John Vianney prayed long hours before the Blessed Sacrament. That was the secret of his success. Jesus in the Eucharist must be the heart of the priest's life; the Holy Spirit is the breath that breathes life into his ministry. A simple life, not unfamiliar with penance and sacrifice, is also fundamental for apostolic fruitfulness.
Jesus, the High Priest, gave us all his own Mother to be our spiritual mother. Every priest who would bear fruit that endures must accept the gift of Mary the Mother of Priests as his own spiritual mother. This cannot be over-emphasized. A failure to do it in these times results in almost certain failure for the Catholic priest.
Pray for your priests more than ever in tis Year of the Priest. In many cases there is poor morale, little camaraderie, isolation, and loneliness in the life of the priest. Encourage your priests and remember a little kindness and understanding goes a long way. Priests are human beings, like other human beings, with the same weaknesses and strengths. This year think about the life of priests and how you can contribute to their perseverance and holiness in a most noble vocation. Help your priest get to Heaven by your kindness andyour rayers. You will never be sorry you did.
God bless you, Fr. John Corapi
The Archdiocese for Military Services, USA. This unique diocese was created by Pope John Paul II in 1985. On this Independence Day, let us remember the men and women of the military and the priests and religious who serve their spiritual needs.
How does the church accompany those in the military, who serve with courage and competence throughout the world? In 1939 Pope Pius XII created an independent jurisdiction of the Catholic Church called the Military Vicariate. In 1985 Pope John Paul II named this organization the Archdiocese for Military Services, USA. Spanning the globe and serving nearly one and a half million Roman Catholics, more than one thousand priests minister in hospitals, on military bases of all the armed forces, on ships at sea, and on the battlefield. The AMS does not ordain priests, but accepts priests on loan from religious orders and dioceses.
In 1824 a Jesuit priest named Adam Marshall enlisted in the Navy and died at sea in 1825. He was assigned as a schoolmaster, but he sought out and ministered to Catholic sailors. Twenty years later, President Polk was worried that the War with Mexico would be seen as anti-Catholic. He recruited two Jesuit priests to serve in the army as chaplains. At the time of the Civil War, only about ten percent of Americans were Catholic. Military policies forced Catholic soldiers to attend Protestant services. The Church protested this rule, and many priests volunteered to become chaplains. Their witness and the courage of the Nuns of the Battlefield (several orders of sisters who assisted the Civil War victims) helped temper prejudice against Catholics and pave the way for the life an ministry of this vigorous and unique archdiocese.
Source: Our Lady of Sorrows Bulletin, June 28, 2009.
Please note that Louis Benton Steak House is being closed on Mondays during July and August for remodeling. July 13 and August 10 meetings will be held at the University Club, Top Floor, Fifth Third Bank Building on Lyon Street downtown. Bring parking ticket to the meeting to receive reduced parking rate.
Calendar of Events for July.
July 6, 2009. Adoration, St. Isidore, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
July 13, 2009. Luncheon and speakers, 12:00 Noon at University Club. Topic will be the NDVI Student Report.
July 27, 2009. Annual Serra Club Picnic at the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, Lowell. The picnic will take place rain or shine. 5:30 p.m. Mass in the chapel, Fr. Ed Hankiewicz, celebrant. Social time to follow. Dinner at 7:00 p.m. The theme will be Pulaski Days in July, featuring Patty Polega as the chief cook. The picnic dinner will feature homemade, traditional Polish food, beer, and wine. There will be hot dogs and chips available for children and adults unable to eat the Polish menu. Cost is $20.00 per person, or $45.00 for a family of three or more. Billing will be included in your next dues statement. RSVP to Pam McKenzie or Kathy Westdorp by Wednesday, July 22, 2009.
Your RSVP is very important.
The address of the picnic site is as follows:
Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist
Life Process Center
11650 Downes St. NE
Lowell, MI 49331
Telephone 616-897-7842 for directions or get them from Mapquest or Yahoo Maps.
Looking Ahead.
August 10, 2009. Luncheon and speaker, 12:00 Noon at University Club. Speaker will be Deacon David Gross.
