Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, December 2014

Calendar of Events.
Please note that there will be no regular meetings during December.

November 30-December 1, 2014.  First Sunday of Advent and beginning of Pope Francis's Year of Celebration of the Consecrated Life.  See more below.

December 7, 2014.  Second Sunday of Advent and Pearl Harbor Day (1941).  December 6-7.   Collection for Retirement Fund for Religious.  See more below.

December 8, 2014.  Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Holy Day of Obligation.

December 12, 2014.  Our Lady of Guadalupe.

December 13, 2014.  St. Lucy and Annual Schubert Concert, 7:30 p.m. at East Grand Rapids Performing Arts Center, 2211 Lake Drive SE.  General seating $18 in advance, $20 at the door.  Let Aggie know if you're interested in buying tickets.  This is a great opportunity to invite friends and family to share in a wonderful Christmas program.  Ask Dan LaVille or Aggie if you're interested in furnishing one or more tickets to a religious
December 17, 2014.  First Day of Hanukkah.

December 25, 2014.  Christmas Day.  Holy Day of Obligation.  "We saw the star in the East and have come to worship him."  Matthew 2:2.

December 28, 2014.  Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

December 31, 2014.  St. Sylvester and New Year's Eve.

January 1, 2015.  New Year's Day.  Holy Day of Obligation.

Looking Ahead.

January 15-18, 2015.  Serra Rally, Houston Texas.  Go to Serrainternational.org for all needed information:  accommodations, online registration, and event program.  

July 30-August 2,, 2015.  Serra International Convention, Melbourne, Australia.

A Season of Waiting.
"No ear has ever heard, no eye has ever seen, any God but you
doing such deeds for those who wait for him."  Isaiah 64:3

This short section from the first reading of the First Sunday of Advent helps set the "table of the word," the scriptural feast spread before us as another liturgical year dawns.  This verse from the prophet Isaiah reminds us that the deeds that God accomplishes in our lives and indeed well worth waiting for.  During the season of Advent, we are suspended in a waiting stance, ever ready to welcome the Lord into our midst.  The question, of course, is what is it for which we wait?

In our everyday lives, we wait.  We wait for the next text message; we wait for the train or bus to arrive, we wait for the kids to come home, we wait for the first word from the doctor's office we wait for a compliment, we wait for the alarm to ring.  During this time of your, the Church asks us to wait for the Lord.

What does it mean to wait for the Lord?  Waiting, by its very nature, usually implies a sense of restlessness.  We wait for the things we wish we had right here and now.  I remember well the final years of my youngest sister's life.  As her disease progressed and her quality of life declined precipitiously, I had the sense I was waiting for the Lord to come and take her, to help ease her pain and bring her comfort.  Yet, I was not ready--deep within my heart-- for that to happen. I didn't want her to die.  So waiting can sometimes mean that we want the waiting to continue, to go on so that we can still hold on.

As Catholics, let's ask ourselves the question again:  What is it for which we wait?  During this joyous season of expectation and fulfillment, several answers could come to mind--world peace, an end to violence, harmony in our marriages and families, more fulfilling employment, an end to illness.  I believe that the great
reminder during this time of the liturgical year is that, even as we wait for all of these things, God's presence still surrounds us.  We may get distracted by things for which we wait and in so doing, miss the many deeds that this God of ours is accomplishing every single day. Perhaps "No ear has ever heard" simply because we are not listening for the voice of the Lord.  Perhaps "No eye has ever seen" simply because we don't have our eyes open to what God is doing all the time.  May this joyful season of hope finds us watching and waiting, ears and eyes open for the One whose coming we await.
LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS ON THE SEASON BY JERRY GALIPEAU
World Library Publications, November 30, 2014 to February 17, 2015.


Note:  The following three items will be dedicated to the theme of the Consecrated Life:

Pope Francis Declares Year of Celebration of the Consecrated Life.

