Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, December 2010

Calendar of Events.

December 8, 2010. Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Our Lady of Sorrows will offer Anointing of the Sick at the 12:00 Noon and 7:00 p.m. Masses.

December 13, 2010. Luncheon meeting and speaker, 12:00 Noon at Louis Benton Steak House. Father Geaney, Rector of St. Andrew's Cathedral, will speak.

December 20, 2010. Serra Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Louis Benton Steak House.

There will be no meeting on December 27.

Looking Ahead.

January 9-15, 2011. National Vocation Awareness Week. Joseph Scoville has received word from a member of the Catholic Lawyers' Association that Holy Family Parish in Caledonia would like to do something special to observe this occasion. The Board will make plans to assemble the applicable materials and perhaps pay a call to the Parish not only to introduce the parishioners to our club but also to point out other ways in which they can promote, foster, and pray for priestly vocations. More information will appear as the plans develop.

January 10, 2011. Luncheon meeting and speaker, 12:00 Noon at Louis Benton Steak House.

January 17, 2011. Serra Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Louis Benton Steak House.

January 24, 2011. At the December 4 meeting, the Board scheduled Monday, January 24, 2011 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for an evening membership function at Louis Benton Steak House. As membership chairman emeritus and incoming president, Tim Hile will speak. Please try to come up with at least two people to invite. Please keep in mind that membership is one of our priorities at this time. Our present membership count is 43; we would like to aim for 50.

The Board also discussed tentative plans for Charter Night, to be held on or about the first week in May. Further information TBA.

Priests' Anniversaries.

Bishop Robert Rose, Priesthood December 21, 1955; Episcopacy, December 6, 1960.

Robert Gillespie, December 8, 1943.

Charles Dautremont, December 18, 1960.

John Porter, December 15, 1957.

Julian Reginato, December 19, 1964

Isidro Gargantrel December 21, 1968

Norbert Leyrita, December 21, 1963

Michael Olson, December 27, 1994.

Lee Sullivan also sent this note from Fr. Ed Vella, CSsR:

Dear Lee,

Thank you so much for your nice card and kind words and well wishes and prayers. The week of celebrations of my 25 years of priesthood have been overwhelmingly grace-filled, but in a special way the ones of Sunday, November 14. To think that we celebrated three Masses at St. Timothy's with receptions following, then the afternoon Mass and dinner at St. Joseph's. So many relatives and other friends! Sincere thanks for your friendship and for everything. The Lord will reward you. Thank you thank you thank you.

I'm sorry that I couldn't spend more time with each person who was there. There were truly a lot of people present for everything and tht humbles me that so many came.

I have been touched by everything. It was all so very, very good. The two parishes gave me a nice chalice and a papal blessing. I give thanks to the Lord for the gift of being a Redemptorist and priest. It is not about me--it's about the call we receive from the Lord and our generous YES to him, whether a person is married, single, a religious or a priest.

The Lord bless you in every way! "With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption!"-Psalm 130-Redemptorist theme.

Be assured of my prayers for you!

Fr. Ed

Please thank the Serra club for me!

Editor's Note. Fr. Ed's note should assure us that our Priestly Anniversary Card program is a blessing to our priests and to our club. Furthermore, there is no doubt that Lee has been blessed many times over for her efforts in keeping up this ministry. Thanks once again, for an excellent job!

Also we wish to extend our thanks to our Moderator Fr. Ed for showing us the DVD on the North American Pontifical College in Rome at the November meeting at Sacred Heart. It was very inspiring, very informative.

Adoration. Vocations Chairmen Beverly Shields and Nancy Mulvihill, for the time being, will not schedule an appointed time for adoration, but invite the club to observe one of the following adoration opportunities:

St. Isidore, 24/7, code 513.

IHM, 24/5 (no weekends), code 5412.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, every Thursday before First Friday, every month except during Lent. The day begins at 7:00 a.m. with Mass and ends with Benediction. See Sacred Heart website if you have any questions. The Board spoke of asking every Serran to pledge to devote at least one hour per month to prayer for vocations.

Editor's Note: At the Cincinnati Regional Convention, every speaker emphasized the importance of prayer for vocations.

Aquinas Catholic Studies Lecture.

Serran Joseph Scoville sends us this note:

As you know, the Catholic Studies Department of Aquinas College offers an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to impart to students the "rich experience of the Church's own culture." In addition to its academic offerings, the department presents periodic lectures to the community on topics relevant to Catholic art, history, and culture.

The director of the department, Professor John Pinheiro, has asked us to inform our members of the department's next event, which will take place on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at noon on the Aquinas campus. Dr. Eduardo Echeverria will be delivering the annual Thomas Aquinas lecture. Dr. Echeverria is a theology professor at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and has authored several books. Two of his latest are The Theology the Body and Love,

and Ecumenism. The topic of the lecture will be, "Evangelizing the Culture."

Professor Pinheiro will forward official publicity at a later date, but in the meantime has asked us to place an item in our newsletter informing our members of this event. Anything you can do to publicize this event will be appreciated.

Joseph G. Scoville

Christmas Shopping on the Internet. Ora et Labora. The Monks of the Abbey of Gethsemani (est. 1848) invite us to shop for delicious gifts from their 2010-2011 catalog. Call for a catalog toll free at 1-800-549-0912 featuring a variety of cheeses, fruitcake, and chocolate and bourbon fudge. Extended hours September 1-November 14 M-F 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Special holiday hours November 15-December 22: M-F 9:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Trappist Monks live according to a tradition of work and prayer. Since 1848, when 44 Trappist monks from France made a new home in the hills of central Kentucky, Gethsemani has been a hardworking community. Supporting themselves first by farming, the monks now depend on their mail order sales of homemade fruitcake, cheese, and bourbon fudge. To a Trappist, work is a form of prayer.

A monk's day begins in the dark, at 3:15 a.m. with Vigils and ends with Compline at 7:30 p.m. A balanced life of prayer, work, and sacred reading, steeped in simplicity and faith, is the Trappist ideal. For more than 150 years, the monks of Gethsemani have followed that ideal, inspired by these words from the Rule of St. Benedict: "When they live by the labor of their hands, then they are really monks."

Planning for future direction for our club.

Board Planning Meeting, December 4, 2010. Attendance: Fr. Ed, Pat Leikert, Dan Grady, Abe Rossi, Beverly Shields, Nancy Mulvihill, Nancy King, John Osterhart, Bob Gabridge, Bob Paul, Mark Kubik, Pam McKenzie, Aggie Kempker-Cloyd.

Fr. Ed spoke of our primary mission as assisting the priesthood, supporting priests, seminarians, and especially late seminarians (those nearing the end of their studies). Our "latest" seminarian is Luis Garcia. Assisting can be defined as seeing to the priests' and seminarians' financial, personal, administrative, and medical needs. He suggested that along with showing appreciation and praying for vocations, we look to providing practical solutions for the questions a prospective or new priest might have when faced with the everyday responsibilities of sheparding a parish, e.g. accounting. Fr. Ed also suggested that assistance for some situations might better be provided from outside the priest's parish. We must increase our contact with seminarians and especially late seminarians. Mark Kubik and the Programs Committee are working on the Charter Night Dinner. Pam McKenzie will chair the Sisters' Appreciation Dinner, and Tim Hile will serve as head chef. Let Pam and Tim know if you would like to help. Adoration was discussed as listed above in the Calendar of Events, and Membership as well. Treasurer Pat Leikert reported that the club is doing well financially. The Club plans to schedule a College Connection speaker. We need to appoint a nominations committee for our next election, and we need to get started on planning for our 2014 Regional Convention. The Vocations Committee will co-ordinate with parishes to schedule Serra Club visits and information about 31 Clubs. The Board strongly encourages attendance at Regional and International Conventions and Super Weekends (held in Chicago). A number of these topics will be further addressed at the December 20 Board meeting.

LET US PRAY FOR THESE SPECIAL PRIESTLY VOCATIONS: For those who serve in the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. The AMS worldwide mission is to provide for the pastoral care of the 1.5 million Catholics serving in the armed forces, their family members, students at the Military Academies, patients in the VA medical centers and US governmental personnel serving abroad. It is the only agency responsible for endorsing and granting faculties to Catholic chaplains and deacons in service to those populations.Archbishop Timothy Broglio is the Ordinary of the Archdiocese and Bishop Richard Higgins, Bishop Joseph Estabrook, and Bishop Richard Spencer, are the three Auxiliaries. In support of the mission, they spend 65 percent of their time on pastoral visits to over 220 military locations in 29 countries and 153 VA Medical Centers throughout the United States.The AMS faces special challenges in these times: The country has been at war for almost 10 years, placing a very heavy professional and personal burden on the men and women in the military and their family members. With such hardships they rely on our Catholic chaplains for spiritual guidance and support. At the same time, the chaplains are hard pressed to serve them owing to the severe shortage in their ranks.In 2001 there were over 400 active duty Catholic chaplains. Today there are only 272. While some 25 percent in the military are Catholic, only 8 percent of military chaplains are Catholic priests. This shortfall places a very heavy burden on our Catholic chaplains, and results in our military men and women serving "in harm's way" not having access to the sacraments for months at a time. A key role of the AMS is caring and supporting Catholic Chaplains in such troubling times as well as seeking more chaplains from US dioceses and religious orders.One way the AMS is directly addressing the severe chaplain shortage is through its Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program, which identifies and encourages men in the military to seek a vocation to the priesthood for the benefit of the entire Church and service thereafter as a chaplain. Just as vocations surged after World War II, today's military is also a most fertile ground for priestly and religious vocations.

What is the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program? With more than 300,000 Catholics between the ages of 18 and 29 on active duty, the U. S. military provides the Church with a tremendous pool of potential priestly vocations. These military members have chosen a vocation that demands sacrifice, self-discipline, obedience, and valor--all fundamental attributes for priesthood or religious life. In the same way that all dioceses have an obligation to assist young men in the discernment of a vocation to the priesthood, the Archdiocese for the Military Services does its part in inviting and prayerfully guiding those in the military so that they are equipped to decide if they will enter a seminary for a US diocese or religious order. In 2008, the AMS initiated a long-term program to recruit priestly vocations from the military for the benefit of US dioceses, religious orders and the armed forcess. As part of the program the AMS has made a contractual commitment with US dioceses to fund 50% of the cost of five years of seminarian education ($30,000 per year). In return, the candidate and diocese agree that, once ordained and having served in a parish for three years, the priest will commit to serve as a military chaplain in the Armed Forces for three years or more. Currently there are 30 co-sponsored seminarians in the program from 22 US dioceses and studying in 16 seminaries.(A) unique requirement for the AMS is to maintain faithfully and provide Sacramental Records (baptisms, confirmations, marriages) for anybody receiving the sacraments at a military installation. The AMS stores over 2 million records and receives over 10,000 requests for copies of records each year...Did you know??? Today's military provides more vocations to the priesthood for the Catholic Church in America that any other single source...The AMS depends on Salute Magazine's readers' generosity and support. A gift can support vocations in two ways:

1. For Vocations Discernment weekends, the Archdiocese covers the cost of members of the Armed Forces interested in exploring their call to priestly service. Just one weekend for 35 men runs $30,000, including airfare, board, lodging, and other travel expenses.