August 24, 2009. Prayer service and luncheon meeting, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart.
Our speaker will be Mr. Paul Guild, a West Catholic religion teacher who is taking students to Minnesota for a visit to the seminary there.
August 27-30. Serra International Conference, Omaha, Nebraska. Nate McKenzie has been chosen as our club's delegate, with John Osterhart serving as alternate delegate.
September 14, 2009. Luncheon and speaker, 12:00 Noon, Louis Benton Steak House.
Our speaker will be Mr. Woody Hoover, Aquinas professor of business, who will be talking about ethics based on Pope John Paul II's writings.
A Joyful Event. A joyful event took place at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, the ordination of two priests and a deacon, on June 6. Let us welcome them into our diocese:
Reverend Michael E. Burt, 54, was born in Petoskey to Anne and the late Edward Burt. He has one sister, Catherine Richter. His only brother David passed away in 2008. St. Paul Campus Parish and St. Mary Parish, Big Rapids, are his home parishes. Father Burt graduated from George Washington University with a B. S. in health science in 1993 while serving in the U. S. Navy. He retired from the Navy after serving 22 years with an honorable discharge in 1996. He completed his final year of seminary at St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein last fall and received his Master's of Divinity in May.
Reverend Aaron R. Ferris, 27, is the youngest child of Brian and Pauline Ferris of Newaygo. He has one brother, Jacob, and one sister, Danielle. All Saints in Fremont is his home parish. He graduated from Seton Hall University in 2004 with a B. A. in classical studies. He completed his final year of seminary at St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein and received his Master's of Divinity in May.
Reverend Mr. David C. Gross, 33, is the son of Leonard and Roberta Gross. He has two siblings, Doug (Tina) Gross and Cathy (Eric) Buehler. His home parish is St. Stephen. He attended the University of Michigan, where he earned a B. S. in education and received his M. S. in education at GVSU. He entered the Mundelein Seminary in 2005 and completed an internship last year at St. Jean Baptiste and St. Mary Parishes in Muskegon under the mentorship of Thomas Page. Deacon Gross will enter his final year of seminary at St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, in the fall.
An added note: The newly ordained Deacon David Gross delivered the Homily at the Our Lady of Sorrows annual picnic on June 28 and will visit the parish on at least two more occasions in July.
Letter from Patty Hughes. June 17, 2009. Dear Serrans: Please convey the deepest appreciation of the Diocese of Grand Rapids for the participation of the Serra Club of Grand Rapids in the Ordination Mass on June 6. Not only were you prompt, but also your group was most gracious and welcoming to our visitors and guests. It's always a pleasure to have the Serrans, and to have you serve as visible supporters of your mission to promote vocations. This annual celebration in the diocese is a perfect opportunity for you to witness the good work that you have done, prayerfully and in direct support.
We hope you noticed that we joyfully printed our thanks to you in the worship aid, and please know that it is a delight to be able to work with people who are as detailed and organized as you are. Thank you for brining ministers of hospitality that we could depend upon. All of the Serrans contributed to making certain that the Communion Rite was well enacted, and that all received communion.
Again thank you for you willingness to take responsibility as major volunteers of the Ordination Mass.
In gratitute, with kindest regards,
Patty Hughes, Director
Office for Worship
Year for Priests. A year of prayer and support for priests has been proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI for June-2009 until June 2010. Please note the following prayer for priests and priestly vocations: Heavenly Father, please grant to Your faithful servants the grace and strength to carry our Your mission for the church each day. Keep our priests close to You and continue to inspire them to serve others in Your holy name.
Good and gracious God, hear our prayer for an increase in priestly vocations. Touch the hearts of young men in our world today. Instill in them a burning desire to serve you. Give them the courage to answer your call with generous hearts.
Reveal to them a vision of Your Kingdom. Help them to see the joy of priestly ministry. Lead them in the footsteps of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
We ask you to bless our seminarians and guide them on the path toward priesthood. Strengthen them as they are educated and formed in the duties and responsibilities of the priesthood. Help them to become faithful servants and leaders in the Church today. We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever. Amen. Source: Our Lady of Sorrows Bulletin, June 28, 2009.