In 2013 Pope Francis laid the groundwork for a year of celebration of consecrated life in the Church.  This year of celebration is slated to begin on the First Sunday of Advent and will come to a close in February of 2016 on the Sunday of the World Day of Prayer for the Consecrated Life.  The theme of this special year:  "Wake up the World!"

The Pope outlined the focus of the special celebration in three parts:
1).  The celebration aims to look to the past with gratitude,
2).  to live the present with passion, and
3)  to embrace the future with hope.
U. S. bishops have defined the role of religious as follows:  To serve God in whatever way He commands.
Prayer for the Year of Consecrated Life.

O God, throughout the ages you have called women and men to pursue lifes of perfect charity through the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience.  During this Year of Consecrated Life, we give you thanks for these courageous witnesses of Faith and models of inspiration.  Their pursuit of holy lives teaches us to make a more perfect offering of ourselves to you.  Continue to enrich your Church by calling forth sons and daughters who, having found the pearl of great price, treasure the Kingdom of Heaven above all things.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with, you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.
Appeal for the Retirement fund for Religious.

Our readers will recall receiving the November 19 letter appearing as an insert in their bulletins reminding us that our parishes will soon be conducting the appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious.  This collection has been scheduled for the weekend of December 6 and 7.  As our Bishop reminds us, "Most elder religious worked for years for small stipends, leaving a substantial gap in retirement savings.  With the ever-rising cost of health care and the increase in the number of those needing care, many religious communities now struggle to provide for their senior members...

This annual collection is an opportunity for each of us to be the presence of Jesus to our senior religious...Please join me in supporting the Retirement Fund for Religious and for God's continued blessing on our nation's elderly sisters, brothers, and religious order priests."
A Visit from a Religious Sister

This past weekend Sister Susan Del Gado of the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters  visited Our Lady of Sorrows to talk about the consecrated life.  In keeping with next weekend's collection for retired religious, she recalls that in her childhood parishioners were often asked to participate in a food drive for the Sisters who taught in the parish school.  At the time she thought that was a nice idea, but in later life she came to realize that the Sisters were often not paid a salary at all or were paid a very small amount.  The food drive was conducted so that the Sisters could eat.

She also reminded us of the beginning of the Year of Celebration for the Consecrated Life and reiterated the history of the Grand Rapids Dominicans.  The official brochure of the Grand Rapids Domicans reports that in 1853, four cloistered Dominicans nuns left Regensburg, Germany, to go to New York to minister to the German immigrants.  In 1925 the Dominicans came here from Traverse City to administer the newly founded St. John's Home, which was a diocesean institute for the care of orphans and children whose parents could not care for them.  Additional missions were quickly added.

Sister Susan also pointed out a distinction between nuns and sisters which most people are not aware of:  nuns are cloistered, whereas sisters are on active duty and work in a variety of capacities.  As the brochure says, our Sisters serve in schools and institutions of higher learning, health care, hospice and social service ministries.  We are leaders in liturgical reform and activity.  We support and foster life in parishes and lay communities.  We provide spiritual direction and guidance.  We are artists:  poets, painters, authors, sculptors, photographers and more.

Finally, Sister Susan invites us to invite someone we know to think about the religious life.
Let us give thanks for the work that our Sisters and Religious do.


Call to the Priesthood in Fowler, Michigan, in the Diocese of Lansing.

John Osterhart calls to our attention a CNN program, "Called to the Collar."
He writes, "A total of 22 vocations to the priesthood have come from the small community surrrounding Fowler, Michigan over the years.  On November 16 a program on Channel 1202 or 202 om AT&T U-verse, a program called "This is Life" with Lisa Ling featured an hour long segment titled, 'Called to the Collar.'  The program was rebroadcast at 11 p.m. on Sunday, November 23 and may be shown at additional times and dates.

