Calendar of Events.
October 4, 2009. Gloria Deo Concert, 3:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Andrew. Serrans will assist with handing out programs and otherwise serving as the hospitality crew. Tim Hile will give a short presentation about Serra. As of this past Monday, we needed about three more people to help. Call Pam if you are interested. Those who simply wish to attend the concert are also invited. There is no admission charge, but freewill offerings are welcomed. Gloria Deo is touring the country in observance of The Year of the Priest.
October 5, 2009. Adoration. Mass at 8:00 a.m., followed by Rosary. Adoration will begin at 9:00 a.m.
October 6, 2009. One of a three-day retreat at St. Stephen. The topic for that day will be "Vocations." 7:00 p.m., followed by refreshments.
October 12, 2009. Member/Guest Reception, 5:30 p.m. at Louis Benton Steak House. Please give Tim Hile the names of those you wish to invite.
October 19, 2009. Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Louis Benton Steak House.
October 22, 2009. Fall leaf raking with West Catholic High School students with the Consolata Missionary Sisters in Belmont. The event is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and will continue until 11:00 a.m. If you wish to help, bring rakes and leaf bags.
October 25, 2009. Priesthood Sunday. See below for more information.
October 26, 2009. Communion Service and Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart.
November 9, 2009. Luncheon Meeting at 12:00 noon at Louis Benton Steak House. Our speaker will be Fr. Tony Russo.December 1, 2009. The Bishop's Dinner, 6:00 p.m. at the Cathedral Square Conference Center. As our members have noted, the Planning Committee is making a great effort to keep members motivated and informed. As readers know, proceeds from this event will be used to support the continuing education of a priest at the North American College in Rome. This fall, the Reverend Monsignor William Duncan, once a Serran, will be participating in this program. He will return to Grand Rapids and deliver the Keynote Address at the dinner.
Priests' Anniversaries. Lee Sullivan will send anniversary cards to Father Martine Toolis (Ludington), October 7, 1970, and Deacon Don Sobolewski, October 16, 1993.
About Priesthood Sunday. The Serra Leader provides the following information about Priesthood Sunday, 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Readings of the day include the following:
Reading 1: Jer 31:7-9.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 126: 1-2,2-3, 4-5, 6.
Reading 2: Heb 5: 1-6.
Gospel: Mk 10: 46-52.
For music and liturgical ideas, visit http://www.priestsunday.org/
Dr. Woody Hoover Addresses Serrans. For those who missed Dr. Hoover's talk on September 14 at the University Club, or for those who wish to further study or review the materials he presented, we are reprinting the list of textbooks and instructional materials used in Dr. Hoover's course, MG 570 at Aquinas College: ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT.
1. Encyclopedia Britannica, (Macropedia Section) "Ethics".
2. John Paul II Veritatis Splendor ISBN 1-55586-679-4 (Download at http://www.holysee.org/)
3. John Paul II Centesimus Annus ISBN 1-55586-436-8 (Download at http://www.usccb.org/)
4. Marc Gunther Faith and Fortune ISBN 1-4000-4893-1 (Hardcover, 2004).
ISBN 1-4000-4894-X (Paperback, 2005).
5. Marianne M. Jennings, Business Ethics, Case Studies, and Selected Readings ISBN 0324-657-749. In addition to the websites, readers might find http://www.vatican.va/ useful for downloads.
Editor's Note: I have downloaded the first 20 pages of Veritatis Splendor (it's 77 pages in all) and have started to read, i.e. study, it. I highly recommend it as a spiritual exercise.
Dr. Hoover's presentation generated much interest among the audience. Some even brought up the possibility of auditing Dr. Hoover's course.
Dr. Hoover can be reached at hoovehar@aquinas.edu
News From Serra International, Omaha. Ralph Hauenstein, Nate McKenzie, John Osterhart, Mark Kubik, Dennis Leiber, John and Mary Stepanovich, and Dan Grady attended from our club. Ralph, Mark and Dennis participated in a panel discussion. Dan was elected to the International Board and will be traveling to Mexico in March. Nate served as our club's delegate, and John was our alternate. One result of this convention was that Serrans around the world became better acquainted with Ralph's many accomplishments and his invaluable contributions to both Serra International and our club. (Side note from Nate: A dinner party orginally planned for only a few people turned into a considerably larger event when at least 30 additional Serrans expressed an interest in taking Ralph to dinner). Brochures featuring Ralph's biography will be distributed at the Bishop's Dinner on December 1. Booklets outlining the nuts-and-bolts proceedings are available upon request from Nate.
Interesting to note is that the Omaha Convention received front-page coverage from the National Catholic Register. Register Senior Writer Tim Drake describes the event as follows:
"Serra International is using the Year for Priests to tackle the laity's role in promoting vocations to religious life. More than 530 Serrans, several bishops, and many priests gathered in Omaha for the group's 67th International Convention August 27-30, which focused on the them, 'The Role of Christ's Lay Faithful.'