More about the Year for Priests. A letter from Fr. John Corapi. JUBILEE YEAR FOR PRIESTS ANNOUNCED BY THE VATICAN.
Pope Benedict XVI announced that the universal Church will celebrate a Jubilee Year of the Priest, beginning June 19, 2009, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and celebrating the 150th anniversary of the death of the saintly Cure D'Ars.
It is my personal experience of 25 years this month living inside the Church in novitiates, seminaries, pontifical universities, parishes, and chancery offices that we are always in need of renewal and energizing in every vocation, more so than ever in the priesthood. The Holy Father knows this, as do a great many of us priests. So, beginning June 19, 2009 we will try to move toward this goal of strengthening and energizing the priesthood. This happens one priest at a time. Holiness is an individual work in progress for all of us, the priest included.
The patron saint of parish priests, St. John Mary Vianney, should be used as a model in principle, remembering that every man or woman must be a person of (his or her) time. Nonetheless, there are principles and practices that transcend time and space. These we should know and exercise. The preeminence of prayer and the spiritual life must come first for the priest--or any practicing Catholic, for that matter.
St. John Vianney prayed long hours before the Blessed Sacrament. That was the secret of his success. Jesus in the Eucharist must be the heart of the priest's life; the Holy Spirit is the breath that breathes life into his ministry. A simple life, not unfamiliar with penance and sacrifice, is also fundamental for apostolic fruitfulness.
Jesus, the High Priest, gave us all his own Mother to be our spiritual mother. Every priest who would bear fruit that endures must accept the gift of Mary the Mother of Priests as his own spiritual mother. This cannot be over-emphasized. A failure to do it in these times results in almost certain failure for the Catholic priest.
Pray for your priests more than ever in tis Year of the Priest. In many cases there is poor morale, little camaraderie, isolation, and loneliness in the life of the priest. Encourage your priests and remember a little kindness and understanding goes a long way. Priests are human beings, like other human beings, with the same weaknesses and strengths. This year think about the life of priests and how you can contribute to their perseverance and holiness in a most noble vocation. Help your priest get to Heaven by your kindness andyour rayers. You will never be sorry you did.
God bless you, Fr. John Corapi
The Archdiocese for Military Services, USA. This unique diocese was created by Pope John Paul II in 1985. On this Independence Day, let us remember the men and women of the military and the priests and religious who serve their spiritual needs.
How does the church accompany those in the military, who serve with courage and competence throughout the world? In 1939 Pope Pius XII created an independent jurisdiction of the Catholic Church called the Military Vicariate. In 1985 Pope John Paul II named this organization the Archdiocese for Military Services, USA. Spanning the globe and serving nearly one and a half million Roman Catholics, more than one thousand priests minister in hospitals, on military bases of all the armed forces, on ships at sea, and on the battlefield. The AMS does not ordain priests, but accepts priests on loan from religious orders and dioceses.
In 1824 a Jesuit priest named Adam Marshall enlisted in the Navy and died at sea in 1825. He was assigned as a schoolmaster, but he sought out and ministered to Catholic sailors. Twenty years later, President Polk was worried that the War with Mexico would be seen as anti-Catholic. He recruited two Jesuit priests to serve in the army as chaplains. At the time of the Civil War, only about ten percent of Americans were Catholic. Military policies forced Catholic soldiers to attend Protestant services. The Church protested this rule, and many priests volunteered to become chaplains. Their witness and the courage of the Nuns of the Battlefield (several orders of sisters who assisted the Civil War victims) helped temper prejudice against Catholics and pave the way for the life an ministry of this vigorous and unique archdiocese.
Source: Our Lady of Sorrows Bulletin, June 28, 2009.
July Anniversaries in our Diocese:
Father Raymond Bruck 7-20-58; Fr. Peter M. Chukwu, 7-3-93; Father Lawrence King 7-8-58; and Lam Le 7-10-04. Deacons are Michael Herrera, 7-3-77; and David Kasprzk, 7-12-81.
