Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter January 2014

You will make known to me the path of life; In your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forever.  Psalm 16:11.  Source:  Scripture verse for January, 2014, Silent Reminders, Inspirational Scenic Calendar.

A Good Beginning for 2014.  Good News from Serra International.
From Serra's Council for the U. S.
On the weekend of November 21-24, 2013, the Executive Committee of the United States Council of Serra International met in Carmel, California.  Most of our members stayed for the 300-year celebration of our patron sponsored by Regions 11 and 12.  The Carmel Mission was established by Junipero Serra and is actually his burial site.
At our invitation, we were honored to have John Liston, Executive Director of Serra International, attend and participate in the USAC's meetings on Thursday and Friday.  This was a very positive step toward the Council working together with Serra International with open communication to solve issues that affect all of us.
The Western Regional Conference Committee from Region 11 put together a great event featuring good speakers, beautiful Masses, a wonderful tour of the Mission, and a scenic area to visit.  Supporting this combined regional conference, the USA Council was pleased to have more than 20 Serrans attending from Nebraska, Kansas, Ohio, Michigan, New Jersey, and California.
Finally, let us thank the Lord for all the positive steps that have taken place this year:

• Dismissal of the lawsuit
• Reinstatement of the USA Council of Serra International
• Approval of the Resolution of Unity by both the USA Council and Serra International

Hiring of the new Executive Director of Serra International, John Liston 

Task force appointed by Sean Yeo and myself consisting of Dan Grady, Tim O'Neill, Greg Schweitz, Bob Labat, Cindy Bell, and Greg Lynch, who are diligently working to bring us together into one office and continuing their efforts toward a unified Serra devoted to one worldwide mission of religious vocations.
We have many blessings to be thankful for.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!
Dan Jones, President
Serra's Council for the U. S.
Forwarded by Tim Hile on December 6, 2013.
 
With renewed energy and dedication, let us get on with the business of Serra as we continue our ministry and mission.
Calendar of Events.
January 1, 2014.  Mary, the Holy Mother of God.  Holy Day of Obligation.
January 12. 2014.  Luncheon Meeting and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at the University Club.
January 16-19, 2014.  Serra USA Super Weekend and Leadership Training, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Rosemont, IL.    See below for more information on the serraus.org web site.
Keep in mind that all Serrans are invited to attend the Super Weekend and join the important work of Serra within the United States. To obtain registration information, call the Chicago office at 888-777-6681 or check online at www.serraus.org.  This occasion will once again provide a wonderful opportunity for us to begin the new year with our Council focused on moving forward in the spirit of Father Junipero Serra on the 301st anniversary of his birth.  
January 19, 2014.  Serra Board Meeting and Luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus.
January 22, 2014.  41st Annual March for Life, Washington, D. C.  Please pray especially for our Michigan Right to Life participants, including West Catholic and Catholic Central students.  Also, check the Grand Rapids Right to Life web site for related local events.
January 26, 2014.  Prayer Service and Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus.
February 2, 2014.  World Day for Consecrated Life.  See below for more information regarding the National Church Vocations programs.
May 11, 2014.  World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
July 10-13, 2014.  Serra International Convention, Sacramento, CA.
November 2-8, 2014.  National Vocation Awareness Week.

serraus.org web site.  
The mission of the web site is to foster and affirm vocations to the priesthood and vowed religious life.  The USA Council of Serra International invites you to visit often so that you are able to browse all of the valuable information provided in support of your mission and ministry to foster and promote vocations through prayer, awareness, affirmation and support.  This online resource is designed to help you meet your USA Serra club and vocation ministry needs.

National Coalition for Church Vocations Programs.  
If you'd like to get your parish more involved in one or more of the three vocation events (Vocation Awareness Week, World Day for Consecrated Life, and World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the serraus.org web site provides links to all sorts of materials aiding in the planning of these events:  liturgy planning guides, music suggestions, homily guides, general intercessions, prayer services, prayer card masters, bulletin announcements, clip art, and posters.  NVAW:  Item 712, (English) via Adobe PDF download, or Item 713 (Spanish);  WDfCL, 716 (English) or 717(Spanish); or WDoPfV, Item 720 (English) or 721 (Spanish).  Call USA Council of Serra International toll free at 1-888-777 6681 or email serraus@serraus.org for more information and download instructions. 

Priests' Anniversaries for January.  
Father Fred Brucker, January 25, 1976; Father Joseph Kenshol, January 19, 1973; Fr. Mark Mitchell, January 25, 1976, Father Ernest Schneider, January 30, 1977, and Father Thomas Simone, January 30, 1977. Let us pray for these priests as they labor in the vineyards of the Lord.

A Special Kind of Vocation.  During December our diocese conducted a special collection for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, Washington, D. C.  The Call to Evengelize Active-Duty Young Adults remains a particular focus for the AMS.  Its Office of Evangelization supports priests-chaplains, lay leaders, and ministry co-ordinators in meeting the pastoral needs of this young generation, those who need to hear the Word of God proclaimed boldly and authentically.
Although Priest-Chaplains are in short supply, more seminarians are on the way.  Thanks to the support of our bishops, religious superiors, and increased awareness and discernment opportunities,  more young men are now entering seminaries to become priest-chaplains through the co-sponsored Seminarian Program, which splits the cost of seminarian education between a home diocese and the AMS.
The Archdiocese depends solely on generous donations from the general public, from current and retired priest-chaplains, and from private grants.
If you missed the opportunity to donate or would like more information about the AMS, you may call 202-719-3600.  Above all, let us pray for our troops and for these very special men who serve them as military chaplains.

A Tribute to Sir Ralph W. Hauenstein, Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
A number of Serrans attended the presentation of the Silver Palm of Jerusalem to Sir Ralph at St. Andrew's Cathedral on December 9, our only meeting date in December.  He was assisted by his fellow Knight, Mark Kubik.  The programs provided a brief history of the Knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
The origins of the order date back to the First Crusade, when its lealder, Godfrey de Bouillion, liberated Jerusalem.  To secure the newly freed territories, he founded the Order.  In 1103 the Knights became agents of the Catholic bishop of Jerusalem, called the Patriarch.  The knights undertook the ongoing defense of the Holy Sepulchre and other Holy Places in the Holy Land...
After Saladin regained Jerusalem in 1182, the Order ceased to exist in the Holy Land, yet it continued to survive in Europe to keep alive the ideals of the Crusader Knights:  the propagation of the Faith, defense of the weak, and charity toward others.
In 1847 the Patriarchate of Jerusalem was restored under Pope Pius IX, who modernized it and made it subject to the new Bishop of Jerusalem...Members of the order are chosen from among persons of a deep and practical Catholic Faith and of exemplary moral conduct.
Congratulations and prayers to Ralph as he continues to serve the Faith in so many ways.

Venturing Program.
On December 13, 2013, Tim Hile wrote, "West Catholic has decided to renew their Venturing Program and they are looking for our support.  Half of the $665 fee can be reimbursed by the Serra Foundation.  So, the cost to our club is $332.50.  I feel this is a good investment for vocations in general for our community.
Discussions have begun with Catholic Central as well for their Peer Ministry program and a small discernment group..."  This past month the Board agreed to the $332.50 donation to continue our support of this program.
For those new to the club, and as a reminder to all members, we note the following 2007 message from serraus.org:
Gerald  Ford Council Starts a Venturing Program
Congratulations are in order for Dennis Leiber, fhte Serra Club of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Diocesan Catholic Committee Scouting on forming the first Serra Club chartered Catholic Venturing Crew for students at West Catholic High School.  In 2006 the Serra International Foundation provided a $7000 grant to fund the establishment of Serra Club chartered Catholic Venturing Crews or Sea Scouting units in Catholic high schools.  Each Serra Club which charters a venturing crew will receive funding for one half of the expenses...

Receipt for Charitable Gift.   
Information for those who itemize their tax deductions: If you purchased tickets for the Serra Club Dinner on September 28, Joseph Scoville can provide receipts with the Serra International logo for the deductions.

Congratulations.  Andrew Cozzens, son of Serrans Judy and Jack Cozzens, has been installed as Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul-Minneapolis.

A Message from our President.
Dear Serrans:

I ask that you pray for me and our local Serra Club as we work together on our own important mission as the vocation arm of the Catholic Church..
We have just celebrated the birth of Baby Jesus.  What a wonderful display of God's awesome love for us, (that He gave his only begotten Son). That is the best gift of all during the Christmas season.  We are also reminded of the Holly Family at this time of year and of our responsibilities as parents, using Mary and Joseph as our role models to be guided by the Holy Spirit.
There were two wonderful opportunities for Serrans to socialize this December.  The presentation of the Silver :Palm Award to Ralph Hauenstein and cocktail party as well as the Schubert Choir (which has become a wonderful holiday tradition for many of our Serrans).
I would like especially to thank and recognize John Osterhart and Dan Grady for all their work as Grand Rapids Serrans plus all their work for USAC (John) and Serra International (Dan).  We are so lucky to have these two talented gentlemen in our club.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for us!
Agnes Kempker-Cloyd

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter December 2013

Calendar of Events.
December 9, 2013.  Bestowing of the Silver Palm Award to Ralph Hauenstein, 6:00 p.m. in the chapel at St. Andrew's Cathedral.  Reception in Ralph's honor will follow in the foyer on the second floor at Cathedral Square.  Wine and appetizers will be served.
The Silver Palm of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a very high honor awarded by the Holy Father.  During the ceremony Ralph will give a very important speech that will specifically pertain to his involvement in Serra.
Tim Hile says it is imperative for him to give an accurate count of Serrans attending the reception.  Please RSVP to him via e-mail at thile@okins.com if you wish to attend and mention the number of people in your party.  He would like to receive this information by Thursday, December 5 at 3:00 p.m.  As he suggests. this is the perfect event for anyone sitting on the fence about joining Serra.
December 9, 2013.  The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patronal Feast Day of the United States of America.  Not a Holy Day of Obligation.
December 14, 2013.  Schubert Chorus Concert, 7:30 p.m. at East Grand Rapids High School  Fine Arts Center.  More information about the Schubert Chorus to follow.  Please note that this will be our club's only meeting during December.  Invite friends and family to take part in this most enjoyable holiday experience.   Aggie will bring Schubert tickets to Ralph's award reception to those who have already ordered them.  Otherwise, order through Aggie.   She may be reached at aggcloyd@aol.com
December 16, 2013.  Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus.
December 25, 2013.  The Nativity of the Lord.   Holy Day of Obligation in the U. S. and Canada.
December 29, 2013.  The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
December 31, 2013.  Feast Day of St. Sylvester.  New Year's Eve.
January 1, 2014.  New Year's Day.  Holy Day of Obligation.
January 16-19, 2014.  Serra USA Super Weekend and Leadership Training, Crowne Plaza Hotel at Rosemont, Illinois.  Visit serraus.org for further information.
July 10-13, 2014.  Save the date.  Serra International Convention,  Sacramento, California.  All convention masses will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, located just two blocks from the Hyatt Regency Sacramento, the official hotel of the Serra International Convention.  All convention events will take place in the Hyatt Regency, Sacramento.  Visit the serraus.org website for information about the city of Sacramento, including exclusive discounts on dining and ground transportation available to convention attendees and room information.  Serra has negotiated a room rate of USD 129.00 per night for convention attendees.