" 'No one offers more support and encouragement for vocations than Serra,' said the host, Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha, about the organization, which was founded 75 years ago. 'The genius of Serra is that it's founded in prayer.'..."
All who attended from our club agreed that the convention was an excellent experience. Nate's heartfelt recommendation is this: Try to attend at least one international convention during your life as a Serran.
Next year's convention will be held in Fairbanks, Alaska.
More News from the Military. Last month, in observance of the Year of the Priest, we reprinted an article by Chaplain (Lieutenant Colonel) Gary R. Studniewski, who served in Iraq.
This month we bring further news about serving the spiritual needs of those in the military. Furthermore, we commend those, including Pope Benedict XVI, who strive to keep up with the newest technologies in their efforts to serve our troops in this special way.
Catholics Seeking Christ Goes Digital: Follow the AMS on Facebook and Twitter.
"A CSC leader deployed at a U. S. Marine Corps Camp overseas e-mailed the AMS to inquire about recruiting new participants. While we had experience in assisting leaders in recruiting participants at military installations, this question was asking something more. How, as a new arrival in a foreign setting, do you invite peers to join a small group for spiritual discussion about the Catholic faith?
Rather than try to answer the question from our offices in Washington, D. C., we posted the inquiry on our new CSC Group on MyCatholicVoice.com. Using the Q+A feature, we were able to share the question with CSC leaders who had experience inviting others to join their CSC groups in deployed settings. Navigating tents and temporary structures is quite different from interacting with ppers at a military installation in the United States. On this site relevant ideas were shared by others who had the experience. The information shared helped the young Marine to start two CSC groups in his deployed setting.
The new CSC group on MyCatholicVoice.com has a short welcome video along with the purpose and goals of Catholics Seeking Christ. All of the training and session videos are posted for viewing on the web. Those who sign up for a free user account are able to download the video and written documents that correspond to each session. Already these resources have been used to train new leaders throughout the military....
Our troops may download the sessions the need to a computer, iPod, or any other handheld device for immediate use. The new media of social networking is enabling us to connect our global archdiocese in new and exciting ways. Visit the CSC Group site on MyCatholicVoice.com at http://www.mycatholicvoice.com/group/Catholics+Seeking+Christ. Recently, the Vatican has launched a new web site for young people called Pope 2 You, www.pope@you.net. The site has links to theVatican You Tube Channel, Facebook and iPhone applications, along with news links to keep young Catholics connected. On the 43rd World Communications Day, May 24, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI specifically addressed young people regarding new technologies:
"It falls, in particular, to young people, who have an almost spontaneous affinity for the new means of communication, to take on the responsibility for the evangelization of this 'digital continent.' Be sure to announce the Gospel to your contemporaries with enthusiasm. You know their fears and their hopes, their aspirations and their disappointments: the greatest gift you can give to them is to share with them the 'Good News' of a God who became man, who suffered, died, and rose again to save all people. Human hearts are yearning for a world where love endures, where gifts are shared, where unity is built, where freedom finds meaning in truth, and where identity is found in respectful communion. Our faith can respond to these expectations: may you become its heralds! The Pope accompanies you with his prayers and his blessing."
By Mark Moitoza, Salute Magazine, Summer 2009.
A Message from our President.
Dear Serrans: Wow! When you look at the beginning of this newsletter, we are busy bees! I know the October 6 evening is a last minute opportunity. When we have a chance to get our name and information of our mission out, I can't refuse, especially when only time is needed. Thanks to Nancy King and me, we will provide some homemade baked breads along with coffee, juice, and wine for the reception following. Any Serrans attending the retreat are encouraged to lend a helping hand. We will have handouts available, and of course, conversation with friends both old and new.
The Bishop's Dinner Committee has been busy and the fruits of their labors are starting to show. It is nice to see the thermometer to see how we are progressing. Keep spreading the word and selling tickets so that we can fill the room to capacity this year.
This week's mail brought me a surprise. The Office for Priestly Vocations has updated its poster of seminarians, and Serra was included to receive a copy. It is being mounted for us to display and use at our meetings and events we attend. Thank you to Father Ron Hutchinson for thinking of us.
As promised, we are again on the calendar at Aquinas College to meet with faculty and students on Monday, November 2 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. We can bring up to six Serrans. Paul Nelson will be the moderator. I will call members regarding your interest and availability to attend.
Many thanks to Nate McKenzie for accepting, attending, and reporting on the International Convention as our delegate. Dan LaVille picked a good one this year. John Osterhart was the alternate, and we will be hearing some of his comments at future meetings. Congratulations to Dan Grady for being elected to the International Board. I'm sure he will keep us informed and current on news from International. At future meetings we will be listening to some of the keynote addresses from the convention. Thanks to John Stepanovich for purchasing these cds for our use.
Fall has arrived and the trees will be changing. Does your prayer life change, too? I think mine does as the seasons come and go, but praying for an increase to vocations is always included. May we continue to move forward. Enjoy this colorful time God has given us before the North Wind arrives with the white stuff.
Christ's love is never-ending.
Pam McKenzie