News from Catholic Radio. The Holy Family Radio Apostolate was organized in 2008 as a means of Catholic evangelization, education, and ecumenical outreach. The desire of the apostolate is to share the life-changing message of the Gospel and the heart of the Catholic Faith with others, primarily by way of radio. We now broadcast 26 hours per week on three area stations, including a Spanish broadcast on Saturday mornings. Our website is holyfamilyradio.net.
Join our family! Please prayerfully consider if God is calling you to become a part of the Holy Family Radio "family" of volunteers. We welcome all types of volunteers, no matter how much time or talent you have. As we grow, we need individuals to be parish representatives as well as those with office or sales experience. We hope that having Catholic Radio in West Michigan will serve as a way to plant the seeds of religious vocations in some of our listeners as it has in many other communities across the country.
To see a sample of our Sunday lineup, got to http://holyfamilyradio.net/programschedule.html. Underwriters Needed for Holy Family Radio. We are developing a plan to help find underwriters for HFR. If you know of Catholic friends, family, or business contacts who you think may be interested in learning about the HFR radio apostolate as an underwriter, or if are interested in assisting underwriters, write Renee at reneeb@mayclan.com or call 616-477-5016. Pay Pal is available to donate to Holy Family Radio. Holy Family Radio is a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization. If you are interested in supporting Catholic Radio, Pay Pal is a safe, simple, and swift way to donate! Donations are greatly appreciated to help bring more Catholic programming to West Michigan and keep moving HFR toward obtaining a station for 24/7 broadcasting. If you are able to help in any way, go to http://www.holyfamilyradio.net/ and click on "Donate to HFR".
Testimony: Here's an e-mail from a listener that should be encouragement for all of us to persevere. "I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for your programming. I have been enjoying the Son Rise Morning Show on my way to work. I am not Catholic but I am Christian and sometimes listen to EWTN on satellite. I was pleased to hear about you from them. I'm curious if there are plans for a full-time Catholic radio station in GR. What sort of volunteer help is needed? I would be interested in helping our if there is something I would be good at. Thanks for your efforts so far. I will pray for continued growth in your ministry."
We hope you can tune in to Holy Family Radio. If you have any questions, write to us at contact@holyfamilyradio.net
In Christ,
Cheryl Doyle
President, Holy Family Radio
P. O. Box 150154, Grand Rapids, MI 49515-0154
1-800-414-2834
Submitted by Lois Flaig, Administrative Assistant, Holy Family Radio
Please pray for: Father Dick Host, pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Grand Rapids, who is home and recovering from hip surgery.
Also, please pray for Monsignor Ancona, also home and recovering, and for Father Ted Kozlowski of Our Lady of Sorrows, who has completed radiation treatments and is awaiting a consultation in August.
Fr. Tom DeYoung has begun substituting at Mass for his fellow priests on a limited basis. Let us pray for his continued recovery.
News from Catholic Radio. The Holy Family Radio Apostolate was organized in 2008 as a means of Catholic evangelization, education, and ecumenical outreach. The desire of the apostolate is to share the life-changing message of the Gospel and the heart of the Catholic Faith with others, primarily by way of radio. We now broadcast 26 hours per week on three area stations, including a Spanish broadcast on Saturday mornings. Our website is holyfamilyradio.net.
Join our family! Please prayerfully consider if God is calling you to become a part of the Holy Family Radio "family" of volunteers. We welcome all types of volunteers, no matter how much time or talent you have. As we grow, we need individuals to be parish representatives as well as those with office or sales experience. We hope that having Catholic Radio in West Michigan will serve as a way to plant the seeds of religious vocations in some of our listeners as it has in many other communities across the country.