2. With the Co-Sponsorship Program, military men who have a vocation to the priesthood will be co-sponsored through their five years of seminary training with a US diocese or religious order. The number of Co-Sponsored seminarians in the last two years has increased four-fold--from 7 to 30. Source: Salute. For new subscriptions send title, name, address, and phone number to support@milarch.org or call 202-719-3600 or write Development Office, Archdiocese for the Military Services, P. O. Box 4469, Washington, D.C. 20017-0469.

Notes from Pam McKenzie: Several Serrans attended the Schubert Male Chorus Concert on December 4. For those who missed this social event, there was glorious singing and entertaining. Afterwards, we all commented on how the concert put us all in the Christmas mode. Many thanks to Dan and Jeanine LaVille for hosting the social gathering prior to the event. The food was delicious and the conversations with friends was wonderful. Thank you also to the Serrans who invited a sister or a priest to the concert. They were very appreciative of the opportunity to attend this event with us.

A Message from Bishop F. Richard Spencer. The Holy Father recently appointed Auxiliary Bishop to the Archdiocese for the Military Service: "Auscultabo ut Serviam." "I will listen that I may serve." I look forward to doing just that--listening and being of service to you and with you--to the Glory of God through his Son Jesus, the Christ!"

As we celebrate the Advent season, let us be thankful for the Lord's blessings.

Pray a decade a day for Vocations!

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, November 2010

Calendar of Events.
November 8, 2010. Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Louis Benton Steak House. Speaker will be Sr. Myra Bergman, Mission Services, Sisters of Mercy.
November 15, 2010. Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Louis Benton Steak House.
November 22, 2010. Prayer Service and Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart.
December 4, 2010. Board Planning Meeting at Sacred Heart Rectory. Mass at 8:00 a.m. with meeting to follow. Among other activities we will discuss, we will keep you informed of our efforts in planning and promoting a spring event.


Looking Ahead.
January 9-15, 2011. National Vocation Awareness Week.
January 13, 2011. Serra USA Leadership Development Conference.
January 14-16, 2011. Serra USA Super Weekend, Chicago, Ill. See Serraus.org for details.


We urge all of our members to become involved in these regional, national, and international Serra events.

Priests' Anniversaries.

Father Rock Badgerow, 11-3-1979; Fr. Thomas Boufford, 11-7-1981; Fr. Dan DePew, 11-2-1985; Fr. Charles Hall, 11-3-1979, Fr. Peter Schafer, 11-12-2005; Fr. Ed Vella, 11-9-1985; and Fr. Wayne Wheeler, 11-3-1979.

Thank-you Notes.


Dear Serra Friends: My sincere thanks for your good wishes and thoughtfulness on the occasion of my fifth anniversary as Bishop of Grand Rapids. Your gift was most thoughtful. I am grateful for your prayres and good wishes. Walter A. Hurley.


Dear Serra Club: On behalf of the priests of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, I would like to thank you for your generous donation to the 2010 Priest Convocation. It is a wonderful opportunity for the priests of the diocese to come together for relaxation, camaraderie, and learning.


Thank you for your continued support that the Serra Club provides through prayer and service to the Church. Good bless for all you do.


Peace, Rev. Mark Przybysz


Director Continuing Formation of Priests



Another Thank-you...to Beverly Shields and Nancy Mulvihill and all our club members who participated in launching 31 Clubs in Lakeview and Howard City last weekend. By promoting and launching this effort, we have increased our army of Pray-ers for Vocations!
Confraternity for Priestly Renewal suggests praying the Rosary a decade a day in its pamphlet,
"Pray for Priests. A Decade a Day." Visit http://www.eccesacerdos.com/ for more information.



Our Seminaries are Full...Is this something we dreamed? No, Fr. Aldo Vendramin, C. S., of the Scalabrini Missionaries spoke this most welcome message during his homily as guest priest at Our Lady of Sorrows on World Mission Sunday. Not only did we learn more about this vibrant order, but also about Fr. Aldo's missionary work, most recently in Guatemala.
The Scalabrinian Missionaries, serving migrants, refugees, and seafarers, were founded by Bishop John Baptist Scalabrini in 1887. Initially the Congregation expanded particularly in North and South America, engaged in the assistance to Italian migrants. The transformation of international migrations which began in the 1960s, with the progressive globalization of flows and diviversification of countries of origin, brought also a transformation in the Congregation, and the order is now involved with migrants of all nationalities.
The Scalibrinians are present in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, South Africa, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Australia.
The Scalabrinians provide a variety of services for migrants, In addition to the spiritual ministry and community building, they provide education in schools, local organization for cultural activities, care for the sick, counseling, and legal referral, advocacy, and care for the elderly. They also encourage the study of migration through research centers and the dialogue with political and civil groups through specialized magazines.
Let us give thanks for the vocations of Fr. Aldo and his fellow Scalibrinians, and may your order continue to grow.
Information provided by personal notes and www.scalibrini.asn.au/





Some thoughts about Cincinnati. Those of us from the Grand Rapids Serra Club who attended the Ohio Valley Great Lakes 2010 Regional Conference would like to thank everyone who was involved in the planning and carrying out of this wonderful conference.
What did we gain from our attendance?
1) Renewed enthusiasm for our faith and for our mission in fostering and praying for priestly and religious vocations.
2) A reminder that prayer is fundamental to our mission.
3) Renewed resolve to increase our membership. More on that later.
4) A reminder of the importance of the College Connection in our outreach to young people.
5) A reminder that we must remain open to new technologies in communicating with young people.
6) A reflection on the importance of what priests do: they oversee the spiritual life and death of human beings.
7) A reading list, as follows: Rediscovering Catholocism, Journeying Toward Our Spiritual North Star, by Matthew Kelly. Beacon, 2002. According to the book jacket introduction,


"Over the past ten years, Matthew Kelly has seen more of this world that most presidents and more of the Church than most bishops. Now, in this unique and timely book, he proposes that Catholicism is not a lifeless set of rules and regulations, but a way of life designed by God to help each person reach his full potential. With remarkable insight, Kelly dispels dozens of the myths that surround the practice and rejection of Catholicism today, and provides a profound and practical vision of what will lead the Catholic Church to thrive again in the future."


In some parishes, every member is given a copy of this book. To order it, or share it with others, just visit http://www.dynamiccatholic.com/ and request as many copies as you would like to pass around in your community. Or visit or write to DynamicCatholic.com, 2330 Kemper Lane, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211.
As all of the speakers at the Convention reminded us, our faith is not something we practice on Sunday, we must EVANGELIZE, not tomorrow, but NOW. We must make the Gospel, and our knowledge of Jesus through the daily reading of the Gospel, the center of our lives.
The Eucharist and the Rosary: Mystery, Meditation, Power, Prayer, by Matt Swain.
New from Liguori Publications. Call 1-800-325-9521 to order, or visit http://www.liguori.org/
Matt Swain was the presenter of the Communications Workshop.


Booklets to inspire prayer and meditation:
Inspiration, by Rev. Jim Willig, 2005.
Write or call HEART TO HEART, 1768 Cedar Avenue, c/o McAuley Convent, Cincinnati, OH, 45224. 513-791-9700 or 1-877-208-4875.


Listening Prayer: God Speaks in Prayer Relationships, by Robert R. Massa, a member of Serra Club of Cincinnati #371.


And from the Membership Workshop, a handout from Lake Geauga Serra Club's 2009 Membership Drive resulting in 17 new members--a 40 percent increase in club membership.


By Nancy King
The above books and pamphlets could become Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers for our members and prospective members.
And, speaking of Christmas (yes, it's almost that time already!!!), order a Holy Spirit Monastery Gifts catalog from the Abbot's Table, Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Edition 29, 2010 toll free at 1-800-592.5203. Consider ordering gifts from this catalog as one more way to support vocations and to provide those on our gift list with beautiful, mouth-watering foods and beverages. The mission at Holy Spirit Monastery, Ora et Labora: St. Benedict's simply motto reflects our goal at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit is to serve and contemplate God in all we do.


More Thoughts on Membership from Being a Serran docx.


Being a Serran...what does it all mean? Below is a list of questions. Please take some time and answer them honestly.
What do I personally believe is the Serra mission?
How many years have I been a Serran? What keeps me in the GR Serra Club working for vocations?
Could I name and share with others three blessings I have received as part of my membership in the Grand Rapids Serra Club?
Could I name three activities conducted by our club that fulfill Serra's mission?
What would the world be like without Serrans?
Could I name three reasons why the Church needs Serra? Has our club made a difference in Serra's mission to foster priestly and religious vocations?
And, think about a person you want to invite to the Grand Rapids Serra Club. What about this special person made you think that he or she would find membership in Serra fulfilling. What qualities does this person possess that could make him or her a valuable member of our club?
After answering these questions, you may find yourself better prepared to approach someone about joining Serra. Writing down your answers will give you a clear picture of your own personal experience of Serra and how you and your club play a part in its mission. A snapshot of what Serra means to you personally could be much more effective than the scripted mission.


Submitted by Pam McKenzie



A Message from our President.
Fellow Serrans: One of the best ways to develop a deeper appreciation of Serra is by attending regional and international conferences. This month's Regional Convention in Cincinnati was a rewarding experience for the five Serrans from our club( Nate, Nancy, John O., Jeanine, and me)
who attended. The highlight of the weekend was the Saturday luncheon speaker, Matthew Kelly, world renowned inspirational speaker and author. He distributed a free copy of his recent book, Rediscovering Catholicism, to all in attendance and spoke about living according to right values in a world of compromised morals.
What better way to conclude National Vocations Awareness Week, January 9-15, 2011 than by attending the Serra USA Council Super Weekend in Chicago? The event will take place at the Crowne Plaza-O'Hare from January 14-16. The room rate is only $81 per night and the registration is $75 per person. We are blessed to be located so close to Chicago. Go to
serraus.org for further information.
Special thanks this month to Bev Shields and Nancy Mulvihill for organizing our club's venture into new parishes in the northern part of our diocese to establish 31 Clubs and pray for vocations.


Sincerely,


Dan LaVille, President.