About the Chorus. 
The Schubert Male Chorus is considered the oldest independent continuing male chorus in America.  Founded by Henry C. Post, a talented pianist, teacher and music critic, along with 12 other men on November 19, 1883--and immediately expanded from 13 to 16 "just to be sure"--the Club has presented at least one major concert each year since its first on December 43, 1884.  The organization has never departed from the original intent of furthering the appreciation and performance of good choral music.
The purpose of the Chorus is to foster and develop an interest in a wide variety of music and to encourage men to participate in the pleasure of singing.  They are a group of men who love singing, enjoy camaraderie and strive for excellence in performance to the delight of our audience. 
The Schubert Male Chorus sings a wide variety of music including folk songs, patriotic, spirituals, show tunes, classical, contemporary, love songs, sea chanteys and a large variety of Christmas and seasonal selections.
The Schuberts perform at many civic and corporate functions during the year, including luncheons and dinners, benefit concerts, Immigration and Naturalization Ceremonies for new citizens, the Women's City Club, hospitals, churches and nursing and retirement communities.  We have become a favorite at many retirement communities at Christmas and in the springtime.  The chorus annual performs at the Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts in June.
Editor's Note:  The Schubert Chorus is a wonderful community resource.  The Chorus welcomes new members.  Call at 616-752-7470.

Priests' Anniversaries for December.  
Father Julian Reginato, December 9, 1969.
Father Charles Dautremont, December 18, 1960.
Father Robert Gillespie, December 8, 1943.
Father Norbert Leyrita, December 21, 1963.
Father Michael Olson, December 27, 1994.
Msgr. John Porter, December 15, 1950.
Most Reverend Robert Rose, December 21, 1953.  Episcopacy Date December 6.

Liturgical Reflections on the Season.

With this First Sunday of Advent,the Church returns to the first Sunday of the first of three liturgical years.  Following the spirit of the Second Vatican Council in the early 1960s, the Church thought it wise to open more of the scriptures to the Catholic faithful.  Thus the three-year cycle of readings was established, a cycle that provides a richer and fuller offering of Biblical texts for God's holy people at Mass.  As that cycle begins again, the first reading for the First Sunday of Advent includes these words:
In the days to come, the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills..."Come, let us climb the Lord's mountain, to the house of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths."
This past year, I had the privilege and blessing of traveling to Chamonix, France, and riding in a tramway
nearly to the top of Mount Blanc, the tallest mountain in the Europen Union.  It was a crystal clear day, not a cloud in the sky.  As I stood over twelve thousand feet above sea level, I was simply in awe at what lay before me.  Hundreds of snow-covered peaks surrounded me.  The jagged edges of the mountains stood in stark contrast to the piercing blue sky.  And right then and there, I thought about "the mountain of the Lord's house, "the highest mountain" toward which God's people stream in order to receive instruction in God's ways.  It was so inspiring to stand on the heights like this and have the vantage point of beholding God's creation with its awesome splendor.  And as I stood there, surrounded by tourists from all over the world, I remembered the instruction that people received on God's holy mountain.
For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem...They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.
As we contemplate God's holy mountain, let us make a special effort to pray for and work for peace in our marriages, in our families, at work, in our parishes, and in the world.  Let whatever "swords" we have tended to use in the past--bigotry, resentment, jealousy--be turned into plowshares and whatever "spears" we have held--grudges, hatred, cynicism--be turned into pruning hooks.  May this Advent and Christmas, as well as the weeks of Ordinary Time in 2014, be a time for us to turn toward a new cultivation of God's garden of peace and justice.
Source:  Jerry Galipeau, World Library Publications, the music and liturgy division of J. S. Paluch Company, Inc.
Editor's Note:  Let us apply this beautiful Advent message to all that we do, and let us pray for peace in all aspects of our lives.

A Message from Shawn Yeo, sent on November 28.
Thanksgiving is the time of year where we get together with our loved ones to celebrate God's love and goodness to us.  On this special occasion, I would like to thank each of you for all the good work you have done in the Serra lay apostolate.  I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your prayers, support, and encouragement ever since I became President of Serra International.
As we savor the sumptuous meal on our dinner tables and soak in the festivities, let us also remember all the joys and blessings that the Lord has showered on us, giving thanks to God for His abundant blessings, never forgetting that He alone is the source of all joy and goodness.  Let us also remember to pray for those who are in need of our prayers and especially for all priests and religious to persevere in their vocations.
Thank you and on behalf of all of the members of the Serra International Board of Trustees 2013/2014, I wish you a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving!  As the Psalmist says, "Praise the LORD.  Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." (Psalm 106:1).
May the Lord continue to bless,
Sean Yeo
President, Serra International

New from serraus.org. 
The serraus.org website has a new link to Padre Serra, a tribute in verse by Henry Maibusch, OSA.

Serra Status Report, Continued

Support for the USA Council--The Council staff is responsive, professional, and effective.  They answer questions, provide advice and support, and respond to requests on a full time basis.  The USA Council provides essential services to USA Serra clubs.  The Council completes and files IRS 990 forms required by the IRS for each club.  It provides officers and directors insurance and insurance covering events at which alcohol is served.  This insurance solved previous difficulties in assuring that all Serra levels were adequately covered and was substantially less costly for a domestic corporation than for an international corporation.
In addition, the Council provides and presents outstanding professionally developed leadership training for District Governors, Regional Directors, Council Officers and Committee Chairs.  It maintains and makes available, at no charge online, manuals for members, club officers, district governors, and other club positions, and manuals for special purposes such as forming new clubs, forming parish vocations committees, holding regional conferences, and model cub meeting programs, including member instruction and officer installation ceremonies.  The Council provides a forum for Serrans from around the country to come together, work on committees, exchange ideas, and advance our causes of encouraging and supporting priestly vocations, and our own members' call to holiness.
Through such efforts, the Council has developed programs like the College Connection for Catholics and the new parish-centered Five Star Program, both of which have been enthusiastically received by our USA bishops.  Other materials have been developed that support observance of the four annual calendar vocations-related celebration dates.
Serrans who serve on the Council Board and also on the International Board have commented on the outstanding quality of USA Council materials, and the high level of timeliness, organization and service they have experienced during their involvement with the Council.
In closing, I would encourage our members to take opportunities to become involved beyond our club boundaries.  You have much to offer and much to gain.
Respectively submitted,
John Osterhart

Adoration.  IHM 24-5, Code 5412.  St. Isidore 24-7, Code 613.  Spend quiet time with the Lord to pray for vocations.

Pray for Our Seminarians.  Loving God, raise up dedicated leaders who will shepherd your people and guide them to your Son.  Give generous and willing hearts to the seminarians of our diocese who have hard your call to live a life of service to the Church.
Help us to encourage and support them as they strive to become priests who are models of discipleship, possessors of wisdom, and on fire with love for your people.  We ask this through Chris our Lord.  Amen.
Source:  Diocese of Grand Rapids

Vocation Boom.  Don't forget to tune into Vocation Boom on Holy Family Radio, 1140 AM on Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.  If you want to hear past broadcasts, visit focationboom.com/listen/  Our club is a sponsor of this program.

A Message from our President.
Dear Serrans:
I ask that you pray for me and our local Serra Club as we work joyfully on our important mission as the vocation arm of the Catholic Church.  We have just finished a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, where we had an opportunity to rest and relax among our loved ones.  It is a special time to think about all God's blessings and to thank Him for all He does for us.  Most importantly, he has given us his only begotten Son.  We are especially reminded about this wonderful gift as we head into the Christmas season.
The club has two important upcoming functions, and I look forward to seeing you at them:

December 9, 2013:  Ralph's award

December 14, 2013.  Schubert Chorus Concert.

I want to give a special thank you to Nancy Mulvihill for all her work on the Club 31 project.  She does a marvelous job of organizing these parish visits for our local club.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!
Agnes Kempker-Cloyd.

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, November 2013

Calendar of Events.

November 1, 2013.  All Saints Day.

November 2, 2013.  All Souls Day.

November 11, 2013.  Luncheon Meeting and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at University Club.  Speaker will be Conor Dugan.

November 11, 2013.  Veterans Day.   Please Note:  During November various parishes in our Diocese will be conducting special collections for the Archdiocese of the Military, for our military chaplains who minister to those serving in the armed forces.

November 12, 2013.  Back to Basics:  "Defining our Spiritual Yearnings," by Father Vincent O'Malley, CM, 6-9:00 p.m. at Cathedral Square.  See below for further details.

November 18, 2013.  Serra Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus.

November 21, 2013.  The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

November 28, 2013.  Thanksgiving Day.  Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no fourth Monday meeting of our club.  This date also marks the first day of Hanukkah.

December 14, 2013.  Save the date!  Our club's only December meeting will be held at 8:00 p.m. in the East Grand Rapids Fine Arts Center.  That is the evening the Schubert Choir will perform its annual Christmas Concert.  We hope for the participation of all Serrans and their family members and their guests in this event.  See the December newsletter for more information.

About Fr. O'Malley's Continuing Education Opportunity.

On this evening, we will have our last chance to hear Fr. Vince before he leaves for Niagara University in New York.  The evening is sponsored by the Diocese of Grand Rapids Prison-Jail Ministry.  A light dinner will be provided free of charge.  All are welcome.  Bring a friend!

