Year of Faith. October, 2012-November 24, 2013 (The Solemnity of Christ the King).
January 1, 2013. Mary, Holy Mother of God. Holy Day of Obligation.
January 10, 2013. District Governor and Regional Director Planning Conference, Chicago, Illinois.
January 11-13, 2013. Super Weekend. USA President Greg Lynch reminds us that the January 10 Conference and the Super Weekend mark the first nationwide step forward in adopting a resolution of unity.
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 for check online at www.serraus.org. This occasion will be 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 300th anniversary of his birth.
January 13-19, 2013. National Vocation Awareness Week.
January 14, 2013. Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at University Club. Speakers will be Srs. Patrice Konwinski and Jan Antor to present a Home Health Program they are launching. Feel free to invite friends, and particularly if they would be interested in this topic. R. S. V. P. to Tim Hile.
January 21, 2013. Board Meeting and Luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Sacred Heart of Jesus.
January 22, 2013. Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.
January 23, 2013. 40th Annual March for Life, Washington, D. C. Please pray especially for all of our Michigan Right to Life participants, including West Catholic and Catholic Central students.
January 28, 2013. Member-Guest Reception, 5:30 p.m. at University Club. Beer, wine, soft drinks, and heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served. Fr. Vincent O'Malley has graciously accepted our invitation to address the group on this occasion. Weldon Schwartz is in charge of inviting guests. Please try to invite at least one guest help to make this a memorable occasion for our club.
February 3, 2013. World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. R. S. V. P. to Tim Hile.
February 28-March 3, 2013. USA Council Incoming Board Meeting/Retreat, St. Paul, MN.
April 21, 2013. World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
May 17-19, 2013. USA Council Annual Meeting.
June 20-23, 2013. Serra International Convention, Majorca, Spain. To celebrate the 300th Blessed Junipero Serra Anniversary, our Board voted to purchase a special anniversary banner featuring the Serra International emblem, a portrait of Blessed Junipero Serra, and a mention of the 300th anniversary (1713-2013), and our club name. The price of this banner is $100.00. Club members attending the International Convention will take the banner to Spain, and afterwards the banners will become part of a special display in a nearby museum. Minus administrative costs, the proceeds go toward the International Convention expenses.
*Please note that the serraus.org website offers many materials for the World Days of Prayer Occasions.
They are available for FREE download from www.serraus.org. These materials are especially useful for parish vocation committees. We will try to forward the direct link to these downloads.
Nuns at the Ballpark. On December 18, Dan LaVille wrote, "I spoke with the White Caps and, alas, the Sunday, April 21 date is already taken for our group outing. (They offered an alternative group location at $1400 for 200 tickets, but that would be too much $$$ and too many tickets based on last year). They can offer the day before, Saturday, 4/20, or they can accommodate us on Sunday the 17th. Both alternate dates would be an afternoon start at 1:00 p.m. Most other dates in April are available, but I think a weekend afternoon fits us best. Cost is $900 for 75 tickets, which includes the food also. We would have to put $400 down to reserve it. There has been no final decision, but Dan would welcome any thoughts about a date that would work.
Priests' Anniversaries. Fr. Fred Brucker, January 25, 1976; Fr. Joseph Kenshol, January 19, 1973; Fr. Mark Mitchell, January 25, 1976; Fr. Ernest Schneider, January 30, 1977, Fr. Thomas Simone, January 30, 1977.
Implementing "What Can I Do?"
Recently the USAC Sub-Committee has made the decision to continue with the interrupted implementation of the "What Can I Do?" program to show all Serrans that they, as individuals, can play a huge role in the effort to focus on NEW vocations. One suggestion is to put into place a Serra Liaison who can keep the parish thinking about praying for and affirming their priests, deacons, and religious while keeping eyes and ears open for potential NEW vocations to invite them to consider ministry in the Church. We can offer to be that person. If our parishes have Vocations Committees, we should be sure to be on that committee. And finally, we can find the free materials from USAC (serraus.org) , find a project, and implement it.
This year, Serra US has been asked to focus on NEW vocations. Serrans are to affirm and invite as we have in the past, yet put more emphasis on reaching out to those who have not given a thought to a life of service in the Church.
Editor's Note: The Serra US Vocations Committee will be supplying a series of six "What Can I Do?" columns for our monthly newsletter. We look forward to passing these materials along to you.
Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations to Ordained Ministry and Consecrated Life.
His Holiness John Paul II blessed a monstrance for the Church in North America so that during the Year
of the Eucharist we all might pray for vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life. In cooperation with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Vocations and Priestly Formation, the USA Council of Serra International is coordinating and sponsoring the tour of this Monstrance to US Catholic dioceses throughout the Year of Eucharist and Beyond. If you will be traveling, please keep in mind these dates and locations. Local diocesean websites will offer more specific information as the times draw near:
Boston, MA - March 7- April 22, 2013.
Exton, PA - June 20-August 2, 2013.
Detroit, MI - September 5-18, 2013.
Keep in mind our two Grand Rapids locations for Eucharistic Adoration:
IHM 24/5, Code 5412.
St. Isidore, 24/7, Code 513.
A Message from our Episcopal Advisor, Bishop Christensen.
Greg Lynch reports that Bishop Christensen has prepared a DVD featuring Newman Connections, part of a collaborative effort along with College Connection and the USA Council. The purpose of this collaboration is to help college age Catholics find their spiritual home at the local Newman Center or college campus ministry program and become engaged in their faith. We know that a certain number of young people involved in campus ministry programs consider a vocation to the priesthood or religious life during or after their college years. The future work of Serra Clubs, Serrans, and Newman Connection/ CCC will, we pray, enhance this opportunity.
USA Vice President Bob Labat and Judy and Jack Cozzens recently completed a three-day trip to meet with the leadership of Newman Connections. The returned very excited about the potential impact of this collaboration on our young people. Shortly a full report on the results of this planning will be sent to all Serra clubs. "May Our Blessed Mother continue to guide us in this endeavor."
A Message from our President.
Happy 2013! 2012 is behind us and 2013 brings a new year and a new promise to keep our faith and support our Serra Club.
On January 14 we will be meeting at the University Club and our speaker will be Sister Patrice and Jan Antor. R. S. V. P., please. On January 28, we will have a Member-Guest occasion at 5:30 p.m. at the University Club. Please invite and bring someone to hear Fr. Vincent O'Malley's address on the Year of the New Evangelization. Please e-mail Weldon Schwartz at zuke19128@yahoo.com with any e-mail invitations you would like to send, Or, you can use snail mail, too. We need to grow and find others to help us do God's work through the Serra Club.
I wish you a blessed New Year. Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!
Tim Hile
No comments:
Post a Comment