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter October 2010

Calendar of Events.

October 1-31, 2010. Keep in mind that October is Rosary Month and Respect Life Month. Pray the Rosary for vocations and respect for the sanctity of human life.

October 3, 2010. Respect Life Sunday.

October 8-10, 2010. Ohio Valley/Great Lakes Regional Convention, Cincinnati, OH. Call Dan LaVille if you want to make car pool arrangements.

October 11, 2010. Luncheon meeting, 12:00 Noon at Louis Benton Steak House. Scheduled speaker is C. Edward Balog, President of Aquinas College since 2007.

October 18, 2010. Board meeting, 12:00 Noon at Louis Benton Steak House.

October 23 and 24, 2010. Grand Rapids Serrans travel to Christ the King (9596 N. Reed Rd., Howard City, and St. Francis de Sales (829 E. Richardson, Lakeview) to invite formation of a 31 Club in these two parishes. Members choose one hour of one day of each month to pray for vocations. Brochures are available. Under the Serra-sponsored 31 Club plan, "thousands of Catholics pray for vocations through the 31 Club Program all over the world. This is an excellent way to spread realization of the need for an increase in priestly and religious vocations at the grassroots parish level. The introduction of the 31 Club into every parish can help encourage vocations and make parishioners aware of Serra's work." Source: the 31 club brochure, a program from the USA Council of Serra International. Len Gross and Bob Gabridge have volunteered for the 4:00 Saturday mass. We still need volunteers for 9:00 a.m., Lakeview, and 11:00 a.m., Howard City.

October 31, 2010. Celebrate Priesthood Sunday. Priesthood Sunday is a special day set aside to honor priesthood in the life of the Church as a central one. The nationwide event is coordinated and sponsored by the USA Council of Serra International.

Outside the Club. Our Lady of Sorrows Spaghetti Dinner, 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., October 10, 2010 Father Ted suggests the reminder for our calendars, 10-10-10. Tickets for adults are $8. Children's tickets are $3 and may be purchased in advance. Call 243-0222 for more information.

Looking Ahead. Monday, November 29, 2010. Vocations Dinner, Cathedral Square. The Dinner Committee is finalizing plans. Early bird tickets are $95. Tickets purchased after November 1 will be priced at $125. More information will become available as the committee continues its work. This year tables of six will be made available, as opposed to tables of eight in the past. Ralph Hauenstein will present the L. Bernard Haviland Award to an honored recipient.

October Anniversaries. We have only one for October: Deacon Don Sobolewski, October 16.

2010 Serra International Convention, Anchorage, AK--A Short Report.

As I await my convention materials, my notes (shipped back, since my suitcase was already bulging), and the availability of the information from Serra International and the SI website, I want to give you a brief preliminary report on the convention:

First, thanks to all for your efforts in getting delegate forms in--I had 14 delebate and proxy delegate designations to vote for clubs in Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. There were no issues which were the subject of debate or contention raised at the delegate meeting. The prior year's delegate meeting minutes, the coming year's Serra International budget, the past year's financial statements, related audit report, and the slate of officers and directors for the coming year were all presented for votes and were approved without dissent.

Approximately 200 persons attended the Anchorage convention. However, in spite of the small attendance, the bishops of the three dioceses in Alaska (Juneau, Anchorage, and Fairbanks) are all supportive of forming Serra Clubs in their respective dioceses.

An impressive number of Church heirarchy participated. Two cardinals, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, Archbishop of Lagos, Nigeria; and Francis Cardinal George, O. M. I., Archbishop of Chicago; and at least seven other bishops and archbishops (including one from Nigeria, two from Mexico, one from Canada, and three from Alaska), together with numerous clergy--many from Alaska--were in attendance.

I recommend that district governors and the respective clubs in their respective districts

obtain at least the following from Serra International related to the 2010 Serra International Convention proceedings:

***Transcript and CD (and/or DVD) of the Closing Banquet address of our incoming Serra International President John M. (Tomi) Asenuga, Lagos, Nigeria...(just outstanding!!!)

***Transcript of Anthony Cardinal Okogie, Archbishop of Lagos, Nigeria's presentation on the history of the priesthood in Nigeria

***Transcript and/or CD (and/or DVD) of Francis Cardinal George, O. M. I., Archbishop of Chicago's keynote address

***CD and/or DVD of Father Brett A. Brannen's presentation on Vocations, Discernment, and the Seminary (most enthusiastically received by attendees!)

***Transcript, if available and/or DVD) of the remarks of Bishop Edward J. Burns, Bishop of Juneau and former Rector of St. Paul Seminary in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, PA.

And of course, there is more. I attended two sessions (Serra Around the World and the Communications Breakout Session) that were devoted to the new Serra International Website and details regarding its goals, functions, mechanics, implications for existing Serra websites, other implications, and implementation concerns, etc. I will have more to report on this and other Convention topics later.

The scheduled location for our 2011 SI Convention, London, England, is to be changed because of conflicts with other events scheduled for London at the same time and projected costs. A decision on a new site is to be made within a month--any USA site is at issue because of the approximately 60 Nigerians who wished to attend the Anchorage convention who were unable to obtain visas from the United States government and were, therefore, not able to attend.

I hope to see all in Cincinnati at our Regional Converence in October. More later...Mary, Mother of Vocations, pray for us!

Sincerely,

John Osterhart, Director, Region 6

USA Council, Serra International

Editor's Note: Thank you, John for attending SI, for representing us as a delegate, and for submitting this report.

Inaugural Speech. We offer the following excerpts from the Inaugural Speech of our new International President, John M. (Tomi) Asenuga, Lagos, Nigeria.

When one first joins Serra, it certainly is not with the goal of becoming President. One joins Serra because its objectives and purposes align with one's own--a fervent desire to becoming a cooperator with the Holy Spirit in fostering and promiting vocations to the ministerial priesthood, and the desire to answer the call to personal holiness.

Since I joined Serra, I have always loved what it stands for. My own biship, His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie, who by the grace of God is here with us tonight, always encourages me to strive to do Serra's work for vocations. He taught us that the secret of Serra's success is prayer. The power of prayer is what has brought me to where I stand tonight.

Thank you all for your confidence in me. I feel honored by the nominating committee's and the delegates' actions in electing me as your President. Please pray for me and for Serra as we face the year ahead...

We proudly, firmly, and resolutely foster and promote vocations to the sacred priesthood, and we proclaim that priestly vocations are a gift from the Lord, and that they are an example of the powerful mystery of God's love for us...

As the first Serra President from the continent of Africa, I recognize the great potential to introduce Serra to the countries that make up Africa, many of which are experiencing a tremendous growth in religious faith and vocations. During my tenure, I intend to launch Serra across the African continent. To do this successfully, all hands in the entire Serra ship must be on deck.

Africa, the missionary land of yesterday, has become the leaven for the global Church of tomorrow. From the spiritual wealth of Africa, missionary priests are being called to serve in the materially wealthy but spiritually poor countries of Europe and North America.

How do we, as Serrans, stand ready to take advantage of this global shift? This is a clear message to all that Serra must be a global organization just as the Church herself is. Serra must be united and stand together to execute this task successfully, because our unity will give us the strength fo succeed...

Fellow Serrans, know that by supporting the Church's priests around the world through your prayers and actions, you are doing work that is vital to the Church. Be guided by the words of Matthew's Gospel 5:4-16: You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Christ's final command to his apostles was: "Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations..."

We've been given our marching orders. Now let's pray and follow those orders...

I thank Almighty God for keeping us to this day and entrust the future into His hands.

God bless you all! Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!

A Special Guest. Our club was honored at the September 27 meeting at Sacred Heart by a visit from Anne Melissa Hughes, who is putting together a book called, Letters to Priests, Thanking the Men of the Catholic Church project. We were introduced to Anne through Tim Hile, who, because of a business contact, learned of the project and invited her to address our club to acquiant us with this project in the making. Anne invites fellow Catholics to join her by sharing stories of how a priest guided them to joy in time of need, as many others have done in the past. Visit the website http://letterstopriests.com/

Special Prayers. We ask for special prayers for Serran Mary Stepanovich, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is in the process of weighing treatment options.

Our President's Message:

Fellow Serrans: October 31, 2010 is Priesthood Sunday. It is a day when we should salute our priests and express our appreciation for all that they do. The nationwide event is co-ordinated and sponsored by the USA Council of Serra International (USAC). They have established a website for planning: www.priestsunday.org The last newsletter I received from USAC provided some food for thought:

One afternoon, I was waiting for Mass to start at St. John's and there was no priest. Some nuns were visiting from New York and they said they didn't have a priest in all their parishes any more and that Eucharistic services were common. I thought, "What would it be like if there were no priests?" And I asked myself, "What are you doing about it?" Elizabeth Shrier, Serra Club of Omaha, NE.

We all need to ask ourselves both questions...Have you personally encouraged a young person to consider a religious vocation lately? Dan LaVille, President.

Concluding Prayer. Let us end this newsletter with the Prayer of St. Francis, the Sunday prayer for the brochure, "My Daily Prayer Book."

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred,

let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where thre is darkness, light,

and where there is sadness, joy.

Amen.

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter September, 2010

Calendar of Events. Looking ahead to an important event. Weekend masses at Christ the King and St. Francis de Sales, October 23 and 24, 2010. Past President Pam McKenzie reports that Father Jim Wyse has asked the Grand Rapids Serra Club to be present at the two churches where he serves, named above. The Serra Club would offer a few sentences about who we are and answer questions following the masses. Beverly Shields has asked the secretary to see that we have 300 or so prayer cards made up for the event. One of our purposes is to help the parishes form Club 31 groups. The parish provides a chart or calendar with 31 days marked in according to how the days fall in that particular month. Each parishioner chooses one of the days and agrees to pray for vocations on that day, and of course more than one parishioner could pray on a particular day. 31 clubs have been part of the Serra Club for some time, but this activity offers a chance for parishes to support v0cations whether or not they have enough numbers and resources to form a full club. We urge your participation if you can be present on either of those days. R. S. V. P. by calling Beverly Shields or Nancy Mulvihill.
Regularly Scheduled Events.
September 13, 2010. Note that we are back at Louis Benton Steak House for our regular noon meeting. Charles Honey of the Grand Rapids Press will speak.
September 20, 2010. Board meeting, 12:00 noon at Louis Benton Steak House.
September 27, 2010. Prayer service and luncheon meeting at Sacred Heart.