Fr. Vincent O'Malley was born in Philadelphia and was raised at Paulsboro, New Jersey.  He received his primary and secondary education at public and Catholic schools.  After entering the Vincentian seminary at Princeton, New Jersey in September of 1963, he was ordained a priest in May, 1973.  He has five academic degrees:  a bachelor's degree in philosophy and three master's degrees in divinity, theology, and history.  In May 2008 he received an honorary doctoral degree in sacred theology (STD) from St. John's University in New York City.  While at Niagara University, he served on the Board of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Buffalo (1994-2000),  He serves on the Board of Trustees for Mount St. Mary's University and Seminary at Emmitsburg, MD.

For 18 of his 40 years of priesthood, he ministered at Niagara University as instructor in the History Department and the Religious Studies Department (1974-1981), and as Executive Vice President and Senior Assistant to the President (1991-2001).  After serving as Vocation Director for the Vincentians' Eastern Province (1982-1986), he served in two parishes:  as superior and curate at Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, NY (1996-1989), and as pastor at Emmitsburg, MD(2004-2010).  After serving as preacher at St. Lazare Retreat House (2001-2003), he returned as director (September 2010-present).

Fr. Vince enjoys two avocations:  writing books and playing golf.  He has published five books:  Saintly
Companions (Alba House, 1995), Ordinary Sufferings of Extraordinary Saints (Our Sunday Visitor, 2000), Saints of Africa (OSV, 2007). He has published numerous articles in vocation journals and in Priest.  His golf game suffers during the Michigan winters, but resurges with the first thaw.  The same will be true in New York.

Fr. Vince has addressed our club on various occasions in the past.

RSVP to Jude Acheson 616-475-1255 or e-mail at jacheson@dioceseofgrandrapids.org by Monday, November 11.

Priests' Anniversaries for November.

November 1.  Father Dan DePew.

November 2.  Father Charles Hall.

November 3.  Father Thomas Bouffard.

November 4.  Father Peter Schafer.

November 5.  Father Wayne Wheeler.

Thanks for Your Help.  Thanks to all who helped with 31 Club presentations on the weekend of October 26-27th at St. Mary's in Marne and St. Michael's in Coopersville:  Nancy Mulvihill, Beverly Shields, Frank Lake, John Osterhart, and Len Gross.  Please let us know if we omitted anyone.  The two parishes are those served by Father David Gross.

Muskegon Club Dinner.  On Tuesday, October 22, a number of members of our club and our guests were able to join our fellow Serrans in Muskegon for their annual Vocations Dinner:
Fr. Ray Bruck (guest of Dan and Janine LaVille), Aggie Kempker-Cloyd, Nancy King, John and Ellen Osterhart and their guest Ray Jensen, John and Mary Stepanovich, Weldon and Karen Schwartz, Tom and Pat Curran, Dennis and Margaret Leiber, and Dan Grady.
The speaker for the occasion was the Most Reverend David Walkowiak, who was slated to speak on, "Being Catholic in a Pluralistic  Society," but his talk actually centered on what fosters vocations in our country and in our time.
The Q and A session afterward generated great interest on the part of the audience, and while the crowd might have settled in for much longer, His Excellency announced at 8:00, "...and that's enough!"  Serrans from both clubs thank him for his support for the event and for his participation in the evening.

Serra International/Serra USA.  An Update.
Serra--A Status Report.
As November arrives, there have been several positive developments in the Serra International/Serra USA Council relationship.

Serra International has a new Executive Director.  John Liston brings a new perspective and a concern for healing the Serra International relationship with the USA Serra Council.  He is familiar with Serra from his many years of working in the Serra International Chicago office, starting as an intern from the age of 15.  His messages and actions have been positive.  He has met with most of the leadership at both levels and has had additional telephone conversations and other communications with many of those same individuals and several others.

The USA Council has been fully reinstated by Serra International, removing any conditions that might have been imposed at the Serra International Board meeting in Majorca.


A Resolution of Unity document has been approved by the Boards of both Serra International and the USA Council.  The agreements calls for a shared Chicago office to eliminate duplication of resources and to reduce costs.  SI and the USA Council had previously shared a common office prior to the International office moving to a separate location.

USA Council President Dan Jones and International President Sean Yeo have established an active dialog on a variety of subjects, seeking consensus and common ground.

Much Remains to be Done

Finances.  Many USA clubs have withheld dues from Serra International, especially following the Serra International's lawsuit against the Council.  An increasing number of clubs have withheld dues from the USA Council as they became frustrated at the seeming lack of progress in resolving the debate.

Serra International has tapped the Serra International Foundation to make ends meet.  This was not an appropriate use of Foundation funds.  Serra International is obliged to repay those funds, together with the associated interest.

USA Council finances have been adversely affected by statements from Serra International that the Council dues were voluntary.  USA Council dues are a continuation of dues USA clubs formerly paid to International.  At the time the Council was formed, the Council assumed the greater portion of work for which International had previously collected dues, and the mandatory dues were split and allocated on a proportionate basis.  For a long time, the Council collected dues for both levels.  It is irrational to think that the mandatory dues became voluntary when the work paid for by those dues was taken on by the Council.

The Council was also impacted when International attempted to bill for, and in some cases succeeded in collecting, "national dues" which rightly belonged to the USA Council.

These matters remain to be resolved, but with the change in leadership at SI, there is a renewed spirit of cooperation--and hope.  Serra--both International and Serra's Council for the United States--needs USA clubs to pay their current and past dues.  A review is needed of the aspects of how the organization is financed, including disparate amounts of dues paid by non-USA Serra Clubs, and the question of Council dues being voluntary.

At this time, let us note that because of the length of this report, we will resume in the next issue.  Many thanks to John Osterhart, who devoted much time and effort to putting together this information.  The remainder of the report contains information about fresh start, in which our board has expressed no interest in participating, and the contributions of the Serra USA Council to the well-being of clubs throughout our country.

A Message from our President

Dear Serrans:

I ask that you pray for me and our local Serra Club as we journey together working on our important mission.  We have been blessed this past month with spectacular fall colors and beautiful weather.  We were reminded by Msgr. Hankiewicz about having a heart full of gratitude for all God's blessings and by Len Gross that mature Christians don't always pray to get stuff, but pray to thank God and to have a personal relationship with him.

Your Grand Rapids Serra Board is grateful that Serra International voted to reinstate the United States of America Council (USAC) and signed the accord so that we can all move forward peacefully on the vocations mission of the Catholic Church.

Jim and Nancy King have announced the birth of their first great-grandson, Jackson Lee Wilks, just before midnight on October 23.

I want to take a moment to thank Jim Hunter for leading the discussion of Chapter One of the Be Happy Attitudes.  His thoughtful comments and ability to get the discussion going regarding the first beatitude made for a lively luncheon discussion.  There have been a multitude of positive comments about the book and Jim's presentation following the meeting.

Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!

Agnes Kempker-Cloyd

Editor's Note:  I was so sorry to have missed our fourth-Monday meeting last month, but rest assured that none of you would have wanted to share in the cold that has struck at our house.  I especially regret missing out on the book discussion, which I understand received many positive comments.  Please prepare for Chapter 2, the discussion of which will take place at the noon meeting on January 27.  Thank you, Aggie, for a great idea.  Also, please continue our adoration practice whenever you're able.  IHM 5412 and St. Isidore 513.


Finally, we note the passing of Dominican Sister Lourdes Palazzolo on October 31.  Her funeral mass will take place today at the Dominican Chapel at Marywood.  As noted in her obituary, she was proud of her roots at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.  She was the sister of Anne (Abraham) Rossi.  Memorials in her name may be made to the Dominican Sisters--Grand Rapids Health Care Fund.  May her soul rest in peace.

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, October 2013
Calendar of Events.
October 1-31, 2013.  October is the Month of the Holy Rosary.  Let us remember especially to pray the Rosary for vocations, among our other intentions.  See below for more information.
October 7, 2013.  Our Lady of the Rosary.
October 13, 2013.  Save the date.  Our Lady of Sorrows Spaghetti Dinner, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  Advance tickets are now available.  Call 243-0222.
October 14, 2013.  Luncheon Meeting and Speaker Father Ray Bruck, 12:00 Noon at the University Club
His topic will be, "Examples of Personal Witness to Faith and Evangelization in My Life".  Also, Columbus Day will be observed on October 14.
October 20, 2011.  World Mission Sunday.
October 21, 2013.  Board Meeting and Luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus.
October 27, 2013.  Luncheon Meeting and Book Discussion, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Remember to read Chapter 1 of Dr. Robert Schuller's book, The Be Happy Attitudes.  Books are available at very reasonable prices at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.  Jim Hunter will lead the planned discussion, which was postponed last month because a number of our members were not aware of the plan and had not bought the book.

Priests' Anniversaries for October.  Special congratulations to Father Darrel Kempf and Father Michael Hodges, who were ordained on October 27, 2012.

A Good Idea from the Archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts.  The Monthly Prayer Request for Priests.  Would you pray for a priest each day?  Prayer suggestion:
O Jesus, Eternal High Priest, live in (name a priest), act in him, speak in him and through him.  Think your thoughts in his mind, love through his heart.  Give him your own dispositions and feelings.  Teach, lead, and guide him always.  Correct, enlighten and expand his thoughts and behavior.  Possess his soul; take over his entire personality and life.  Replace him with yourself.  Incline him to constant adoration and thanksgiving; pray in and through him.  Let him live in you and keep him in this intimate union always.  O Mary, Immaculate Conception, Mother of Jesus and Mother of priests, pray and intercede for (for...)  Amen.
You may make your own list as you wish,  but the Boston Archdiocese suggests that one pray for All Franciscans on October 4, All Carthusians on October 6, Pope Francis on October 7, All Passionists on October 20, and All Claretians on October 24.

Month of the Most Holy Rosary.