To see a sample of our Sunday lineup, got to http://holyfamilyradio.net/programschedule.html. Underwriters Needed for Holy Family Radio. We are developing a plan to help find underwriters for HFR. If you know of Catholic friends, family, or business contacts who you think may be interested in learning about the HFR radio apostolate as an underwriter, or if are interested in assisting underwriters, write Renee at reneeb@mayclan.com or call 616-477-5016. Pay Pal is available to donate to Holy Family Radio. Holy Family Radio is a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization. If you are interested in supporting Catholic Radio, Pay Pal is a safe, simple, and swift way to donate! Donations are greatly appreciated to help bring more Catholic programming to West Michigan and keep moving HFR toward obtaining a station for 24/7 broadcasting. If you are able to help in any way, go to http://www.holyfamilyradio.net/ and click on "Donate to HFR".
Testimony: Here's an e-mail from a listener that should be encouragement for all of us to persevere. "I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for your programming. I have been enjoying the Son Rise Morning Show on my way to work. I am not Catholic but I am Christian and sometimes listen to EWTN on satellite. I was pleased to hear about you from them. I'm curious if there are plans for a full-time Catholic radio station in GR. What sort of volunteer help is needed? I would be interested in helping our if there is something I would be good at. Thanks for your efforts so far. I will pray for continued growth in your ministry."
We hope you can tune in to Holy Family Radio. If you have any questions, write to us at contact@holyfamilyradio.net
In Christ,
Cheryl Doyle
President, Holy Family Radio
P. O. Box 150154, Grand Rapids, MI 49515-0154
1-800-414-2834
Submitted by Lois Flaig, Administrative Assistant, Holy Family Radio
Please pray for: Father Dick Host, pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Grand Rapids, who is home and recovering from hip surgery.
Also, please pray for Monsignor Ancona, also home and recovering, and for Father Ted Kozlowski of Our Lady of Sorrows, who has completed radiation treatments and is awaiting a consultation in August.
Fr. Tom DeYoung has begun substituting at Mass for his fellow priests on a limited basis. Let us pray for his continued recovery.
The President's Message. Dear Serrans: As usual our newsletter is packed with information! A big change for everyone is the meeting place for July 13 and August 10. We had to move our meeting place because Louis Benton Steak House is being remodeled. Please read carefully at the beginning of the newsletter how you can receive a reduced parking rate at the Fifth Third parking lot. This move is a slight inconvenience, but we will be back to normal come September. Please help by spreading the work and reminding each other where we are meeting.
As Serrans we have a great opportunity to promote our club, and perhaps gaining new members, because this is the Year of the Priest as announced by Pope Benedict XVI. Please be thinking of ways we can promote both the Year of the Priest and our Serra Club. Both our Programs Committee and Vocations Committee will try to offer some opportunities during the coming months.
Homemade traditional Polish food will be on the menu for our picnic. Bring a guest or two; children and grandchildren are also welcome. The Life Process Center is a great place to visit. The Sisters will give tours and bring us up to date on activities they offer at the Center. This picnic will take place rain or shine. The outside landscape is ideal for a picnic, but an inside dining hall with air conditioning is also available in case of rain. Come to Mass at 5:30 and enjoy the rest of the evening with soft drinks, beer, and wine and a taste of Poland. Please call Kathy Westdorp or Pam McKenzie with your reservations so that we can prepare the food accordingly. Serran Pat Polega is our head chef!
Thank you to Cheryl Doyle and Bill for bringing us up to date on our local Holy Family radio station. They have been working hard to get this operation up and running and are now offering 23 hours per week of Catholic radio. One of their next goals is to get their own radio staation. Three of our Serrans, Dan Grady, John Osterhart, and Nate McKenzie are all actively involved with this project, and I know they will keep us informed. In the near future we hope to get the opportunity to be interviewed on the air, allowing us to promote our Serra mission.
As we come to the July 4 weekend, I reflect on the many freedoms we have in America. I know that sometimes it seems as if all of our freedoms are being taken away. Freedom to practice my Catholic faith, praise God, attend Mass and receive the Holy Eucharist are the most precious freedoms I have. Second is the great opportunity of being a Serran with some of the best Catholics in the world and serving as your president. Thank you to all for your support this past year and for the year ahead of us. Enjoy the summer! Pam McKenzie.
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