October 8, 9, and 10. Ohio Valley/Great Lakes Regional Convention, Cincinnati, Ohio. We received a recent mailing that announced September 17 as the last day to register for the $115 hotel rate. Speakers include the following: Brian Patrick, a broadcast veteran for 35 years. host of the SonRise Morning Show on Cincinnati's Sacred Heart Radio, and heard nationwide on EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network. He also anchors EWTN's TV series "Crossing the Goal;"

Matthew Kelly, world renown author and inspirational speaker; and Fr. Jay Scott Newman, a passionate priest and pastor of St. Mary Church in Greenville, SC. He preaches on the importance of knowing and truly living our Catholic faith. For hotel reservations call 1-800-445-8667, remembering to mention UCS code for the special $115 tax per night rate for Friday and Saturday nights. For more information call Dottie at 1-800-334-9548 or e-mail serra@matlock electric.com

Activities outside the club.

September 10, 11, and 12. The Knights of Columbus Council 4362 invites you to join them for their First Annual Community Festival. the festival offer activities for people of all ages. 5830 Clyde Park SW, Wyoming, MI 49509.

September 27-30, 2010. Priests' Convocation. At the August 30 Board meeting, our club approved a motion to donate $600 to the convocation.

October 3, 2010. Wedding Anniversary Mass. Together with your families, the Church in the Diocese of Grand Rapids honors the faithful witnesses to the vocation of marriage and wishes to celebrate with them. Bishop Hurley is inviting all couples celebrating anniversaries of 25, 40, 50, 60 or more years to join him on Sunday, October 3 at the 10 a.m. mass at The Cathedral of St. Andrew. RSVP by calling your parish office.

October 31, 2010. Celebrate Priesthood Sunday.

Priests' Anniversaries.
Anniversaries for September are as follows:
Fr. Loc Trinh, September 19, 1992
Fr. Ron Hutchinson, September 24, 1994

Diocese of Grand Rapids New Assignments.
Rev. Aaron Ferris, currently Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Grace and St. Thomas the Apostle Parishes, Muskegon, is appointed Administrator of St. Jerome Parish, Scottville, and St. Mary Parish, Custer, effective October 1, 2010.
Rev. Mr. Larry Hogeboom is reappointed for a three-year term as Deacon at St. Jude Parish, Grand Rapids, effective immediately.
Rev. Roc Gerald Majalla, SAC, is appointed temporary Administrator of All Saints Parish, Fremont, and St. Joseph Parish, White Cloud, effective August 30, 2010. This appointment is until October 1, 2010 and in addition to his responsibilities as Pastor at St. Michael Parish, Brunswick, with mission at Christ the King, Hisperia.
Rev. Peter Omogo, currently Associate Pastor at St. John Vianney Parish, Wyoming, is appointed Administrator of All Saints Parish, Fremont, and St. Joseph Parish, White Cloud, effective October 1, 2010.
Fr. Philip J. Salmonowicz is appointed pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish, Muskegon, effective October 1, 2010. He has been serving as pastor of St. Charles, Greenville, and St. Margaret Mission, Harvard.
Rev. Anthony Britto, SAC, currently Pastor at St. Margaret Mary Parish, Edmore, and St. Bernadette Parish, Stanton, is appointed Administrator of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Muskegon Township, effective October 1, 2010.

Rev. Michael F. Burt, currently Associate Pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Remus, is appointed Pastor of St. Michael the Archangel, Remus, effective October 1, 2010.

Fr. Peter M. Chukwu, who has served as pastor of All Saints Parish, Fremont, and St. Joseph Parish, White Cloud, is returning home to Nigeria September 1, 2010. Bishop Hurley writes, "I am grateful to his bishop for releasing him to serve here in Grand Rapids and to Fr. Peter for his generous service these past years."

Rev. Michael F. Cilibraise, currently Administrator of St. Jerome Parish, Scottville, and St. Mary Parish, Custer, is appointed Pastor of St. Charles Parish, Greenville, and St. Margaret Mission Parish, Harvard, effective October 1, 2010.

Source: Bishop Hurley, Cathedral Square Center website.

A Thank-you Note. Dear Serra Friends: My sincere thanks for your good wishes and thoughtfulness on the occation of my 5th anniversary as Bishop of Grand Rapids. Your gift was most thoughtful. I am grateful for your prayers and good wishes as I offer you mass. Walter A. Hurley

A Prayer Request. Serran John Osterhart sends us a request for prayers for Janet Ruger and Ann McRoy, two members of the larger Serra family, who are experiencing desperate health problems. Janet Ruger, wife of Past Saginaw Serra Club President Bill Ruger, is fighting cancer. Ann McRoy, wife of our immediate Past Serra USA Council President Doug McRoy is also fighting cancer, and her treatment options at this point seem quite bleak. Both of these couples have attended multiple Grand Rapids Serra functions.

VocationBoom.com When Pope Benedict XVI announced the Year for Priests in June 2009, it seemed to Jerry Usher like the confirmation of an idea he had had for 20 years. He thought, "The year for Priests is now the time to unveil 'Vocation Boom.'"

The first phase of his new initiative of VocationBoom.com, which launched September 14, 2009, the feast of Exaltation of the Cross. The website's purpose is to provide a place where young men interested in the priesthood can find resources and serve as a "one-stop global meeting place relating to priestly vocations to provide encouragement, motivation and inspiration to one another," says Usher.

Usher has worked on the idea since is college days. After graduating from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, he spent three years in a seminary, followed by a year of pastoral assignment during which he and some friends started a newsletter on vocational discernment.

Although he ultimately discerned the priesthood is not his calling, Usher says the desire to promote the priesthood and priestly vocations never left him...

Usher's (multimedia) experience has come in handy. From 1998-2008 he became creator and host of Catholic Answers Live" and helped some Catholic radio stations get off the ground. He also founded and currently heads Third Millennium Media to assist Catholic radio, ministries and apostolates in their rapid growth. Now with the Vocation Boom website, Usher is bringing his media and theological expertise to promote vocations to the priesthood. The website provides links to a number of videos like the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' award-winning "Fishers of Men." Among more than 20 videos to date, viewers can watch a profile of St. John Marie Vianney, hear Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, listen to seminarians, and see what life is like as a seminarian...

Usher welcomes any diocese or religious order that wants to put a link on the site, and he hopes to get every U. S. seminary listed.

A recent online addition is interviews, including one of Grant Desme, who left major league baseball to enter the seminary this year and Usher himself being interviewed by journalist Teresa Tomeo on her "Catholic Connections" program.

VocationBoom.com is gaining attention. On their list of "Top 10 Vocation Sites" for 2010, the USCCB's Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations website, ForYourVocation.org calls Vocation Boom the "Best New Resource on Priesthood."...

What's next for VocationBoom.com? Making the site more interactive, with a forum and comment boxes. Usher also hopes to have a regular weekly radio and TV show, plus rallies and retreats to get young men and their families together to encourage and inspire them to think about priestly vocation.

"It all depends," he says, on God providing us with the resources."

So far, they're booming.

By National Catholic Register staff writer Joseph Pronechen. Source: National Catholic Register, August 30, 2010 Culture of Life.

A Message from our President.

Fellow Serrans: October 31st is Celebrate Priesthood Sunday. on the website of the USA Council of Serra there is a section devoted to "priest hero" stories. The stories got me to reflect upon priests who have been significant in my life. The one that stands out is Father Victor Kreinbrink, C. P. P. S., from the Precious Blood Order. He was the pastor of my home parish, St. James the Less, when I grew up in Columbus and attended grade school there from 1957-1965. Father Kreinbrink was a large man who was very devout and attended the needs of our parish with two assistant pastors from the Precious Blood Order. He was the priest for whom I served many Masses. He taught us a respect for our faith.

I remember on November 22, 1963, sitting in my 7th grade classroom when Father Kreinbrink came over the loudspeaker and announced with a profound sadness in his voice that President Kennedy had been shot and killed in Dallas, Texas. I can still hear his words.

My reflection about Father Kreinbrink caused me to go to the internet, and I soon discovered that he had passed away in 1982. I won't be able to thank him in person, but I will remember him on October 31st. Do you have a special priest in your own history?

Dan LaVille.

Let us close this newsletter with this special prayer:

ANIMA CHRISTI

Soul of Christ, sanctify me;

Body of Christ, save me;

Blood of Christ, inebriate me;

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me;

O good Jesus, hear me;

Within Thy wounds hide me;

Suffer me not to be separated from Thee,

From the malignant enemy defend me;

In the hour of my death, call me,

And bid me come to Thee,

That, with Thy Saints, I may praise Thee

Forever and ever. Amen.

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, August, 2010

Calendar of Events.
August 9, 2010. Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at the University Club. As far as we know, we will go back to Louis Benton Steak House beginning in September. We'll keep you posted.

August 11, 2010. Last day for early registration for the Great Lakes Regional Conference.
August 16, 2010. Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at the University Club.
August 23, 2010. Prayer Service and Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart.

Will and Michelle, our Notre Dame Vision students for this year, will speak.
Dates to Remember. Serra International Convention, September 2-5 in Anchorage, Alaska.
October 8-10, 2010. Great Lakes Regional Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio. Please notify Dan LaVille if you plan to attend so that you may make transportation arrangements if you wish. See the President's Message for further information.

October 31, 2010. Priesthood Sunday.

November 29, 2010. Vocations Dinner. Plans are underway.

Other Dates to Remember. A number of extra-Serran events are taking place as well:

Friday Evenings during August. 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows. In preparation for the Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15, devotions to the Seven Sorrows of Mary are being held. The seven founders of the Servite Order took up the sorrows of Mary, standing at the foot of the cross, as their principal devotion in 1239 just five years after the order was founded. The Seven Sorrows are The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:33-35), The Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt (Matthew 3:13-15), The Child Jesus is Lost (Luke 2:41-52), Mary Meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (John 19:17), Jesus is Crucified and Dies on the Cross (John 19:25-30), Mary Receives the Dead Body of Jesus (John 19:31-37), and Jesus is Buried in the Tomb (John 38:42). The devotions provide the opportunity to reflect on how Mary's pain led to our salvation.

August 6, 2010. First Friday Eucharistic Night Vigil, St. Isidore Church. Mass begins at 7:00 p.m. with rosary to follow. The Vigil closes with Benediction at 9:50 p.m.

August 18, 2010. Annual Pray and Spray Softball Classic, 6:30 p.m. at Holy Spirit. The nominal admission fee benefits the Grand Rapids Fire Department's favorite charities.

September 26, 2010. SS. Peter & Paul Fall Festival, 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. This year's festival will be featuring an area for vendors and crafters to sell their goods. Call 454-6000 if you wish to participate as a vendor.

Put 10-10-10 on your calendar. It's the date for the next Spaghetti Dinner at Our Lady of Sorrows. Dinners are served from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Call 243-0222 for advance tickets.