Overview.  The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary.  According to an account by a fifteenth-century Dominican, Alan de la Roch, Mary appeared to St. Dominic in 1206 after he had been praying and doing severe penance because of his lack of success in combating the Albigensian heresy.  Mary praised him for his valiant fight against the heretics and then gave him the Rosary as a mighty weapon, explained its uses and efficacy, and told him to preach it to others.
"Since the prayers of the Rosary come from such excellent sources--from Our Lord Himself, from inspired Scripture, and from the Church--it is not surprising that the Rosary is so dear to our Blessed Mother and so powerful with heaven.
"If we consider the power of the Rosary in its seen effects, we find a great abundance of proofs of its wonderful value.  Many are the favors granted to private individuals through its devout recitation: there are few users of the Rosary who cannot testify to experiencing its power in their own lives.  If we turn to history, we see many great triumphs of the Rosary.  Early tradition attributes the defeat of the Albigensians at the Battle of Muret in 1213 to the Rosary.  But even those who do not accept this tradition will admit that St. Pius V attributed the great defeat of the Turkish fleet on the first Sunday of October, 1571, to the fact that at the same time the Rosary confraternities at Rome and elsewhere were holding their processions.  Accordingly, he ordered a commemoration of the Rosary to be made on that day.  Two years later, Gregory XIII allowed the celebration of a feast of the Rosary in churches having an altar dedicated  to the Rosary.  In 1671, Clement X extended the feast to all Spain.  A second great victory over the Turks, who once, like the Russians, threatened the ruin of Christian civilization, occurred on August 5, 1716,  when Prince Eugene defeated them at Peterwardein in Hungary.  Thereupon Clement XI extended the feast of the Rosary to the whole Church .
"Today, when dangers far greater than those of the ancient Turks threaten not only Christianity but all civilization, we are urged by the Blessed Mother to turn again to the Rosary for help.  If men in sufficient numbers do this, and at the same time carry out other conditions that she has laid down, we have the greater reason for confidence that we will be delivered from our dangers."--Mary in our Life by Fr. William G. Most.  Source:  Catholic Culture, www.catholicculture.org/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10

More About the Rosary.  From September 27, 2013, Serrans United in Prayer, A Serra International Monthly Prayer Initiative.
...Why pray the Rosary?  The Rosary is a powerful weapon, and Our Lady has promised that everyone who recites the Rosary faithfully daily will receive an abundance of graces, both now and at the hour of death..  His Grace Archbishop Fulton Sheen (1885-1979) said, "The power of the Rosary is beyond description.."
At Fatima, our Lady exhorted all of us to pray the Rosary daily:  "I am the Lady of the Rosary.  I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and to ask pardon for their sins.  They must not offend our Lord any more, for he is already too grievously offended by the sins of men.   People must say the Rosary.  Let them continue saying it every day."
Therefore, on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, let us all take some time to offer a decade of the Rosary for our common intention--that all Serrans will pray the Rosary daily for all priests to have the grace to overcome the trials and challenges that come their way...
Thank you and God bless.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for us!
Yours in Christ, Sean Yeo, President, Serra International, www.serra..org

Second Annual Catholic Legacy Award Dinner.  All those who attended on September 28 can attest that the long-awaited event met and surpassed our expectations of a wonderful evening.  See Aggie's note for a complete list of the Dinner Committee, to whom we owe our heartfelt thanks for their hard work, their perseverance, and their dedication to the task of planning and carrying out this event.  We thank our Moderator, Msgr. Hankiewicz, for his part in inviting Archbishop Lori as our keynote speaker.
We appreciate the support of the committee, our membership, and our generous sponsors.  Our Gold Sponsor was the Knights of Columbus, Michigan Council, and our silver sponsors were The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty, the Catholic Lawyers Association of West Michigan, Holy Family Radio, and Mercy Health-Saint Mary's.

Joseph Scoville presented the award to Bishop Emeritus Hurley, and Aggie presented a check to Bishop Walkowiak for his use in furthering vocation-related activities in our diocese.

The topic of the evening, "Living as a Catholic in our Contemporary, Pluralistic Society," couldn't have been more timely.  The Archbishop brought his talk to a powerful conclusion with these words:
A.  All of which brings me to two final thoughts.
The Serra Club has always recognized the beautiful partnership that must exist between laity and clergy for the Church's mission to advance.  Your love for the priesthood means much to me and to my brother priests; your love for the consecrated life means much to those seeking to live the heart of the Gospel in vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience.  One thing we need to live in this passing world is unity--unity of faith, unity of worship, unity in complementary of our vocations--unity around our dedication to the mission of Jesus Christ to save the world.  And the second thing we need is the intrepid missionary spirit of St. Junipero Serra whose motto is, "always forward, never back!"
B.  May we advance, dear friends, in bearing witness to Christ, in season and out of season, whether convenient or inconvenient, welcome or unwelcome--for the good of souls, out of love for country, out of love for our Church, to the glory of God's name.  Thanks for listening.  God bless you!

Archbishop Lori is a member of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities and the Committee on the Doctrine of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.  In September of 2011, he was appointed to chair the USCCB's Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.  In this new role, he is in the forefront of the fight for religious liberty.  Among other positions of service, he is the Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus.

Please note that we the speech in its entirety.  If you'd like to receive a copy of your own, please notify Nancy by e-mail at njking50@gmail.com, and I will scan it and forward it to you from the e-mail address nancy@grbar.org.

Also, we note with sadness that Bob Paul, after all of his hard work on the Committee, was unable to attend.
Just a few days before the dinner, Hazel suffered another stroke.  Let us continue to keep Bob and Hazel in our prayers, as we have over the past several months.

Good News.  As we reflect on the role of our brothers and sisters in the faith in contributing to the success of our dinner, the Knights of Columbus, we might very well turn to the September 2013 issue of Columbia, a monthly magazine dedicated to the activities of the Knights in carrying out the Lord's work.  The magazine is excellent every month, but this issue seems especially significant in reminding us of the good that takes place in our world by those who are guided and inspired by the Lord. Let us take this occasion to call to your attention to some of the highlights of  Volume 93, Number 9.  And one thing above all others we have in common is our love of and our support for priestly and religious vocations.
1)  An editorial on Marriage and the New Evangelization, by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori:  "Pray, teach, witness--live the vocation of marriage and family joyfully and robustly!  This is what will open minds and hearts, defending marriage and religious liberty for the salvation of souls and the good of our society."
2)  An article on the Oklahoma Disaster Relief headed by the Knights.
3)  A story and aerial photograph of the three million people who packed Copacabana beach for the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro July 28.
4)  "A Place Called Home," about the Knights of Saskatchewan, who established affordable long term housing for seniors in need.
5.  In "A Journey of Faith and Healing," we read about New York area Knights who each year send children  with illness and disabilities to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and who sponsor military pilgrimages to Lourdes:  "From May 24-26, approximately 160 active-duty and retired U. S. military and retired personnel, injured veterans, spouses, and family members participated in the 55th International Military Pilgrimage to the Catholic shrine at Lourdes with support from the Knights of Columbus and the Archdiocese for the Military Service, USA.
The Memorial Day weekend pilgrimage allowed those who had given some of the highest levels of service to their country an opportunity to rest, pray and heal around the miraculous waters of the Lourdes grotto...."Our pilgrimage in these days is also a time for us to deepen our faith," said (Archbishop Timothy B. Broglio) during a May 24 homily.  "We come to this wonderful shrine with many intentions:  For some it will be health of mind and body.  For others it may be part of a vocations search.  Still others ask the Virgin for blessings on their families..."
The Knights of Columbus organized its first military pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1919.  During World War I, Knights were extremely active in serving American troops abroad.
6.  And finally a vocations story, "God was Prompting Me," by Seminarian Joshua Stika, Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa.
Once again, we thank the Knights of the Michigan Council and of Lowell for their presence and their support of the Legacy Dinner.

A Message from our President.

Dear Serrans,
I ask that you pray for me and the local Serra Club as we venture together with out important vocations work.  These crisp fall days are filled with good cheer over sports (football) and the bountiful harvest.   We are so grateful for all God's blessings.  It's hard to feel stressed when you are mindful of all the good in your life.

Thanks go out to everyone who made the 2013 Legacy Dinner a financial success by spreading the word, getting a table, or by helping the hard-working committee.  I especially want to thank the chairman of that committee, Magistrate Judge Joseph Scoville.  Also working tirelessly were committee members Dan LaVille, Tim Hile, John Osterhart, Bob Paul, Weldon Schwartz, and Tom Curran.  We thank Beth Gumina for the beautiful flower arrangements, and Bev Schields and Nancy for serving as our gracious greeters.   Congratulations to all for the wonderful job you did!

I would also like to take a minute to thank Monsignor Hankiewicz for being our moderator with humor and style.  Monsignor, it is always a pleasure to be in your company.

Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for us!

Agnes Kempker-Cloyd.

And finally, we congratulate Aggie and her husband Brian, who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on the evening of the dinner.

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, September 2013

Calendar of Events.
September 3, 2013.  Feast day of St. Gregory the Great.
September 6, 2013.  The reduced table rate for the Catholic Legacy Award Dinner expires.
September 8, 2013.  Feast of the Birth of Mary, Mother of Vocations.  See note below regarding the correspondence from Dante Vanini, Vice President, Vocations of Serra International.  He invites us to participate in a Day of Prayer throughout the Serra World.
September 9, 2013.  Luncheon and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at the University Club.  Speaker will  be Dr. Juan Olivarez, President of Aquinas College.  Editor's Note:  We have heard him speak on other occasions and advise that you don't want to miss this presentation.  Invite a guest or two if you'd like.
September 10, 2013.  Coffee for Sara Vanderwerff, 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the home of Larry and Marian Burns, 1556 Pontiac Road SE.  See note below.
September 14, 2013.  Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
September 16, 2013.  Board Meeting and Luncheon, 12:00 noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus.
September 21, 2013.  Feast Day of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.
September 28, 2013. 2013 Catholic Legacy Award Dinner.  The reception will begin at 6:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m., at the Grand Rapids Hilton Hotel, 4747 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids. Dinner speaker will be The Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore.  His topic will be Being Catholic in the United States; Living the Faith in a Pluralistic Society.  We will also be in the presence of the Most Reverend David J. Walkowiak, Bishop of Grand Rapids, and the Most Reverend Walter A. Hurley, Bishop Emeritus of Grand Rapids, to whom the award will be given, for his outstanding service to the Diocese and its people.  Note that Archbishop Lori also serves as Chairman of the Bishops' Ad-hoc Committee on Religious Freedom and as Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus.
October 13, 2013.  Our Lady of Sorrows Spaghetti Dinner, 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.  Call 243-0222 for tickets.
October 27, 2013.  Celebrate Priesthood Sunday.

