April 29, 2012. World Day of Prayer for Vocations, During May, the month of the Rosary, let us renew our resolve to nurture, foster, and pray for priestly and religious vocations.
April 30, 2012. Regional Conference Planning Committee, 5:30 p.m. at St. Stephen and subsequently every second Monday.
May 3, 2012. Joint meeting with the Muskegon Club, 12:00 Noon at Sam's Joint in Coopersville.
The meeting was well attended, and not only did we enjoy the opportunity to meet and talk with the Muskegon Serrans, but also we were able to make the initial contact toward co-hosting the 2013 Regional Conference. Also, Bob Barrett talked briefly about the College Connection. Let us pray for him as he continues his dedication to this ministry to keep young people in the Church and in some cases to provide them with a forum to discern their vocations. We certainly hope to enjoy other such meetings in the future. See below for 2013 Regional Convention Committee update.
May 9-11, 2012 from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Holy Family Radio Sharathon Fundraising Drive. Our club's hour is Wednesday, May 9 from 5:00-6:00 P.M. Remember to make your pledges directly to HFR in Serra's name before the pledge drive. If you can't make the May 9 date, call Dan Grady or HFR directly at 616-956-1140 if you still want to help at another time.
May 21, 2012. Serra Board Meeting at 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart.
May 28, 2012. Memorial Day. No meeting.
June 11, 2012. Luncheon Meeting and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at the University Club.
June 18, 2012. Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart.
June 20-21, 2012. USA Council of Serra International Annual Meeting/Super Weekend, Providence,
Rhode Island.
June 21-24, 2012. Serra International Convention, Providence, Rhode Island.
June 23, 2012. Golf Outing, Grand Haven Golf Club, Sponsored by St. Lazare Retreat House, Grand Haven. 8:00 a.m. registration, 9:00 a.m. Shotgun Start, ,Scramble. $95 per golfer, $330 per foursome, including luncheon and soft drinks. Director: Fr. Vincent O'Malley (vomcm@att.net). Make checks payable to St. Lazare Golf Outing, 18600 W. Spring Lake Rd, Spring Lake, MI 49456. Call Lew Gorbach (616-842-4040) if you'd like to participate or help sponsor a foursome of priests.
June 25, 2012. Prayer Service and Luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart.
July Dates TBA.
August 13, 2012. Tour and Luncheon at St. John's Home with Sharon Loughridge, 12:00 Noon. Maps will be forwarded before the event.
Priests' Anniversaries.
April 1. Rev. Steven Cron
May 1. Rev. John Kenny
May 5. Rev. Philip Shangraw
May 14. Rev. Anthony Britt
May 15. Rev. Leonard Sudlick
May 16. Rev. Tom Tavella
May 19. Msgr. Wm. Duncan, Rev. D. Tirkey, Rev. Charles Mason
May 20. Rev. Peter Nghiem, Rev. Mark Przbysz
May 22. Rev. Ernest Bernott, J. Lalley
May 24. Rev. Michael Bliszcz, Rev. Ted Kozlowski, Rev. Don Weber
May 27. Rev. Brad Schoeberle
May 28. Rev. Thomas Hack
2013 Regional Convention Update. Friday, September 27-Sunday, September 29,2013 at the Airport Hilton, Grand Rapids. Expected attendance about 150 people from Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Tentative Theme: Being Catholic in the United States: Living the Faith in a Pluralistic Society.
Possible topics for four workshops:
Catholic Radio with Larry Nienhaus, How the laity can help the clergy, Panel discussion of newly ordained priests on vocations, the College Connection, and Increasing Serra Membership.
Committees are Program Committee, Marketing Committee, Registration Committee, and Fundraising/Underwriting Committee.
Note that 2013 will mark the 65th anniversary of our club's chartering. The following year the Muskegon club will celebrate its 65th anniversary.
We thank the committee for their work so far. Please feel free to join in at any time if you see a way in which you can help.
31 Club Meetings. If you are willing to talk to your parish priest about a 31 Club, please let Nancy Mulvihill know.
Election of Officers. Bob Paul will be stepping down as trustee. However, he is still in charge of nominations. Let him know if you would like to serve. So far, all of the other officers have agreed to remain in their positions. We have tentative plans for installation of officers at a May or June meeting.
Let us Pray...that our club bears fruit through our support of Holy Family Radio. Holy Family Radio airs EWTN's Vocation Boom on Saturdays 5-6 p.m. and again on Sundays 5-6 p.m.
Last weekend one of the featured priests was Father Tony Russo, of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Pastor of Our Lady of Consolation in Rockford. Father Tony was ordained in June, 2000. Some Serrans may remember that he spoke to our club regarding his story. Let us keep in mind that each priest has his unique vocation story, and that each vocation is a gift from God. Our club sponsors the Vocation Boom broadcast, and we are mentioned as having prayed for vocations since 1948.