And....Home Cooking, Heaven Sent cookbooks by Christ the King and St. Francis de Sales parishes, Howard City, are being sold for $20. Let Pam McKenzie know if you are interested.

Priests' Anniversaries. Our priests' anniversaries for August are as follows:

August 11, 1984. Reverend George Darling

August 11, 1984. Reverend Steve Dudek

August 24, 1975 Reverend Dennis Morrow

August 20. 1983 Reverend Dennis O'Donnell

August 21, 1983 Reverend Eugene Okoli

August 2, 1980 Reverend Don Tufts

A Thank-you Note. June 29, 2010. Dear Serra Friends, God bless you for your generous donation (to St. Ann's Home). We were happy to be able to have you meet here. Mrs. Cebelak is happy for the daily Mass and Rosary. Gratefully, Sister M. Gabriela.

Belated Recognition. Serran Abe Rossi was among the several parishioners mentioned on June 2 in the Grand Rapids Press for their gardening work at Holy Spirit Church. Serrans get involved in all sorts of parish and community activities. Thank you, Abe and your fellow parishioners for your good work.

Source: Grand Rapids Press, June 2, 2010

Adoration. Beverly Shields and Nancy Mulvihill are working on an adoration schedule for our club. We'll let you know when plans are finalized. In the meantime, keep in mind that Sacred Heart schedules a Eucharistic Day of Adoration each month, on the Thursday prior to First Friday.

Sent on Mission. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus sent 72 men, two-by-two, to preach the Kiongdom of God and heal the sick. They were sent off with nothing more than the clothes on their backs and the sandals on their feet, and told not to bring a single thing with them, except faith in Jesus that God would provide. Before Jesus returned to the Father again he sent his disciples on mission, "Go to all the people everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and tech them to obey everything I have commanded you."
For Blessed Junipero Serra, whose feast day we celebrate each July 1, this call from Jesus to evangelize became the center of his life. He walked thousands of miles from Mexico to California establishing missions, facing dangers and threats, enduring the inclement weather and hunger, and relying--just like the 72 men sent by Jesus to preach the Kingdom of God--on the power of the Gospel he preached. Father Junipero is said to have baptized over 6,000 people and confirmed over 5,000.
During his homily at Serra's beatification, Pope John Paul II said: "Relying on the divine power of the message he proclaimed, Father Serra led the native people to Christ. He was well aware of their heroic virtues--as he exemplified in the life of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (July 14)--and he sought to further their authentic human development on the basis of their new-found faith as persons created and redeemed by God. He also had to admonish the powerful, in the spirit of a reading from James, not to abuse and exploit the poor and the weak."
Just like the 72 men, the disciples, and Blessed Junipero, we are called and sent on mission to evangelize and make disciples of all people. The call is not just to the bishops and priests or to religious brothers, sisters, and missionaries. Through our baptism each one of us is called and sent out on mission to bring Christ and the Kingdom of God to everyone.
In September 2010, Catholic organizations, leaders and faithful from across the United States will gather at the Roots and Wings National Congress under the theme, "Rooted in Discipleship:Enviados a mision. The congress, which is being organized by the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry (NC-CHM) in collaboration with the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is an opportunity to celebrate, reflect on the current reality of Hispanic ministry in the United States,, carry out theological reflection, and look toward the future with concrete projections for ministerial actions. At the close of Roots & Wings National Congress, participants will be sent on mission to recommit to the Lord's work of evangelization, helping those in need, and nourishing them with the Gospel and sacraments. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate in this national gathering. For more information, visit: ncchm.org
Source: The Catholic Directory, reprinted in Our Lady of Sorrows Bulletin, July 18, 2010.

A Special Visitor. Our club was privileged to welcome a special guest, Father Zbigniew Stankiewicz, Archbishop-elect of Riga, Latvia at our July 26 meeting at Sacred Heart, at which time he spoke briefly about his faith journey. Father Stankiewicz was born in Lejasciems County, Gulbene District, Latvia in 1955. As a student he recalls being the only believer in his class, but as a young adult he lost his faith, perhaps because in his godless society of the time, the pressure not to believe was so great.
He graduated from Riga Politechnical Institute in 1978 with a degree in engineering, working eight years as an engineer. During that time he becaue intensely interested in yoga as a path to spiritual perfection and read whatever he could find on Buddhism. A fairly long-term relationship with an ecumenical Bible study group rekindled his interest in Christianity. At one point he experienced an overwhelming desire to go to confession. That call eventually led to his vocation.
He received his master's degree from the Catholic University of Lublin in 1996. After studying in Rome at the Pontifical Lateran University, he received the degree of doctor of theology in 2008. At the time of his nomination on June 21 as the new Archbishop of Riga he was working as the director of the Riga Institute of Higher Religious Sciences. Lately he has been working on integrating psychotherapy and theological studies, a combination which he sees as a special need for those who grew up in the oppresive atmosphere of Communism.
"We have been damaged," he says. "We are all wounded." Father Stankiewicz also spoke of the need for more priests in Latvia. While there are many more young priests than older ones in Latvia, there is nevertheless a shortage. Therefore, we Serrans are encouraged to continue to pray for more priestly vocations, not only for ourselves but for other locations as well.
He has published several scientific works and participated in a number of scientific conferences; his hobbies include track and field sports and mountain climbing. He is a fluent speaker of Latvian, Polish, Russian, Italian, and English, and he can also communicate and read in French and German.
His consecration ceremony will take place on Sunday, August 8 at St. Jacob's (Lutheran)Cathedral, and he will be installed as Archbishop of Riga on Saturday, August 21 at St. James (Catholic) Cathedral.

Sources: "Zbignevs Stankevics nominated for Riga archbishop," June 21, 2010. http://www.reitingi.lv/ retrieved 7/26/2010 and editor's notes.

Please note that the several discrepancies in the spelling of Father's name are because of the differences in the Latvian and Polish versions of his name.

A Message from our President. Dear Fellow Serrans: As we begin August, I urge you to register for the Great Lakes Regional Conference in Cincinnati from October 8-10. The deadline to receive the reduced conference rate of $199 is August 11. We are all staying a the Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel, which is a beautiful hotel in downtown Cincinnati at a much reduced rate of $115 per night (usual rate is $249). It is important to support the Cincinnati club in their hosting of this conference which will "recharge" our Serra batteries.
Your local Serra Club discussed and approved the idea of seeking to host the 2013 Serra Regional Conference for Grand Rapids to celebrate our 65th year of existence. Although this will be a huge undertaking for our club, the reward of hosting a conference will be the satisfaction that we are advancing the mission of Serra. We will keep you advised on our progress in obtaining our conference for 2013.
Did you know that Serra has an interesting web page at http://www.serraus.org/? Contained within that web page is a link to the Serra USA Circle of Prayer which contains prayer petitions from Serra. The power of prayer is still so important in our fast-moving 21st Century. Dan LaVille, President.

Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us...

O God, Who will not the death of a sinner but rather that he be converted and live.

Grant we beseech you,

through the intercession of Blessed Mary, ever Virgin

St. Joseph, her spouse,

Blessed Junipero Serra,

and all the saints,

an increase in laborers for Your Church

fellow laborers with Christ to spend and consume themselves for souls through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen

Source: From the prayer card of Frederick Louis McNair

Requiescat in Pace

17 August 1945-13 March 2010

Serra Club of Grand Rapids Newsletter July, 2010

Calendar of Events.


July 1, 2010. Feast day of Blessed Junipero Serra. Fellow Serran Hon. Dennis Leiber passes along this message he received from another fellow Serran: Thanks be to God for today's feast remembering Blessed Junipero Serra! May God's blessings be with you today and every day as always! Mary, Mother of Vocations, pray for us. Darryl Ross
July 12, 2010. Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at the University Club. Mark Thomson of St. John's Home is tentatively slated as our speaker.
July 19, 2010. Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at the University Club.
July 26, 2010. Prayer Service and Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart.
September 2-5, 2010. Serra International Convention, Anchorage, Alaska. Please note our board nominated and approved John Osterhart as our club's delegate to the International Convention and Dennis Leiber as alternate. So far Grand Rapids Serrans planning to attend are Dennis Leiber (and Margaret), John Osterhart (and Ellen), and Dan Grady, who serves on the International Board.
October 8-10, 2010. Regional Convention, Cincinnati, Ohio. Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr invites us to join the Serra Club for a weekend of prayer, worship, education, recreation, and socialization with Serrans and friends to grow in our ability to promote vocations. The convention will feature Brian Patrick, host of the SonRise Morning Show on Cincinnati's Sacred Heart Radio and anchors the EWTN series, "Crossing the Goal; inspirational speaker Matthew Kelly, and Fr. Jay Scott Newman, passionate priest and pastor of St. Mary Church in Greenville, S. C. Call 1-800-445-8867 for hotel reservations. Remember to mention the UCS code for the special rate of $115 per night for Friday and Saturday nights.
Extra-Serra Events. The Consolata Missionary Sisters invite us to a Liturgy of Thanksgiving celebrating the 100 anniversary of their Foundation on Saturday, July 17 at 11:00 a.m. at Assumption BVM Church, Belmont. Celebrant will be The Most Reverend Walter A. Hurley. Reception will follow. Please note the article on the Consolata Missionaries following the Priests' Anniversaries column.

July Anniversaries.
Reverend Raymond Bruck 7-20-1958
Reverend Peter Chukwu 7-3-1993
Reverend Lawrence King 7-8-1989
Reverend Lam Le 7-10-2004
Deacons: Manuel Herrera, 7-3-1977 and David Kasprzyk, 7-12-1981.
Lee Sullivan, our Serran in charge of sending the anniversary cards, received the following note from Father Fred Hoesli of Holland: Dear Friends in Christ, Thank you for your greetings and those of the Serra Club. Please continue to pray for vocations. God Bless, Fr. Fred

Laborers for the Harvest. (The Gospel for the weekend of July 4) tells the story of sending out the seventy-two, some of the first disciples in the burgeoning church. They must have been full of idealism and excitement as they went from town to town healing the sick and expelling demons. Today, the Fourth of July, we remember those who founded our country and can also imagine their excitement and idealism as they worked in this newly established country. Our Church, now over two thousand years old, is still in need of men filled with idealism and excitement who are willing to answer the call to the ordained priesthood. Today is a day to pray for vocations to the priesthood: as the Lord tells his disciples, "(A)sk the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest" (Luke 10:2).