Invitation from Dante Vanini.  He writes, in a letter dated August 19, 2013:
Dear fellow Serrans,
Peace! Peace! Peace!
For the past two years, we have been uniting in our prayers for more vocations to the priesthood through "Serra Unites!"--a Day of Prayer throughout the Serra World.
I am now writing to seek your continued support and active participation in this year's "Serra Unites!" which will be held on Sunday, September 8, 2013--the Feast of the birth of Mary, Mother of Vocations.  On this day, let us unite our prayers, praying as one to the body of Christ, for a more generous response on the part of those men called to the sacred priesthood as well as for the holiness of our priests and consecrated religious.
We also pray that all Serrans will remain faithful to the call of God in carrying out His work in the Serra lay apostolate.  May we put aside all differences and be guided by the Holy Spirit in all that we do.
See below the simple prayer dynamics for this year's "Serra Unites!"
"Serra Unites!" 2013.  A Day of Prayer throughout the Serra World, Sunday, September 8, 2013, Feast of the Birth of Mary, Mother of Vocations.
Instructions to Serra Clubs are as follows:
1.  As 8 September falls on Sunday, Serra Clubs may choose to get together to pray on Saturday, 7 September instead of Sunday.
2.  Preferably, conduct a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations, inviting friends and relatives to join in the prayer.
3.  If the Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration is not possible, clubs can organize a Rosary Prayer meeting using the Serran Rosary for Vocations (this can be found on www.serra.org).
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for us!
God Bless,
Dante Vanini

Codes for Eucharistic Adoration.  IHM 5412.  St. Isidore, 513.

Coffee for Sara VanderWerff.  All Serrans are invited to a coffee to support our fellow Serran, Sara VanderWerff, who is running for City of Grand Rapids Comptroller.  She was appointed this past year to fill a vacancy, but now the office is coming up as an elected position.  The coffee will be on Tuesday, September 10 from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the home of Larry and Marian Burns, our newest Serrans, 1556 Pontiac Road SE.  Coffee, tea, and rolls will be served.  Come for whatever time you have to support Sara's campaign.


Welcome to our Club.  As noted above, we welcome our newest Serrans, Larry and Marian Burns, and we thank them for their support of Sara in the upcoming elections.

Prayer for September.  O Glorious St. Matthew, in your Gospel you portray Jesus and the longed-for Messiah who fulfilled the Prophets of the Old Covenant and as the new Lawgiver who founded a Church of the New Covenant.  Obtain for us the grace to see Jesus living in his Church and to follow his teachings in our lives on earth so that we may live forever with him in heaven.  Amen.

St. Matthew is the author of the first gospel.  He is the brother of James, the Apostle.  Mtthew was a tax collector.  Because of this, he was regarded as an outcast by his own people.  Matthew heard Jesus'
call and rose and followed him.  His faithful devotion earned him a position as one of the twelve.  He was among the Apostles present at the Ascension.  Afterwards he prayed in union with Mary, the mother of Jesus, in Jerusalem.

Followers urged this gifted writer to set down from memory the acts and teachings of Jesus.  He completed his gospel eight years after the Ascension of Jesus, preserving his message of salvation for posterity.
SYMBOL:  Bag of Coins, Desk with angel.
Source:  Catholic Art Calendar, 2013.

Another Reflection for September.
The readings of September 1 center on mindfulness, awareness of where we stand in God's plan.  The mountain of Sinai carries a message of the majesty and distance of God, while Jesus' presence as the host of the banquet speaks of intimacy and mystery.  September's shadow calls us all to mindfulness as we prepare to return to life outside of summer.  The Christian life holds these two places in the knowledge of God in careful balance.  Even in the accounts of the Passion we see the table of the upper room in balance with the Mount of Olives.
Altar means "high place," yet it is also a table.  The former liturgy of the Latin Rite began with the priest bowing at the foot of the altar's three steps, chanting, Intribo ad altare Dei, or "I will go the altar of God," followed by the altar server's response,"The God who gives joy to my youth."  Many Catholics can recall and recite this scene by heart.  As with so many things in liturgy, there are layers of meaning in our worship.  The altar table evokes memories of high places once reserved for encounter with the holy, and the intimacy of the table where hospitality draws us to share food and drink.
Source:  Our Lady of Sorrows Bulletin, September 1, 2013.

The Be Happy Attitudes.  We remind our fellow Serrans to buy Dr. Schuller's Be Happy Attitudes, available at all major bookstores and at amazon.com for a very reasonable price.  The discussion of Chapter 1 will take place at our Fourth Monday meeting on October 28 at Sacred Heart of Jesus, with Jim Hunter leading the discussion.  We offer below a very apt and helpful piece, "Humility, the Key to Happiness," as an accompaniment to the readings of September 1 and the thoughts of Dr. Schuller in Chapter 1 of his book:

"Pope Francis has earned a reputation as a humble pope.  September 3 is the feast of another humble pope:  Gregory the Great.  St. John Moschos, an abbot, recounted this story of the great Benedictine:
'One day, as I was standing in the city center (of Rome), I saw that Pope Gregory was going to pass by...When the Pope came near I perceived that I was about to prostrate myself--the Lord is my witness, brethren--he prostrated himself down to the ground and refused to rise until I had got up.  He embraced me with great humility, handed me three pieces of gold and ordered me to be given a monastic cloak, stipulating that all my needs were to be taken care of.  So I glorified God, who had given him such humility towards everybody, such generosity with alms and such love.'
The readings are about humility--specifically, they are about how humility can make you happy.  Very happy.
'The just rejoice and exalt before God,' says the Psalm.  'They are glad and rejoice.'
Here are three ways humility makes you happy, according to the readings.
1.  Humility sets your expectations low, so you sometimes surpass them.  Jesus' first bit of advice in the Gospel is about setting your own expectations low.  Do not choose the place of honor at a banquet, he says:  'A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, Give your place to this man, and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place.' Instead, choose the lowest place, he says.
Then you will be surprised by being given something greater.  People have a tendency to be greedy for more and greater things.  But greed leaves people dissatisfied with what they have.  The beatitudes counsel the opposite.  Happy are those who are poor in spirit, says Jesus.  The humble don't expect much, and so they are happy with what they get.  The first reading from Sirach agrees.  What is too sublime for you, seek not, it says. Into things beyond your strength search not.
2.  Humility improves your relationship with others.  Nobody likes a boaster; everybody loves a humble person.  Jesus describes what happens when you are moved up at the table.  You will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table, he says.
Or, as the first reading puts it, 'My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.'  The quietly pleasant person who admits who he is and is fine with it is always nicer to have around than the pushy and self-seeking person who pretends to be something he is not.
3.  Humility allows God to have a relationship with you.  The proud crowd out God; the poor in spirit let him in.  'When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind,' says Jesus  'Blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.  For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.'
The more you try to find your happiness in the world, by impressing others and by currying favor, the more restless and unhappy you will be.  The more you trust in God for your happiness, forgoing the search in this world in favor of the next, the more open you are to true happiness. 'Humility is the foundation of prayer,' says the Catechism (2259).  'Only when we humbly acknowledge that we do not know how to pray as we ought are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer.'  Sirach agrees, 'Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.'"
Source:  Tom and April Hoopes, The National Catholic Register, August 25-September 7, 2013.

A Message from our President.
Dear Serrans:
I ask that you pray for me and our socal Serra Club as we move forward together with our important work.  Hopefully my message finds you happpy and well rested from a wonderful Labor Day weekend.

Let us join together in support of the 2013 Legacy Dinner by getting our reservations and money to Tim Hile for half a table by September 6, 2013.

We postponed the discussion of Chapter 1 of the Be Happy Attitudes until the second meeting of October.  After Jim Hunter's short discussion we are all eager to read this book.  And we will be ready to participate in a lively discussion.

I would like to take a minute to thank the dinner committee for the wonderful job they are doing to make the 2013 Legacy Dinner a success.

Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!

Aggie Kempker-Cloyd

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter August 2013

This issue marks a call to action for all Grand Rapids Serrans to help make  the Second Annual Catholic Legacy Dinner a success.  It's on Saturday, September 28, 2013.  More to follow.
Please note that three documents are attached to this newsletter as pdf files.  Two are related to the dinner, and one signifies Serra International's connection with the Vatican in our mission to pray for and support priestly vocations.  Dennis Leiber brought the letter back from Mallorca and we copied it for our use.
When you get to the documents, click on File, Open, go to blogspot files, and click on the first one.  Press Control P to print.  Go to the Back button each time to get into the second and third files.  If all else fails and you can't print, send me an e-mail and I'll mail the documents to you. At any rate, try these directions and see whether they work for you.  I extend my thanks to my nephew Andrew for his technical support in converting the scanned documents to pdf files.

Calendar of Events.
August 12, 2013.  Luncheon Meeting and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at the University Club.
August 13, 2013.  Saginaw Club's Seventh Annual Dinner to benefit the Robert J. Carlson Seminarian Endowment Fund at Swan Valley Banquet Center, Saginaw.  Social Hour begins at 6:00 p.m.  Call Pat Leikert if you're still interested in signing on.  You may also call Marian and John Moll at 989-751-2228.
August 15, -2013.  The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Holy Day of Obligation.
August 19, 2013.  Serra Board Meeting and Luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus.
August 22, 2013.  The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
August 26, 2013.  Prayer Meeting and Luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Let us be reminded of the upcoming discussion of Dr. Robert Schuller's The Be-Happy Attitudes, Chapter 1.  This book discussion and those to follow come at the direction of our president Aggie Kempker-Cloyd.  Jim Hunter will lead the first discussion.  The book can be bought at Barnes & Noble or through Amazon.com
September 28, 2013.  The 2013 Catholic Legacy Dinner, 7:00 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Hilton Hotel, 4747-28th Street SE.  Invitation and sign-up forms have been sent as part of this newsletter, as noted above.  At this point, the Muskegon Club has committed to a table.  We look forward to making this dinner a success!

Priests' Anniversaries for August.

The Reverend Donn Tufts, August 20, 1980.
The Reverend George Darling, August 11, 1984.
The Reverend Stephen Dudek, August 11, 1984.
The Reverend Dennis Morrow, August 24, 1985.
The Reverend Dennis O'Donnell, August 20, 1983.
The Reverend James Wyse, August 29, 1987.