"Dennis Leiber alerted me to the program, which I thought was well done and presented a very objective picture of young men recently ordained or discerning for the priesthood...Although several people were interviewed, including Lansing Bishop, Most Reverend Earl Boyea, the program focused on one Fowler area farm family with twin 26-year-old sons, both of whom were recently ordained and serving in nearby parishes, and a third 19-year-old son who was studying in the seminary at St. Thomas University in St. Paul, MN..."

An article about the twin priests also appeared in the September 21-October 4, 2014 issue of the National Catholic Register:
Born Together, Ordained Together

FOWLER, Mich.  The New York Times doesn't normally write about priestly vocations.
Then again, it's not often that two brothers--identical twins, at that--get ordained to the priesthood on the same day.

"We knew it would make some news," said Agnes Koenigsknecht about her sons Gary and Todd.  "But even we were surprised by all the attention it received."

Reporters and television camers were on hand at St. Mary's Cathedral in Lansing, MIch., to witness the twins getting ordained together on June 14.  For a family raised with a strong sense of German-Catholic humility, all lthe attention has been a little embarrassing at times.

"We were ordained with three other classmates, and we apologized to them for stealing any limelight.  We knew that there was nothing particularly special about us, beyond being twins.  But we do pray that God uses our being twins for his glory," says Father Gary....

As surprising as it is to see twin brothers both become priests, perhaps even more amazing is how small villages in central Michigan have produced so many vocations.  The Koenigsknechts live in Fowler, which has a population of just 1,214.  Nearby Westphalia has 972 residents.

And yet these tiny towns have given the Church 44 vocations to the priesthood, along with dozens of religious sisters as well.  Parishes and dioceses might wonder what's in the water here.

"There's no silver bullet, no secret recipe," said Father Todd.  He did acknowledge that all the neighboring villages are German, Catholic, and full of farmers.....

Father Gary agreed that communal prayers is a crucial component.  Every Wednesday, the parish has a Holy Hour for Vocations, followed by an evening Mass.
The Koenigsknechts come from a family of 12 children...

Editor's Note:  I have for for many years, from 2004 through 2012, ridden a bus to the March for Life in Washington, D. C. which has meant an all-night ride and an early morning arrival.  On several occasions my bus stopped at Fowler to pick up a sizable group of marchers, which consisted not only of people from the community but also students from the local parish school  I can attest that the people from Fowler seemed especially "On fire for the Lord," so to speak.  One year I even learned about a whole bus full of students who boarded before midnight, rode all night, marched in the march, and boarded the bus for home when the march was over.  Now THAT is dedication of a special kind.  Let us pray for the community, for the Parish, and for the school.

A Thank-you Note.
On November 14 we received this note from Thomas McEnhill, treasurer of the Serra Club of Greater Muskegon:

Thank you very much for sponsoring a table at our annual Serra Vocation Dinner Fundraiser.  Your support of $340 allows us to provide financial assistance to our current seminarians and promote vocation opportunities for our youth through mission trips and youth conferences.

A Message from our President.
Dear Serrans:

Please pray for me and the officers of our local Serra Club, as we work together on the vocations mission as well as our spiritual growth.  We have a wonderful opportunity to socialize together as a club this month at the Schubert Concert.  If you have not received tickets, or would like additional tickets, please call me at 890-8403 and leave a message or e-mail me at aggcloyd@aol.com.  Thisw is a great way to come together as a club for a relaxing and fun-filled evening which is sure to raise our spirits and our treasury.  Many Serrans make this concert a part of their holiday tradition.

I want to acknowledge and publicly thank Weldon Schwartz for running numerous meetings  when my work schedule required me to be out of town.  He is always willing to step in on a moment's notice and is generous with his time and talents.

May the love and peace of the baby Jesus be with you throughout Advent and the Christmas season.  The celebration of His birth is a joyful occasion and cause for celebration.  Mary, Mother of Jesus and Vocations, pray for us and guide us to bring dedicated leaders to the call of service in the Holy Catholic Church.