The Consolata Missionaries...is a religious congregation of priests, brothers, and sisters dedicated for life to missions abroad, based in Turin, Italy where they were founded by a diocesan priest Fr. Giuseppe Allamano. Fr. Allemano was born at Castelnuovo d'Asti (near Turin) on January 21, 1851. In 1866, feeling a call to the priesthood, he entered the diocesan seminary, where he prepared himself with great dedication and intensity, in order to become not only a good priest, but a holy one.
A turning point in his life was his appointment as Rector of the main Marian Shrine of the diocese of Turin, the Consolata Shrine. The picture of Our Lady of Consolata, of Byzantine style, representing the Blessed Virgin Mary sitting with the little Jesus on her lap, is venerated since ancient times in the city of Turin. A very ancient tradition of an icon of the Consolate, hidden somewhere in the city of Turin, had been kept alive among the faithful in the city for many centuries.
In 1104, John Ravais, a blind man from Briancon, France, in a dream had a vision: buried under the ruins of an old church, he saw a painting of Our Lady. It was revealed to him that the site was in Turin, and that through him Our Blessed Lady would again be honored in that place. She also promised him that his sight would be restored. He journeyed to Turin as the vision directed. The excavation works began at the site: upon the blind man's urgings the crowds brought picks and shovels and uncovered first the remains of an old chapel and then the undamaged painting of Our Lady, the Consolata icon. It was June 20, 1104.
Deeply moved by the miracle of the recovery of the icon and the healing of the blind man, the citizens of Turin rebuilt the little chapel into a large shrine where they have continued through the centuries to venerate Our Lady of Consolata.
The devotion to the Consolata was given added impetus when Pope Leo XIII, consenting to many requests, established a proper Mass and Office of the Consolata, to be celebrated in the Diocese of Turin each year on June 20. On May 8, 1902, the first four missionaries, two priests and two lay brothers, left for Kenya, soon to be followed by others. They were helped by the Vincentian Sisters of St. Joseph Cottolengo who worked side by side with them. Later on, urged by Pope St. Pius X, on 29 January, 1910, he founded the Consolata Missionary Sisters. Father Allemano consecrated to the missions the rest of his life even though he carried on his usual ministry as a priest of the diocese of Turin...
Source: Catholic Dictionary, retrieved June 28, 2010
The International Congregation of the Consolata Missionary Sisters was founded ten years after the founding of the Consolata Fathers. Today the congregation boasts of 746 members worldwide, with 700 finally professed, 38 juniors, and 8 novices.
The Sisters carry on their missions in a number of countries throughout the world:
in the United States, the Dioceses of Grand Rapids, Saginaw, and Birmingham, Alabama; in South America in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela; in Europe, in the UK, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland; in Asia in Mongolia; and in Africa in Dubouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa.
"Today," write the Sisters, "we engage in a style of mission that is rooted in the Trinity, source of transformation and communion. We pattern our style of mission on the ways of Jesus and the faithfulness of Mary Consolata, sharing God's consoling love with all people."
Source: AllAfrica.com: Kenya: Consolata Missionary Sisters Clock 100 Years, retrieved June 28, 2010.



Another Thank-you Note. Treasurer Pat Leikert received the following note from John Woodward of Serra International:
Dear Serrans: On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Serra International Foundation, I wish to thank you for your recent contribution. Your gift of $500 is deeply appreciated, and Ralph Hauenstein will be honored at Mass by Most Rev. Timothy M. Dolan, Serra's Episcopal Advisor.
You will be pleased to know that your gift will help make possible an increase in your Foundations's annual grants to seminaries and houses of religious formation around the world. Since 1951, financial support from your Foundation has enabled many young people to discern and respond to God's call to serve the Church in priestly ministry or consecrated religious life.
By helping Serra to provide future generations with priests and consecrated religious, your gift will touch many lives and many souls.
May God bless you abundantly for your generous support of theSerra International Foundation. Mary, Mother of Vocations, pray for us!
Sincerely, John Woodward



Church Bulletins. Membership Chair Aggie Kempker-Cloyd requests bulletins from our respective parishes. If you have not already done so, please remember to bring yours to our next meeting.



A Message from our President.
My Fellow Serrans:
I was recently reviewing the web site of the Indianapolis Serra Club and they describe in their club history that:

"Fr. Richard Muller, our first chaplain, and Robert Alerding, our fourth club president, attended the 1954 Serra International Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Bob Alerding gave one of the convention talks."
I personally remember our own Dr. Matt Andrea relating how fulfilling it was for our Grand Rapids Club to host an International Convention in 1954. He inspired us to accept the challenge of hosting a Regional Convention in Grand Rapids in 1998 to celebrate our 50th anniversary of chartering our club. It was a wonderful event that brought our membership together to accomplish many good things. I now ask our board and members if we can host another Serra Regional Convention in 2013 to celebrate our 65th anniversary? I believe it would infuse energy into our club and allow us to share an informative weekend with our fellow Serra clubs. We would need to act soon to secure the 2013 Regional Convention.

I will again ask all members to consider attending theSerra International Convention in Anchorage, Alaska from September 2-5, 2010 and/or the Great Lakes Regional Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio from October 8-10. To register for the Regional, go to http://wwwcincyserravocations.org/

Finally, I hope everyone was able to recognize Blessed Junipero Serra upon his feast day of July 1. A wonderful article about Father Serra was included in the Spring 2010 edition of Serra USA, and I found the following information particularly interesting (probably because of my legal interests):
"With a keen awareness of the possible mistreatment of the Indians by the Spanish military and by others migrating among them, this Franciscan missionary studied the writings of Bishop Bartolome De Las Cassas, OP, who earned the title "Protector of the Indians." He also acquainted himself with the Laws of the Indies of the Spanish Crown so that he would be ready to take legal action in defense of the Native people should it ever be needed. Sad to say, it was! When abuse did occur, without hesitation, in 1773, Fr. Serra made a dramatic appeal to the viceroy, traveling at great personal cost to his health all the way to Mexico City to present his carefully documented "representacion." So effectively did he present his case that it resulted in a kind of "bill of rights" for California Indians, the first significant legislation ever to address the question of human rights in California.
Dan LaVille

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter June, 2010

Calendar of Events.
June 5, 2010. Ordination of Father David Gross and Deacon Luis Garcia, 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Andrew. Members of our Serra Hospitality Team should arrive between 9:15 and 9:30 a.m. David Gross has been the "adoptee" of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish for the past several years. Charles J. Schwartz will become the parish's new adopted seminarian.
Prayer for our newly ordained: Fr. David Gross and Deacon Luis Garcia...and all the seminarians of our diocese, that they will continue to grow in holiness and desire to serve God's people. For all people to be open to God's vocation call for their lives, and for their families and friends to support God's call, we pray...."
Please continue to lift up Fr. David in your prayers as he prepares for his first assignment as a parish priest. Also, please continue to pray for Deacon Luis as he returns to the seminary for his final year of preparation.
Source: Our Lady of Sorrows Bulletin, May 30, 2010.
We also note that Fr. David Gross is a native son of St. Stephen's, the parish home of so many of our Serrans.
If you would like to send cards to congratulate our newly ordained, you may send them to the Office of Priestly Vocations, Cathedral Square, 360 Division Avenue S., Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

June 14, 2010. Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at the University Club.
June 17-20, 2010. Serra USA Annual Meeting and Super Weekend, Chicago, Illinois
June 21, 2010. Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at the University Club.
June 28, 2010. Prayer Service and Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart.
July 1, 2010. Feast Day of Blessed Junipero Serra. Please refer to page 11 of the spring issue of Serra USA Magazine for a club program from the USA Council Programs Committee.
September 2-5, 2010. Serra International Convention, Anchorage, Alaska.
October 8-10, 2010. Ohio Valley-Great Lakes Convention, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Note: For more information about Super Weekend, the Serra International Convention, and the Ohio Valley-Great Lakes Convention, go to the serraus.org website to check for all necessary information, to download registration forms, and to make hotel arrangements. The Early Bird Special for the Ohio Valley-Great Lakes Convention expires August 11. An alternative method of making hotel arrangements for this convention is to call Dottie Ciok at 1-800-334-9548. You must mention the Serra Club Code UCS to get the $115 plus tax per night for Friday and Saturday nights.
October 31, 2010. Priesthood Sunday.

Priestly Anniversaries. June anniversaries are as follows: Rev. Michael Alber (6-1-2002), Rev. Msgr. Gaspar Ancona (6-1-1963), Rev. Louis L. Anderson (6-1-1963), Rev. Bernard Carlin (6-1-1978), Rev. Joseph J. Fix (6-1-1968), Rev. Melvin Fox (6-1-1963), Rev. Jose Luis Quintana (6-1-1996), Rev. Troy Nevins (6-1-1996), Rev. Chris Rouech (6-1-1996), Rev. Anton Tran (6-1-2002), Rev. William Zinh (6-1-1968), Rev. Matthew Barnum (6-2-2007), Rev. Victor Kynam (6-2-2007), Rev. Don Lomasiecwicz (6-2-1962), Rev. Mark Peacock (6-2-2007), Rev. Ken Schichtel (6-2-1962), Rev. James Bozung (6-3-1961), Rev. Peter Chukwu (6-3-1993), Rev. John LaGoe (6-3-1961), Rev. Tom McKinney (6-3-1961), Rev. Tony Russo (6-3-2000), Rev. Ron Schneider (6-3-1967), Rev. Anthony Vainavicz (6-3-1961), Rev. Thomas Schiller (6-4-1955), Rev. Eugene Golas (6-4-1955), Rev. Andrew Thompson (6-4-1981), Rev. Paul Milanowski (6-4-1965), Rev. Philip Shangraw (6-5-1979), Rev. Louis Stasker (6-5-1965), Rev. Charles Brown (6-5-1993), Rev. Thomas Brown, 6-5-1999), Rev. Michael Danner (6-5-1965), Rev. George Fekete (6-5-1965), Rev. Pedro Garcia (6-5-1965), Rev. Thomas Vesbit (6-6-1964), Rev. James Chelich (6-6-1976), Rev. Norman Droski (6-6-1964), Rev. Msgr. John Giammona (6-5-1959), Rev. Jon Wisneski (6-6-1964), Rev. Godfrey Onyekwere (6-7-2003), Rev. Anthony Pelak (6-7-2003), Rev. Philip Salmonowicz (6-7-2003), Rev. Phillip Sliwinski (6-7-1997), Rev. Peter Vu (6-7-1997), Rev. Michael Cilibraise (6-7-2008), Rev. Fred Hoesli (6-11-1964), Rev. John Vallier (6-13-1987), Rev. John Thome (6-15-1946), Rev. Thomas Page (6-16-1979), Rev. Msgr. Terrence Stewart (6-19-1970), Rev. Ed Hankiewicz (6-24-1979), Rev. Ayub Francis Nasar (6-28-1985), Rev. Walter Marek (6-29-1946), and Rev. Rudolph Papes (6-29-1965). Deacons' anniversaries are as follows: Deacon Robert McClintic (6-5-2004), and Deacon Thomas F. Jurek (6-11-1994).
A special thanks to Lee for the formidable task of getting out the cards for our diocese'sJune anniversaries.