Notes from Dennis Leiber. Along with Msgr. Hankiewicz,  Dennis and Margaret attended the Serra International Convention in Mallorca and participated in the pilgrimage to Petra, the birthplace of Blessed Junipero Serra.
"This year marks an historic FIRST for the Serra Club of Grand Rapids--we have two members serving on Serra International Board.
One benefit is that we get the most up-to-date information straight from the source.  The challenge, of course, is to be the model for other Serra clubs to emulate, but we have already led the way in the United States by being the first Serra Club to sponsor a Venture crew, for example, and I remain grateful to our leadership for their role in continuing a program deemed worthy by the United States Catholic Committee on Scouting and others.
I take the liberty of sharing with you an initiative of Serra International president Sean Yeo.  I can tell you from personal experience about the fierce dedication that the Singapore Serrans employ to attend to their spiritual growth.  For me, it is most humbling.
In any event, I share this with you for your information and consideration.
Respectfully,
Dennis
Editor's Note:  Our two members serving on the International Board are Dan Grady, President-Elect of Serra International, and Dennis Leiber, Trustee.
We thank Dennis for his remarks at the July 26 meeting summing up his experiences at Mallorca and Petra.  The main theme one can derive from his talk is the inspiration one gets from being with Serrans from all over the world, all united in our common goal of praying for and supporting priestly vocations, and from seeing for oneself the birthplace of Blessed Junipero Serra.
Dennis brought back a postcard depicting the six statues of Fray Serra around the world.  They are located in Petra, Spain; Palma, Spain; Mexico City, Mexico; Sierra Gorda, Mexico; Carmel, California, and Washington, D. C.  He also brought  pamphlets on Praying the Rosary for Vocations and Adoration for Vocations.These pamphlets, among other items, may also be purchased at the Serra Store, which is linked to the Serra Connects website.
As for the Venturing, our board voted to continue our participation in Venturing.  Our club is funded for Venturing through December 31, 2013.  Weldon Schwartz will serve as one of the adult sponsors.

Serrans United in Prayer.  
We join new Serra International president Sean Yeo, of the Singapore Club in a series of prayer initiatives, the first of which is scheduled for August 4.  In a recent e-mail he writes,
"Shalom!  In line with Serra's Third Objective, and in order to unite Serrans from all over the world through prayer for a common intention, I would like to implement a new prayer initiative called, Serrans United in Prayer (SUIP for short--pronounced as 'soup' as in 'soup for the soul').  This is a monthly Serra International prayer initiative, where Serrans all over the world recite a prayer for a particular intention related to the Serra lay apostolate on a particular feast day, for example.
To kick off this initiative, it would be most appropriate to start on 4 August 2013 (Sunday), the Feast of St. John Vianney, Patron saint for all priests.  Our common prayer intention on that day will be for the sanctification of our Holy Father and priests all over the world.  The simple prayer is attached for your reference.
The prayer is as follows:
Prayer Date:  4 August 2013 (Feast of St. John Vianney, Patron of Diocesan Priests).
Prayer Intention:  For the sanctification of our Holy Father, priests, and seminarians all over the world.
Prayer for Priests:
Lord Jesus, Guide and Shepherd of Your people, we thank you for the gift of all our priests.  We ask for your special blessings upon them that they may be worthy representatives of You, the Good Shepherd.
May they wholeheartedly devote themselves to prayer and penance.  By examples of humility and poverty, may they be shining models of holiness, tireless and powerful preachers of the Word of God and zealous dispensers of God's Grace in the Sacraments.
May their loving devotion to You in the Eucharist and to Mary, Your Mother, be the twin foundation of our faith.
Amen.
Sean will be sending subsequent SUIP prayers at least 10-14 days in advance so that Serra leaders have ample time to keep their fellow Serrans informed accordingly.
Sean continues, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  I give thanks always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus (I Corinthians 1:3-4).
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for us.
Yours Sincerely in Christ,
Sean Yeo, President, Serra International

New Members.  We welcome three of our recently enrolled new members:  Chet Collins, Mike Fiorenzo, and Scott Przekop.
My apologies for not passing along Dennis's note about Chet Collins, which reads as follows:
March 4, 2013.  Dear Tim:  Welcome with me, as indicated below, Chet Collins, who accepted my invitation to join Serra during our recent New Members reception.  Chet is a graduate of Steubenville and a classmate of Serran Ken Baldwin.
Together with Ken and me, Chet has already been in close communication with Phil Dolci, who also attended the reception.  Phil is the successor to Kathy Pierce, who was instrumental in the creation of the nation's first ever Serra-Venturing partnership at West Catholic.  It appears there is a core group of students at West Catholic who would greatly profit from our continued partnership with Venturing.  Perhaps we can expand the base to include Catholic Central, but I will let Chet fill you and the Board in on what is developing.  We hope that the Board will continue to support this effort.


A Message from our President.
Dear Serrans:
I ask you to pray for our local Serra Club as we grow in God's word, have fellowship with one another, and prepare for our vocations work via the 2013 Catholic Legacy Dinner on Saturday, September 28, 2013.  We all need to do our part by signing up to attend the dinner, bring a significant other or friend and sell two tickets.  If we join with another Serran, you will have a table of eight for a cost of $720 versus $800...or $90 a ticket.  If we do this, we will fill 20 tables.  This will get us halfway to our goal.  The dinner committee is busy getting sponsorship and selling the other 20 tables.
Hope everybody is enjoying the Club Book, Be Happy Attitudes @chapter 1, which we will discuss at the second meeting on August 26, 2013.  Jim Hunter has volunteered to lead the club in our discussion.
I'd like to take a moment to thank Pat Leikert for his many years of service as our club treasurer.  He is a hard-working board member who has worked wonderfully with each and every president.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us.
Aggie Kempker-Cloyd.

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter July 2013

Calendar of Events.
July 1, 2013.  Feast Day, Blessed Junipero Serra.
July 4, 2013.  Independence Day.  Pray for our nation.
July 8, 2013.  Luncheon Meeting and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at the University Club.  Speaker will be Fr. Louis Anderson, and his topic will be "Retired Priests and the Faith."  Those who would like a paper copy of  Fr. Steven Crone's June address may e-mail Larry Mulligan at lmulligan@shrr.com
July 15, 2013.  Serra Board Meeting and Luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus.
July 22, 2013.  Prayer Service and Luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Installation of our new officers will take place at that meeting.
August 13, 2013. Saginaw Club's Seventh Annual Dinner to benefit the Robert J. Carlson Seminarian Endowment Fund.
Last month we received the following letter from the Saginaw Club, dated June 1, 2013:
Dear Friends of Serra:
The Seventh Annual Dinner to benefit The Robert J. Carlson Seminarian Endowment Fund will be held on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at Swan Valley Banquet Center, 9521 Highland Green Drive, in Saginaw.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and a social hour will begin at 6:00 p.m. with dinner starting at 7:00 p.m.  Cost is $45 per person or $340 per table of eight...
Our keynote speaker will be Father Joseph Krupp, a feature writer for Faith Magazine.  His Excellency Joseph Cistone, Bishop of Saginaw, will add a few comments also.  Again this year, our Mistress of Ceremonies will be Katie O'Mara of WNEM TV 5....
Sincerely in Christ,
John and Marian Moll

Our board discuss this invitation at the June meeting, and we already have enough Grand Rapids Serrans planning to attend to fund at least a table of eight.  We have a copy of the RSVP sheet and will scan and send it to you upon request.  Tickets will not be mailed, but if you include your e-mail address in the reply, e-mail confirmation will be provided.  Make checks payable to Serra Club of Saginaw, John and Marian Moll, 3828 Fireside Lane,
Freeland, MI 48263
Telephone:  989-751,2228
e-mail:  MJMOLL333@CHARTERMI.NET

Please let Tim, Aggie, or Nancy know if you are interested, and we will assist in getting the information to you and keeping count.

Priests' Anniversaries for July.
Father Larry King, July 8, 1989.
Father Lam Le, July 10, 2009
Father Ray Bruck, July 20, 1958.

Some Thank-you Notes.
The first note is from our seminarians in St. Paul, Minnesota, who received a visit from (then) International President Tomi Asuenga and Dan Grady, this past spring.
Dear Serrans:
Thank you all very much for generously sending the $100 gift card.  It was a wonderful surprise to receive it. We used your gift to go out and buy ingredients to cook a dinner and spend some time together as brothers. Even more than your material gift, we are very thankful for all your prayers.  Be assured of our prayers for you and your families.
Rob Mulderink, Patrick Byars, William Marcinkus, Andres Ayers, Michael Steffes, Stephen Durkee.
This thank-you note was sent in response to a visit last spring from Dan Grady and Tim Hile to our seminarians in St. Paul, Minnesota and their delivery of the gift card.

More Thank-you Notes from the White Caps Game:

Dear Dan:  (LaVille)
We had a wonderful time at the ball game.  We sisters truly look forward to the companionship, friendship from the Serra Club members and volunteers, good food and watching our Grand Rapids White Caps.  Though this first game was cold, we want you to know we appreciate your kindness in providing this opportunity.
God Bless you all,
Sister Mary Jude, RSM.
Dear Mr. LaVille:
Thank you and the Serra Club for the kindness you have shown.  The White Caps game is a great outing.  I do enjoy the picnic and the great company.  God Bless you all!  S. M. de Paul.
Dear Friends,
Thanks a million for the marvelous afternoon of baseball, lunch, and fun!  It is always a super time with you ,
and the Sisters of the area.  I especially appreciate your prayers and support for religious vocations.
Gratefully,
Sister Rosemary Smith, RSM.
Dear Dan LaVille and all the dear members of the Serra Club,
Thank you for the treat of the White Caps game,
We enjoyed it much--we were glad we came.
The weather was great-so peaceful and calm,
Announcements interesting--
nice each song.
All in this club are like a bright sun-ray,
God bless and keep you blessed--for this we pray.
All the Sisters of St. Ann's.
And from Msgr. Ancona to Pastor Ted Kozlowski in response to his 50th Anniversary Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows:
My deepest thanks to our pastor, Fr. Ted and his helpers of the parish staff, for hosting the beautiful tribute last Sunday on the occasion of my Golden Jubilee of ordination to the priesthood.  My thanks as well to everyone who helped make the Mass so beautiful, from the musicians, to all the ministers of the Mass, to the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre...
My family and I are deeply grateful to everyone at our home parish,
Msgr. Gaspar F. Ancona.
Note:  Serrans Mark Kubik and Ralph Hauenstein represented the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre at Msgr. Ancona's anniversary mass and at the ordinartion and installation of Bishop David Walkowiak.