Vocation Boom has appeared on EWTN each weekend since February 28, 2011. Says founder and host Jerry Usher, (and once a classmate of Fr. Tony Russo), "My hope for the show is really two-fold. First, I want to be a source of encouragement for young men and their families as they prayerfully discern whether or not God is calling them to the priesthood. Second, I want to draw attention of the laity to the priesthood and vocations with the hope of helping all of us better understand and appreciate who a priest is by virtue of his ordination."
Usher said he is hoping his show will do nothing less than change the way people pray, attend Mass, and receive the sacraments.
Editor's Note: I believe that my involvement with vocations through Serra and the Vocations Boom broadcast is doing just that. My faith has been greatly enriched by both of the above. Also, several of the priests interviewed on vocation boom indicate that Catholic radio played a role in their decision to enter the priesthood.
Let us Pray...for Nate McKenzie, who underwent knee replacement surgery on April 23. A second knee replacement will be scheduled at the appropriate time. Nate continues to recover, and we were sorry to have missed his presence at the Grand Rapids/Muskegon meeting last Monday. The joint meeting has been a long-time dream of both John Osterhart and Nate, and let us thank both of them for their interest in encouraging such an event.
A Reflection on Vocations. What is a vocation and how is it discovered?
By Carmen F. Aguinaco
Vocation is a call. It is knowing who God wants us to become, discovering how we got there, and tasks or steps we must accomplish and follow. But how do we know what or vocation is, that who, how, and why?
To begin with, it deals with discovering those desires that God is putting into your heart. Do you feel attraction or challenge toward serving others? Do you imagine yourself as a priest, religious sister or brother, as a married or single person with a great dedication to God's things? Are you seeking a personal encounter with God?
A willingness to come out of yourself and venture toward an encounter with God must follow, which could be unknown and even mysterious. And something or someone must always be left behind. Those who consider their life's work to be in a religious community leave behind family possessions, and often their country. Those who consider married life as their vocation must leave the family life that they have known and begin a new path. The same can be said for those who opt for the single life. It is a matter of choice. What everyone needs to discern is the mission God has called us to and why it was selected over all other securities.
To discern properly, one must have seven attitudes or qualities:
1. Openness. We cannot find God's will if we enter the process with preconceived ideals that are based on our will.
2. Generosity. It is like having a blank check so that God can decide what he wants to give.
3. Courage. One must have courage because God could be asking for something difficult and risky.
4. Inner freedom. The deepest desire and principal motivation to do God's will.
5. Reflection. One must reflect in prayer to hear God.
6. Clear priorities. The important thing is to serve God.
7. Do not confuse the end with the means. That is, God is first and everything in life must be directed to him.
It is not an easy process. There are many complications in our world, and considering a lifelong commitment is difficult. Many people make a commitment to a person or cause, but it only lasts until the first difficulty arrives. To make a lasting commitment, persevering in spite of the obstacles, is hard. But in reality nothing else is worth the effort. In what things can you employ your life?
Questions for Reflection: What are your heart's desires? Where is God in these desires? What fears emerge when you consider your life's journey? How do you respond to these fears? What do you think God has been asking of you?
Source: Our Lady of Sorrows Bulletin, April 28-29, 2012.
A Message from our President.
Dear Serrans:
Our joint meeting with the Muskegon Club was a long time coming but proved successful. It always reinforces our calling to support vocations when we surround ourselves with other people also instilled with the Holy Spirit to further the cause of vocations.
Continue to pray for Nate McKenzie and Pam's mother as well, as they both recuperate from knee replacements.
The sisters of the diocese continue to drop cards and e-mails our way thanking us for the great time at the ballgame on April 22. The weather was a bit chilly, but our spirits were warm and the White Caps rallied for a win. Thank you to the LaVilles for their tremendous effort and support of this particular event.
Notice the schedule will settle down some, but we will be at the University Club in June and July (instead of Louis Benton's).
Continue to pray for our seminarians and our current serving priests. Join me in offering the following for all priests and seminarians this month:
Eternal God, please bless our priests who represent you on this earth. Make them more greatly aware of the grace that you pour out through them when they minister the sacraments, and help them fall more deeply in love with you after each Mass that they celebrate. Please strengthen our priests who shepherd your flock when they are in doubt of their faith, that they may be examples of your Truth, and guide us on the path to you. We ask these things of our Eternal Priest. Amen.
Also, let us remember that May is the month of Our Lady. The rosary is a powerful means for helping young men respond to God's call. Commit to say the rosary once today (and every day thereafter)!
President Tim Hile
Note: We will continue our military vocations theme in June.
What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8
To be added.
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