Thank you. Thank you to all who made our Charter Night a success, and thanks to District Governor Louis Rapin, who presided over the installation of our new officers and new members.
We enjoyed hearing from guest speaker Michael Miller of the Acton Institute. The full text of his speech can be found at the website of the Acton Institute. Congratulations to C. David Mohan, who received a 50-year membership certificate from Serra USA and to our new members who were installed into our club that evening: Mrs. Beth Gumina, Mrs. Nancy Mulvihill, and Mr. David VanderLinde. We also welcome our new slate of officers for 2010-2011.
A complete list can be found in the new directory issued by our secretary Joseph Westdorp. One other note: Aggie Kemper-Cloyd, our new Vice-President, Membership would like a bulletin from each of the parishes represented by our club.

Our Club welcomes Mrs. Camille Cebelak back to Grand Rapids, her home of many years. On Monday, May 24 we had the privilege of meeting Mrs. Cebelak at St. Ann's Home for our fourth-Monday prayer service and luncheon, at which time Tim Hile presented her with an honorary Grand Rapids Serra Club membership certificate. Mrs. Cebelak has been a long-time friend of our club. Help, a center for pregnancy crisis aid, honored her with the following article which appeared in a recent issue:
"We had the privilege of meeting a very special woman who recently moved back to her home town after living in Florida for several years. She was raised on the West Side and lived in Cascade for over 24 years with her husband, Bernard. Camille Cebelak has been working behind the scenes for so many years as a prayer warrior and financial backer for HELP Pregnancy Crisis Aid. She said that she first became involved with our ministry after she had learned that a young girl chose to keep her baby after viewing prenatal pictures of the development of babies while visiting a pregnancy center near her home in Naples, FL. The ultrasound machine was not available in those days.
After talking on the phone with her daughter to see how she could get involved in a crisis pregnancy center in Grand Rapids, Camille jumped at the opportunity to help purchase the first ultrasound for HELP. 'Once the mom could see the picture of the baby, she would be more open to keeping the baby and not aborting,' she stated with evident emotion. One-hundred percent of the women who have had an ultrasound at HELP are so happy they did! The young moms are appreciative that they were able to see, and to choose LIFE as a result of the ultrasound services provided.
This quick-witted but soft-spoken lady, who anonymously gives and gives from her heart, said that she was thankful for the opportunities that she has been given in life. Both of Camille's daughters and sons-in-law are very involved in protecting the sanctity of life, as well as are her eight grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, of whom she is most proud. It is obvious that in her 95 years of life, she has served a a strong role model for her family and friends. She has been a humble servant for a countless number of individuals whom the Lord has led her to assist in her quiet, loving way."
We thank Mrs. Cebelak for meeting with us on that special day.

We continue with our prayers...Serran Nate McKenzie continues to recover on schedule from major surgery which he underwent just two weeks ago. Let us continue to pray for him.

In fact, he attributes his good recovery to the prayers of so many of his Serra friends.

We are blessed for these vocations...Catholics who are deployed to combat zones like Iraq and Afghanistan face many challenges in the practice of their faith. They are uprooted from their home parishes and chapel communities, as well as from their families. The uncertainty and even danger in which they live and work tends to discourage the kind of regular, planned religious practice that is so important to those who take their faith seriously. Even when, as at some of the larger bases, large numbers of Catholics can come together with their chaplains to celebrate the Eucharist and enjoy other forms of ministry, the constant turnover in people and missions can make a sense of community difficult to attain.
The Catholic community at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, the largest military base in that country, has faced all of thse challenges. It includes troops of all the United States military services and Coalition forces, civilian government employees, and civilian contractors from a variety of nations. The collaborative efforts of Catholic chaplains and committed lay people have nevertheless led to a strong Catholic community life at Bagram. Each weekend, nine well-attended Masses are celebrated at the main Enduring Faith Chapel and several other chapels and locations around the sprawling and rapidly expanding base. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults has already led three new Catholics into the Church, with several more (having prepared) initiation at Easter. Under a special delegation from Archbishop Broglio, twelve community members were confirmed just before Christmas, and another Confirmation group is in formation. A dedicated, talented Catholic choir provides the music at Catholic liturgies and ecumenical events. The Bagram Round Table of Knights of Columbus welcomed nine new First Degree members in January...
A big factor in the liveliness of the Bagram Catholic Community, which is under the patronage of St. Michael the Archangel, is a highly successful program of adult religious education...In September 2009 Army Catholic chaplains Father Matt Foley and Father Alan Irizarry and Army Major Dan Bridon collaborated to present a course on Church history published by Ascension Press. Epic: A Journey Through Church History consists of a series of twenty lectures on DVD by religious educator Steve Weidenkopf with associated study materials...
Each presentation is preceded by an hour-long opportunity for Confessions, and followed by the recitation of the Rosary. The first session, in September, 2009, attracted about fifty participants...
As time went on, some happy challenges arose. Catholics rotating into Bagram after the start of the program wanted to be able to watch the lectures they had missed. The same was true of those who had to miss one or more sessions due to operational requirements...To meet those needs, the American Chancellor of the Order, Mr. Jeff Ludwig, approved the purchase of four more Epic DVD sets and two hundred sets of study materials. Another Knight of St. George coordinated the shipping of these items to Afghanistan, where Lieutenant Colonel Walsh received them in November, 2009. The DVDs and study materials are now being used at Bagram..by a number of groups.
Epic has inspired many Catholics at Bagram to appreciate their Catholic faith in new and wonderful ways, and to become excited about their faith. As this has occurred, the Catholic Community there has developed in the ways mentioned above, through the power of the Holy Spirit. We pray that the Holy Spirit will bring similar results to Catholics at other locations in Afghanistan, and that the challenges of being Catholic while deployed in that country will be transformed into opportunities for new experiences of faith.
By Reverend Patrick J. Travers, Chaplain, Major, U. S. Air Force. Source: Salute Magazine

A Message from our President.
I am honored to be your President this year. Pam McKenzie has left me with huge shoes to fill and I will try my best to continue good stewardship of our club.
It has been 15 years since I was the club's President, and I am struck by the changes which have occurred--all for the better! We have a good mix now of men and women and age diversity. We have accomplished many good things together, and I am confident that we have many more accomplishments ahead of us.
I want to urge you to give serious consideration to attending the Great Lakes Regional Serra Conference this coming October 8th-10th in Cincinnati, Ohio. Southern Ohio is beautiful in the fall, and the Serra Clubs of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky have put together an impressive list of speakers. It is 365 miles from Grand Rapids to Cincinnati, about a six-hour drive. A Serra Regional (or International) convention does reinvigorate both our faith and our commitment to the mission of Serra. Please consider your registration soon.
Our diocese has been blessed with the upcoming ordination of David Gross, son of Len and Robbie Gross. Congratulations to the entire Gross family, and thank you, David, for your commitment to the priesthood!
Dan LaVille
Editor's Note: The entire state of Ohio turns bright red during the Saturdays of autumn.
Some people like red; others prefer other colors! Our club is blessed with diversity of taste when it comes to these matters.

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, May 2010

Location Alert for May Newsletter Readers. Ordinarily, our newsletter is about Vocations, Vocations, Vocations. While we plan to stay with this very important mission, this month's publication is also about Locations, Locations, Locations! What do we mean by that?
A number of our activities for May and beyond are scheduled for venues other than those to which we are accustomed. So, don't be disappointed. Don't show up at the wrong place at the right time, or the wrong place at the wrong time, only to wonder how your plans went awry. We will try to keep you posted as to what to do, where to meet, and when! Enjoy! And keep an eye out for the Location Alerts posted in our calendar of events.
Calendar of Events for May, 2010.
May 6, 2010. This message contains a location alert. Adoration at Sacred Heart. Morning mass begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Adoration. Adoration will continue throughout the day and will conclude with Evening Prayer, Night Prayer, and Benediction at 7:00 p.m. No other formal adoration session is scheduled for our club for May.
May 10, 2010. This message contains both a time and a location alert!
There will be no noon meeting on the second Monday of this month.
Charter Night, 5:30 p.m. at Cathedral Square. All Charter Night events will be held at Cathedral Square, including the installation of new officers. Do not show up at the chapel at St. Andrew's Cathedral. Guest speaker will be Michael Miller of the Acton Institute. Please send your reservations to Joe Westdorp if you have not already done so.
May 17, 2010. Board meeting for both old and new board members, 12:00 Noon at
Louis Benton Steak House.
May 24, 2010. This message contains a location alert! Prayer Service and Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at St. Ann's Home in honor of Mrs. Camille Cebelak, a long time friend of Serra. Bring cards with messages such as, "Thinking of you," or "Welcome back to Grand Rapids,", or other notes to that effect. Prayer Service will be held in the chapel, followed by luncheon in the activity center.
Looking Ahead.
June 5, 2010. Ordination of David Gross and Deacon at St. Andrew's Cathedral, 10:00 a.m.
We need six to eight Serrans to serve on the Hospitality Team. If you plan to participate, arrive at the Cathedral at 9:15 or so. Serran Pam McKenzie will sing in the choir at this event.
June 14, 2010. This message contains a location alert! Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at University Club. Please note that the Board has received notification that Louis Benton Steak House has made the business decision to close on Mondays during June, July, and August. Therefore, whenever there is a regular second Monday luncheon meeting during these summer months, we will meet at the University Club.
June 17-20. Super Weekend, Chicago, Illinois. Call John Osterhart or Nate McKenzie if you are interested in attending. John will be installed as Regional Director. Also, please note the following correspondence which Nate received from Doug McRoy, President of the USA Council of Serra International:

Dear (Serrans), Happy Fourth Quarter of our Serra Year!
This is the year for vocations in Serra. First, "College Connection" and now "Focus on NEW Vocations!" These are two of the strongest new vocation initiatives I can recall in my Serra life. Many of you have already adopted the College Connection program in your local communities, and I am hearing that others of you are on the verge of entering into the magic of this program. Together we can make a difference in the religious fugures of teenagers in our sphere of influence.
The newest thrust is "Focus on New Vocations." Some concern has developed within some circles of Serra that although many of our clubs regularly conduct outstanding affirmation activities, we ar not quite as persistent in conducting awareness (Inviting) activities. In other words, in most parts of the country, we thoroughly support existing priests and religious, but we are not quite as good at helping our Bishops search for new candidates to the priesthood and religious life. "Focus on NEW Vocations" is an effort to help us improve on this weakness. In absolutely no way will it be allowed to interfere with any of our existing programs, but must only adjust our focus to better include Awareness activities.
For those of you who are interested, this program will be introduced in a fascinating production at the upcoming Super Weekend on June 18-19 in Chicago. I encourage you to talk this program up among your constituents, and maybe consider sending a member of your Serra community to the presentation on Saturday the 18th. Let's finish off our year in the spirit of the success the year has been so far.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us! Doug McRoy
Posted on April 13, 2010

September 2-5, 2010. Serra International Convention, Anchorage, Alaska.
October 8-10-2010. Great Lakes Regional, Cincinnati, Ohio. Watch for the Earlybird Special on hotel and registration rates!