We Welcome Bishop David Walkowiak.
Bishop David J. Walkowiak, J. C. D. was born on June 18, 1953 in East Cleveland, Ohio.  He is the son of Dr. John Walkowiak of Rocky River, Ohio and the last Virginia Walkowiak.  He has three sisters who live in Ohio:  Sue Hannon of Bay Village, Jan Striegl of Avon Lake and Carol Duffy of Westlake.
Bishop Walkowiak attended St. Bernadette School in Westlake, Ohio and graduated from St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland.  His college studies took place at the University of Notre Dame, where in 1975 he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and international studies.  He studied at St. Mary Seminary in Cleveland and received a Master of Divinity degree in 1979.
Following ordination to the priesthood June 9, 1979 by the last James Cardinal Hickey at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland, he was assigned as associate pastor to Saint Mary Parish in Lorain, Ohio.  Bishop Walkowiak later studied canon law at The Catholic University of America in Washington,
D. C., where he received the Licentiate degree in 1984 and the Doctorate degree in 1987.  After he completed his studies in 1986, Bishop Anthony Pilla assigned him to the faculty of Saint Mary Seminary in Cleveland and also appointed him vice chancellor of the Diocese of Cleveland.
In 1993 he began work as an adjutant judicial vicar for the appeals court of Cincinnati, Ohio; Steubenville, Ohio; and Washington, D. C.  In 2006, Bishop Pilla appointed Bishop Walkowiak pastor of Saint Joan of Arc Parish in Chagrin Falls, where he served until June 2013.  He was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids by Pope Francis on April 18, 2013.
The Serra Club of Grand Rapids welcomes Bishop Walkowiak to our diocese.

Venturing.  This past May at Dennis Leiber's request, Tim Hile added Venturing at West Catholic to the Serra Board agenda.  Dennis proposed that our club fund the West Catholic Venturing Program in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America.  The cost of funding the program from July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014 is $450.  The Serra Foundation would reimburse the club for half of the amount and Dennis and Margaret Leiber agreed to fund the balance.  Aggie motioned, Dan Grady seconded  to support the Venturing Program for the above mentioned time period.   Motion carried.   Under the leadership of Phil Dolce of West Catholic, the funds would help supply training for the Peer Ministry program and the Discernment Group.  Two Serrans would apply to the Boy Scouts of America to serve on the Venturing Steering Committee.  Let Aggie or Tim know if you would be interested in taking part   The program would supply a direct link to the discernment group at West Catholic.

Extract of the speech by Sean Yeo, President of Serra International (2013-2014) at the Annual Banquet on Saturday, June 22, 2013 in Mallorca, Spain.
Sharing his tentative plans for the coming year, our new president has arranged for a Mass to be said each day starting from tomorrow until the next Convention for all Serrans.  He also urges re-focusing on the third objective of Serra, which is our call to holiness.  He mentions that Jon Haines, who joined us two years ago, has contributed several articles to the "Serra Connects" newsletter.  In close collaboration with our incoming Vice President of Programs Robert Goldsmith, he writes that we will place greater emphasis this coming year to encourage all Serrans to grow in holiness.
"When we strive for holiness, and purify our interior life through prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation, fasting, and alms-giving, we die a little to ourselves.  Hence, our motives in serving this apostolate will be purified.  When we are detached even from this apostolate that the Lord has given us, we will be more inclined to hear the still small Voice of the Lord, always inspiring us on the plans that He has for us to carry out...This is my earnest prayer that we will be faithful to the call of the Lord and be courageous witnesses in this global lay apostolate for vocations.  The outcome of all our positive endeavors is truly now in the Lord's Hands.
"I would also like to encourage all Serrans to attend daily Mass and to spend time daily with our Eucharistic Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.  Blessed John Paul II has reminded that 'The Eucharist is the heart of the Church.  Where Eucharistic life flourishes, there the life of the Church will blossom.'  The Eucharist must foremost be the center of the core activities of the Serra Club and the life of all Serrans.'"
Mr. Yeo also encourages attending daily Mass in order to become more effective promoters of vocations and inculcating in our youth a strong desire for the Eucharist...He urges all Serra Clubs to become more focused on Love for the Eucharist in our future programs on encouraging and fostering vocations among members of the club and among the rest of the Church community.
Mr.Yeo further writes, "Our incoming Vice President for Vocations Dante Vannini and I will be communicating with you more frequently on the promotion of love for the Eucharist during the course of the year.  We also plan to continue with the initiatives that were introduced during the presidency of Dr. Wong, such as Serra Unites!  World Day of Prayer in the Serra World and Eucharistic Adoration on Good Shepherd Sunday."  
To mark the 300th Anniversary of the birth of Blessed Junipero Serra, Serra International will be launching an initiative this evening to encourage all Serra Clubs to implement a new vocation promotion activity that is in line with the missionary spirit of Father Serra.  Serra International will be giving out five special commemorative Blessed Junipero Serra 300th Birth Anniversary Awards.  To qualify for these awards, the vocation promotion activity must be implemented within the period of 1st July 2013 to 31st December 2013.    In line with the missionary spirit of Father Serra, the vocation promotion activity must be an initiative that the club is trying for the first time.  All submissions must be made to Serra International's office by 31 January
2014.  We will then short-list 10 outstanding initiatives and post them on the Serra International's website.  The judging will be done by a panel of judges and Serrans all over the world.  Just for this time only, there will be a cash award of US$1000 for each of the five award recipients."
President Yeo goes on to urge all clubs to organize retreats that will empower all Serrans to be more effective in their apostolate.  The retreats could be held regionally and at the county level.
President Yeo has given us much to think about in his address.  Aggie will comment further in her message this month.

A New Address for the Vatican Vocations Office.  Monsignor Francis Bonnici informs us that seminaries and priestly vocations are now catered for by the Congregation for the Clergy.  The postal address is Piazza Pio XXII, 3-00120 Citta Del Vaticano.  Msgr. Bonnici is following the pastoral ministry for priestly vocations through the website priestlyvocations.com, which offers to all those who work in the ministry of vocations the texts of the speeches of the Holy Father Francis, updated statistical data, a monthly information letter, and announcements of national and international congresses regarding vocations which are organized from time to time in the Catholic Church.

We Welcome our Newest Member.  We welcome our newest Serran, Michael Fiorenzo, sponsored by Weldon Schwartz.  Thank you, Weldon!  Michael can be reached at Suitnjeans1@yahoo.com.

Our President's Message.
Dear Serrans:
I ask you to pray for me and our local Serra Club as we venture forward together with our important mission.  Speaking of venturing, we have voted as a Board to support the Venturing connection between West Catholic and the Boy Scouts with their efforts at the team building with youth ministers of both sexes.  We hope to see Catholic Central joining in this effort.  Aquinas College has also indicated an interest in this program.
Not only is our local club focusing on the third Serra objective of fellowship, interaction, and education, but according to the extract of his speech, the Serra International president, Sean Yeo, has refocused on the third objective which he refers to as holiness.   He also wants us to become more effective promoters of vocations, by going to Holy Communion as often as possible.
Because the installation of Serra officers will occur on July 22, 2013, we will postpone the discussion of Chapter One of "The Be Happy Attitudes" until August 26, 2013 meeting.  Would someone volunteer to lead the discussion of that chapter?  It deals with the first beatitude:  blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Just let Larry Mulligan know.  The first one to make contact wins that honor!
I would like to take a minute to thank Tim Hile for his leadership as club president for the past two years.  He is a wonderful role model and a tough act to follow.  He has promised to be as active in his role as past president as he was as club president and for that we can be grateful.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for us.
Aggie

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, June 2013

Calendar of Events.
June 1, 2013.  Ordination of Deacons Scott Nolan, Charles Schwartz, and James VanderLaan, 10:00 a.m. at Cathedral of St. Andrew.
June 2, 2013.  50th Anniversary Mass of Msgr. Ancona, 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows.  Ralph Hauenstein, Dennis Leiber, and Mark Kubik participated in the procession, along with the Knights of Columbus, as Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.  Pat Leikert, Larry Mulligan, Nancy King, and John Osterhart represented Serra at the Mass, and Margaret Leiber and Ellen Osterhart attended as well.
Concelebrants were Fr. Ted Kozlowski and Msgr. John Giammona, who also celebrated his first Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows.
June 7, 2013.  World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests.  June 7 is also the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and First Friday.
June 9, 2013.  Vespers Service in celebration of Msgr. Ancona's 50th Anniversary, 3:00 p.m. at St. Sebastian Church, Byron Center, with a luncheon in the parish hall to follow.
June 10, 2013.  Luncheon and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at the University Club.  Speaker will be Fr. Steven Cron.  His topic will be, "Is That in the Scriptures?
June 14-15, 2013.  West Catholic's Weekend Celebration of its 50th Anniversary.  See below for line-up of events.  The contact person for this celebration is Phil Graveline, Communications Intern, Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools at philipgraveline@grcss.org.
June 17, 2013.  Board Meeting and Luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus.
June 19, 2013.  Installation of Bishop Walkowiak, 2:00 p.m.  See below for information regarding ushers.
June 20-23, 2013.  Serra International Convention, Majorca, Spain.  Msgr. Ed Hankiewicz and Dennis Leiber will represent our club, and Margaret will attend as well.
June 24, 2013.  Luncheon and Prayer Service, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Ushers Needed:  
Tim Hile received a note from Andi Grandy, Administrative Assistant, Office for Worship:
Hi, Tim.  I am wondering if the Serra Club will be able to provide ushers at the installation of Bishop Walkowiak on Tuesday, June 19.  Catie Heynen could use up to 15 ushers but can fill in with others if you cannot provide that many.  The Mass starts at 2:00 p.m., and she is asking that ushers meet her in the back of the cathedral around 12-12:30 p.m. in order to prepare.  Please let us know how many ushers you can provide.
If you have any other questions, please let me know.  Thank you, Andi.
R. S. V. P. to Tim Hile.

Priests' Anniversaries for June.

June 1:  Michael Alber, Msgr. Ancona, Chris Rouech, Luis Quintana, Louis Anderson, Bernard Carlin, Joseph Fix, Melvin Fox, Troy Nevins, William Zink.
June 2:  Matthew Barnum, Victor Kynam, Donald Lomasiewicz, Mark Peacock, Ken Schichtel.
June 3: James Bozung, John LaGoe, Anthony Vainavicz, Thomas McKinney, Anthony Russo.
June 4:  Luis Garcia, Eugene Golas, Thomas Schiller.
June 5:  Charles Brown, David Gross, Pedro Garcia, Paul Milanowski, Louis Stasker, Most Reverend Walter Hurley (Priesthood, appointed Bishop of GR on June 21).
June 6:  Michael Burt, James Chelich, Thomas Vesbit, Msgr. John Giammona, John Wisneski.
June 7:  Michael Celibraise, Godfrey Onyekwere, Philip Silwinski, Anthony Pelak, Philip Salmonowicz, Peter Vu.
June 11:  Fred Hoesli.
June 12:  Thomas Bolster.
June 13:  John Vallier.
June 14:  Mark Bauer, Ed Boucher.
June 15:  John Thome.
June 16:  Thomas Page.
June 19:  Msgr. Terrence Stewart.
June 24:  Patrick Grile, Msgr.Ed Hankiewicz.
June 27:  Francis Sacks.
June 28:  Ayub Francis Nasar.
June 29:  Robert Balser.
We wish to thank all of the priests of our diocese for their service to the Lord, and thank you, Lee for your anniversary card ministry.  As you can see, June is the busiest month for anniversaries, with May coming in a close second.

About the Ordinations.
Father Scott T. Nolan, 26, is the son of Robert and Holly Nolan of Muskegon.  He has four brothers, Brian and wife Tiffany, Daniel and wife Ashley, Sean and wife Kendall, and Joshua, and one sister, Maria.  His hobbies include tennis, golf, going to the movies, running, and biking.  His home parish is Prince of Peace in Muskegon.  Father Nolan is a May 2009 graduate of the University of St. Thomas and St. John Vianney Seminary with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and classical languages.  In 2011, he completed an internship at Holy Name of Jesus in Wyoming under the mentorship of Father Stephen Dudek.  During the summer of 2012, he served as a chaplain-intern at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, and during the 2012-2013 academic year he assisted at St. Bede the Venerable Parish in Chicago, Illinois.  Father Nolan completed his final year of seminary at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary in Illinois, and earned his master's of divinity (M. Div.) and bachelor's of sacred theology (S. T. B.) degrees in May 2013.  Father Nolan celebrated his first Mass of Thanksgiving on June 1, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. at Prince of Peace Church in Muskegon.  He will also celebrate masses on June 30, 2013 at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Holy Name of Jesus Church, 1630 Godfrey Avenue, Wyoming.
Father Charles Schwartz, 32, is the son of Felipa and Michael Schwartz of Grand Rapids.  He has five siblings, Rosario, Cecelia, Angelica, Jeffrey, and Rita.  His hobbies include soccer, hiking, backpacking and playing the guitar.  His home parish is the Shrine of St. Francis Xavier and Our Lady of Guadalupe, Grand Rapids.  Father Schwartz is a 2009 graduate of the University of St. Thomas and St. John Vianney Seminary where he earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and Catholic studies.  In 2011, he completed an internship at St. Michael Parish in Muskegon, and Sacred Heart Parish in Muskegon Heights under the leadership of Father Tom Brown.  During the summer of 2012, he served as a chaplain intern at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and during the academic year 2012-2013 he assisted at St. Michael Parish in Wheaton, Illinois. Father Schwartz completed his final year of seminary at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary in Illinois, and earned his master's of divinity (M. Div) and bachelor's of sacred theology (STB) degrees in May 2013.
Father Schwartz celebrated his first Mass of Thanksgiving at 5:00 p.m. on June 1, 2013 at the Shrine of St. Francis Xavier and Our Lady of Guadalupe, 250 Brown Street, Grand Rapids.
Father James R. VanderLaan, 29, is the son of Patricia and Stephen VanderLaan of Grand Rapids.  He has two siblings, Sarah and Joshua.  His hobbies include following the Detroit Tigers, coin collecting, reading,  and bike riding.  His home parish is The Shrine of St. Francis Xavier and Our Lady of Guadalupe, Grand Rapids.  Deacon VanderLaan is a 2007 graduate of Grand Valley State University with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and Spanish.  In 2011, he completed an internship at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Holland under the mentorship of Father Charlie Brown.  During the summer of 2012 he worked as a chaplain-intern at the VA Hospital in St. Cloud, Minn., and during the academic year of 2012-2013 he assisted at St. Joseph Parish in Round Lake, Ill.  Father VanderLaan completed his final year of seminary at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary in Illinois, and received his master's of divinity (MDiv) and bachelor's of sacred theology (S.T.B.) degrees in May 2013.
Father VanderLaan celebrated his First Mass of Thanksgiving on June 2, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. at the Shrine of St. Francis Xavier and Our Lady of Guadalupe.  He will also celebrate Masses on June 30, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Church, Holland.

About Msgr. Ancona.
Monsignor Gaspar F. Ancona was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on November 27, 1936.  His father Frank immigrated from Trapani, Sicily, married his mother Mary (Mancuso), and raised their children in what was then a predominantly Italian neighborhood.  Gaspar (Gus) Ancona received all of his Sacraments at his home parish, Our Lady of Sorrows, down the street from where he was raised on Sheldon Avenue.  He began his elementary education at Sheldon Public School, then completed through 8th grade at Our Lady of Sorrows School, and at that time a two-room stucco building that had previously served as a parish meeting hall.  From 1950 to 1956 he attended St. Joseph Seminary in Grand Rapids.  Raised firmly in his faith, Gus made the decision to pursue a life of service in the priesthood.
Gus was awarded Basselin Scholarship to the Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C. for the years 1956-1959.  The Basselin Scholarship was given annually to 12 seminarians from throughout the United States for specializing in speech-communications, English, and philosophy.  He completed his theology studies at St. John's Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan, while also taking summer classes at Michigan State University Extension and Aquinas College in Grand Rapids.  He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Grand Rapids on June 1, 1963.  He did additional studies in Rome in 1973 and 1977-78.
Father Ancona's assignments have included teaching high school at St. Joseph Seminary in Grand Rapids and Catholic Central in Manistee.  His parish assignments included St. Paul's Campus Parish at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids, and St. Sebastian Church in Byron Center, where he led the parish campaign to build a new church.  He was named Monsignor by Pope John Paul II in 1986.  He has been Associate Director of Religious Education, judge for the diocesean Marriage Tribunal, founding director of the Continuing Education of Priests, host for the televised program, "Catholic Outlook," host for the ecumenical radio program, "Soundings," Chaplain of the Grand Rapids Serra Club, lecturer for Emeritus College (now OLLI) at Aquinas, and columnist for Western Michigan Catholic and Faith Magazine.  Bishop Rose commissioned him to rite the diocesan history, which was published in 2001 as "Where the Star Came to Rest."  He retired in January of 2007, but remains a beloved senior priest in the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.
In his own words, "Msgr. Cianci, the longtime pastor and founder of Our Lady of Sorrows, had and still has a big influence on me.  I'm also a great admirer of the Dominican Sisters and the "Consolate Sister, and priests who have served the parish."
Source:  Biological information courtesy of The Dominican Center at Marywood, Mr. Gaspar Amodeo and Mrs. Rose Catalano of Our Lady of Sorrows,  and Msgr. Gaspar Ancona.

Promoting Vocations.
According to a study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) of Washington, DC, Catholic education in high school and college is a significant factor in choosing to enter a religious order.  Researchers surveyed 108 sisters and 24 brothers who had just professed perpetual vows.  Among the major findings are as follows:
*The average age of religious who professed vows is 39.
*Over two-thirds identify themselves as white, nearly one-sixth as Asian, and almost one in ten as Hispanic.  In general there is a larger percentage of Asians and much lower percentage of Hispanics than the percentage of Asians and Hispanics found in the U. S.
*71 percent were U. S. born.  Of  those born outside the U. S., the most common country of origin is Vietnam.
*About four and ten religious attended a Catholic elementary school.  They are more likely to have attended a Catholic high school and much more likely to have attended a Catholic college.
*The religious are highly educated.
*Most religious said that educational debt did not delay their application for entrance to a religious institute.
*Eight in ten religious had work experience prior to entering.
*Many religious were active in parishes before entering their institute.
*Eight in ten say they were encouraged to consider religious life by someone.
Perhaps all these findings can give us clues as to how to encourage vocations, from encouraging our young people to get an education in a Catholic institution, to asking and encouraging young people directly to consider their vocation.
Source:  Our Lady of Sorrows Bulletin, May 26, 2013.

Holy Family Radio.
Dan Grady sent the following report regarding last month's HFR Pledge Drive.  Dennis Leiber, Mark Kubik, and I were on the air with the pledge drive host, Sherri Brownridge (Serran of the Omaha Club) and Karen Weber, local mother whose daughter joined us via phone from the Dominican Sisters of the Eucharist (she is their novitiate).  We were also joined via phone by seminarians from St. John Vianney at Thomas Aquinas University in St. Paul/Minneapolis.  We talked about the importance of family in the process and discussed club activities and the upcoming dinner in September.  We raised over $6,000 including the club match.

A Letter from our President.  We welcome Aggie as our new president.

Dear fellow Serrans:
Although my presidency doesn't start until being sworn in (later this month), Tim Hile asked me to write the message since he is in the midst of important family obligations.
I ask you to pray for me and our local Serra Club as we venture forward together with our important mission.  We have three new priests (ordained this past weekend), which is the fruit of our prayers and vocation work.
Our Serra newsletter (in the upper right hand corner) contains our three Serra objectives.  In an effort to increase our fellowship, interaction, and education, I'm suggesting we as a club read a chapter each month of Robert Schuller's THE BE-HAPPY ATTITUDES.
Dr. Schuller, a Christian minister, was a graduate of Calvin College and the Hour of Power television ministry.  The be happy attitudes are better known to us as the Beatitudes, which come from the eight opening lines of Jesus' famous "Sermon on the Mount."  The book is $6.83 on Kindle and $7.19 on amazon.com.  It is a wonderful, thought-provoking work.  Please purchase the book and read the introduction and Chapter 1, "I-need-help-I-can't-do-it-alone" regarding the first beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  We can take turns leading the discussion of each chapter beginning July 22, 2013, the second meeting of the month).
I want to take a minute to thank Nancy King for all her work on our newsletter.  It takes a lot of dedication to prepare and distribute the newsletter each month.*
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us.
Aggie Cloyd
*Editor's Note:  I included this information only because Aggie wrote it, and I thank her for her kind words. However, I do not expect any special accolades;  the newsletter is what I agreed to do, and it's my pleasure to serve the club in this way.  I will end with the beautiful verse which I so often use, and which provides me with spiritual guidance and inspiration:
"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.