Other Events of Interest. Saturday, May 8 at 7:00 p.m. Actor Leonardo Defilippis will star as St. John Vianney at St. Isidore, 628 Diamond NE. Tickets are $6 per person, $20 per family and must be purchased in advance. Call Lois at 361-2699.

Priests' Anniversaries for May. It's a busy season for Lee Sullivan, who performs the very important mission of sending these cards:
5/1/58 Fr. John Kenny
5/5/79 Fr. Philip Shangraw
5/14/88 Fr. Anthony Britto
5/15/76 Fr. Leonard Sridlik
5/16/81 Fr. Tom Tavella
5/19/98 Fr. Dominic Tirkey
5/19/90 Msgr. Wm. Duncan
5/19/79 Fr. Mark-David Janus
5/19/90 Fr. Mark Przybysz
5/20/72 Fr. Peter Hoang-Xuan Nghiem
5/22/48 Fr. Ernest Bernott
5/24/87 Fr. Michael Bliszcz
5/24/58 Fr. Don Weber
5/27/00 F. Brad Schoeberle
5/28/55 Fr. Thomas Hack
5/30/70 Fr. Michael Shea
5/31/47 Fr. Wm. Reitz
5/31/47 Fr. Herman Zerfas
Deacon:
5/5/01 Deacon Carlos Gutierrez


Sisters' Appreciation Dinner. The dinner was a success by all the standards we could apply to it. 83 nuns were served. Thank-you notes continue to arrive, and in reading them, we can easily tell what the sisters enjoyed most. Thanks to the cooks, the serving and clean-up crews, and to all who participated in any way. So far we have the following notes, with more to come in the June newsletter:
I don't know how to thank you and the entire crew for all you did for the Serra Dinner. You really outdid yourselves in every way. You spent so much time and work on this evening which was so very special. I just do not know how to thank you for the delicious meal, the wonderful gifts, and all that you shared!!! Sister Vera Tilmann, OP.
Dear Pam, That was certainly an evening to remember! Thank you for all you did to make it so very special: the delicious banquet, the lotions on the table, the pillowcases (sewn with much love), arranging for Sara Smolenski and her choice and witty words, the children's choir--and so much more! We are grateful for all that went into tha special time. With love and prayers--and hugs, Sr. Regina Goeldel
Dear Pam and Serrans, Thank you for the wonderful evening. Also, a big thank you for the dinner, the gifts, and our time with all of you. May each of you continue to be blessed in your work for our church. Blessings, Sr. Patrice. P. S. Sara was great!
Thank you so very much for a wonderful evening and the delicious dinner! I liked the pillowcase. Sr. Rosemary Heinrich, O. P.
Thanks for giving a wonderful evening. Blessings to you all. Sr. Mary Jo Beckett
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and caring! Blessings! Sr. Marlene
Thank you so much for all you did to make our time with you so enjoyable. You are all wonderful people. Gratefully, Sr. Donna Jean Thelen
God bless you for your thoughtfulness, generosity, support, and love! The evening spent with you all was most appreciated. Gratefully with prayers and love, Sr. Monica Meyer, O. P.
That was the best party I've attended since your last year's one. May God bless you always. Sr. Julia Groulx, O. P.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and support. May God bless each of you. The mealwas delicious and the entertainment was very joyful! Love, Sr. Dorena Gonzalez
What a wonderful time we had at your party! You treated us royally. It is nice to know that there are still people who know and appreciate us for what we have done for the church as you, too, have done by your good work. Sr. Jean Mankowski, O. P.
What a special celebration! I enjoyed seeing old friends (Serrans) and visiting with other religious women. Your love and respect for the Church and for religious women touches me deeply. I wouldn't miss this celebration. God bless you in abundance. Sr. Carmen Rostar,
O. P.
Dear Pam and all members of the Grand Rapids Serrans: We want to express to all of you our heartfelt gratitude for inviting us to a wonderful evening of fellowship, prayer, fun, and a delicious meal. We truly enjoyed being with you and our fellow sisters. Your generosity, kindness, and appreciation touched us. Thank you! May the Lord continue to bless your lives. You and your families are in our prayers. Gratefully, the Consolata Sisters
P. S. The pillowcases will continue to remind us of you. Thanks, Pam!
Thank you so much for the gift of such a lovely evening, beginning and ending as it should--with prayers--and with a lot of fun in between. Thank you also for your continued prayersand know that you are in ours. In St. Francis and St. Clare, Sister Marcia Serra Garcia,
F. S. E.
Thank you for inviting us to your dinner. The food was delicious, the entertainment delightful, the table favors and pillow slips superb ideas. We had a most enjoyable evening. Thank you for all the effort you put into it all and for the many ways you support vocations. Gratefully, Sr. Bernice Blake, F. S. E.
Note: A special thanks to Pam and to all who helped to complete the pillowcase project. As we can tell from the notes, the sisters will enjoy the pillowcases for a long time to come.

A Message from Serran David VanderLinde.
Dear Fellow Serrans:To fulfill their personal mission and help Michigan's seniors who want to remain in their own homes and stay as self-sufficient as possible, Grand Rapies Serrans David and Judy VanderLinde have joined Seniors Helping Seniors In-home Services to establish an office to serve Kent County. Seniors Helping Seniors In-home Services is a national caregiver and companionship organization and the only one that matches seniors who need in-home care services with seniors who provide them.Why Seniors Helping seniors? David endured a personal struggle in 2004 when diagnosed with cancer and soon came to realize the importance of having loving, caring relationships with his caregivers. The nursing staff at St. Mary's Lacks Cancer Center is a group of very special people. They demonstrated how patients respond much better to treatment in a caring environment. The presence of caring people during his battle became the learning experience of his lifetime. Becoming part (this organization) will enable them to fulfill a commitment to give back to the community.David and Judy are pleased to be joined by their son, David Jr. and their daughter, Amanda. Amanda is an LPN and has spent several years working in the nursing industry. She loves engaging with seniors and has worked in two nursing home facilities and as a home health care aide.
"The loving, caring, compassionate attitude displayed by the Seniors Helping Seniors franchise organization attracted us to the people involved and their philosophy...After spending many years in the corporate world, it is refreshing to be able to join a community of people who care about helping others as their primary mission," says David.David and Judy have established their center in West Michigan to build relationships with caring, active seniors with the hearts of volunteers who will help them become the area leader for non-medical in-home senior care. For more information, call the local office at 616-234-0190 or visit the website at http://www.homehealthcaregrandrapids.com/

Cooking with Serrans: A few of those who assisted at the Sisters' Appreciation Dinner have requested the red cabbage recipe, although we can hardly imagine that everyone who reads this recipe will be acting on it any time soon. Most recently I have followed the directions set forth by the Berghoff family of Chicago:
1 stick unsalted butter, a cup and a half of red wine vinegar, and a cup and a half of sugar, cooked over very low heat. Add one head of chopped cabbage, about 12 cups, and stir until the cabbage is well coated. Simmer for about one hour. Note: Always use real butter!!! When the cabbage is done, remove from the pan with a slotted spoon. Add enough of the liquid so that the cabbage can be reheated; discard the rest. Also, keep in mind it's the slow cooking that makes the flavor.
Pan clean-up. I violated the slow cooking rule at St. Jude's when we were reheating the cabbage. I left one of the pan on a back burner which was turned up too high. Although we retrieved most of the cabbage, the bottom of the pan was coated with a half-inch or so of "carbon footprint." The story has a happy ending in that the pan is clean again and back on the pantry shelf. But I decided to convert the small disaster into a life lesson and pass along a useful household hint besides: Just as the pan was burned because of negligence, lack of vigilance, on my part, so it is with my faults and sins which I need to correct. When I brought the pan home, there it was to remind me of my human failings. Tossing it in the trash seemed like a tempting idea, but that would have been an irresponsible choice, bad stewardship on my part. I had to try something else. Dr. John had suggested oven cleaner, but I didn't have any on my shelves at the time. I tried boiling the pan with liquid dishwasher detergent, and after several applications and considerable scrubbing, the pan came clean. Little by little, the job got done. I knew that prayer alone would not solve the problem, but as I worked I thought about the role that prayer plays in our daily lives, whether we're performing physical tasks or spiritual ones. It's what gives us the will to persevere as we apply our resources to the tasks which face us, even when we're not sure we'll arrive at the goal we have in mind. It's the combination of our own efforts, along with the Lord's blessings, that guide us to the correct solutions to life's problems.
So, that's what I was thinking about as I went about my pan-cleaning exercise.

P. S. A dryer sheet, I was told, could also be used for this job. Add to the pan, along with sufficient water, soak overnight, heat, and Presto! the stain will easily wash away.

A Message from our President.
The plans are set, the programs are printed, and all is in order for our 62nd Charter Night. Two years have flown by since I was inducted as president--that's hard to believe. It has been a good two years. I have appreciated all of the board members and trustees and thank them for their service. This was a big undertaking for me, and I was scared to death in the beginning. Thank you for giving me this great opportunity.
One thing I have learned through the years is that when God closes the door in one room, somehow a window is opened in another. This is already happening as I leave office, so you do not have to worry about my having any free time. There is plenty of vocation work to be done, started, and explored.
Many of you have met the Trinitarian Sisters located in Lowell. We took the time last week to pay them a visit. What a wonderful experience! They are a very new order needing some help, and down the road I will be sharing information with the Board as possible ways we might want to assist them. If you have a free minute, you might take the time to pay them a visit at 62 Marble Road and spend some quiet time with the Lord in their Adoration Chapel. They welcome anyone at any time, but they have a special time set aside on the First Friday of each month from 6:00-8:00 p.m. for prayer and fellowship.
More and more notes are arriving from the Sisters expressing their gratitude for the great evening. I hope you enjoy reading the notes as much as I do.
Again, thank you for putting up with me for the past two years. I will continue to support Dan LaVille in the coming year in the past president position.
I'm hoping to see all of you on May 10 at Charter Night.
Pam McKenzie