Agnes Kempker-Cloyd

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, November 2014

Calendar of Events.
November 1, 2014.  All Saints Day.
November 2, 2014.  All Souls Day.
November 2-8.  National Vocation Awareness Week.
November 9, 2014.  Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.
November 10, 2014.  Luncheon and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at the University Club.
November 11, 2014.  Veterans' Day.
November 17, 2014.  Board Meeting and Luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Ss. Peter and Paul.
November 23, 2014.  Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.
November 27, 2014.  Thanksgiving Day.
November 30, 2014.  First Sunday of Advent.
Looking Ahead.  Save the Date.  December 13, 2014.  Schubert Choir Concert at the Fine Arts Center, East Grand Rapids High School.  Although we are not a fundraising club as such, the Schubert Concert offers not only a pleasant evening to enjoy together, but also a fundraising opportunity, provided we sell tickets.  Details to follow in the December newsletter.  Invite friends and family.
Please note that there is no fourth Monday meeting in November.  During our October fourth Monday meeting, the we discussed the Five Star Program and its implementation at length and did not get to the book discussion, the last chapter of The Be Happy Attitudes.   Also, there is no fourth Monday meeting in December.  Therefore, we will conclude the discussion of The Be Happy Attitudes in January.  Michael Fiorenzo has been active in implementing the program in two parishes, but has not finalized the plans.  He will report on his progress at a later date

Also, please note that November is part of the Serra USA Council's fall membership drive.  The goal is to increase membership by at least five percent throughout the United States.  Please spread the word about Serra and invite friends to a meeting.  The serraus.org website offers many good, newly developed membership tools.

Priests' Anniversaries for November.  

Reverend Rock Badgerow, November 3, 1979.
Reverend Thomas F. Boufford, November 7, 1981.
Reverend Daniel R. DePew, November 12, 1985.
Reverend Charles Hall, November 3, 1979.
Reverend Peter C. Schafer, November 12, 2005.
Reverend Wayne B. Wheeler, November 3, 1979.

Holy Family Radio Update.

On Wednesday, October 29, Lisa Brown of Holy Family Radio sent the following message:

"Dear HFR Family:

WOW!  I am so humbled by the love and support that has been shown to us in these past few days.  I received emails from friends of the station saying they were contacting their mailing lists asking for support on our behalf.  What a blessing!  We've also had people donating online, calling into the office and emailing me to double their pledges!  It is truly beautiful to see the Holy Spirit at work in our community.

Of the pledges received this week, our furthest has been from a 22-year-old Navy Corpsman based out of Hawaii (soon to be shipped to Japan), and the most fun gift was made today in honor of our station manager's 50th birthday!  It's been a great week!

If you were one of those who called in a donation, God bless you!  Maybe you could forward this message on to your contacts who also listen to Holy Family Radio.

If you are in a position where you can't donate financially, please pray for us.  We need your prayers!

And, if you missed the pledge drive this past week and would like to partner with Holy Family Radio in the New Evangelization, please prayerfully consider a donation.
ONLINE;  www.holyfamilyradio.net
TOLL FREE;  844-337-2346

Thank you for your love and support!  God bless each of you."

And we thank all who contributed to the pledge drive during the Bishop's hour.

The Serra Rally, January 15-18, 2015, Houston.  This event is sponsored by Serra's National Council for the United States.  Please note the changes from past years.  Do you remember how long and cold this past winter was?  This year the USA Council decided to move the venue of the traditional Super Weekend from Chicago to Houston, thinking that the weather should be better than in the past and dedicated to providing a gathering of Serrans from near and far committed to bringing back to our Serran mission.  Although we can make no guarantees about the weather, chances are that the weekend offers a chance for a nice getaway in the middle of the winter.

Q&A:
Q:   Does the Serra Rally replace the January Super Weekend in Chicago?
A:  The SERRA RALLY is a similar event, but is designed to be BIGGER and BETTER for more Serrans.  We expect over 200 Serrans to attend.
Q:  Why Houston?
A:  Let's be honest:  January in Chicago is COLD.  January in Houston is warm by comparison (average high of about 60 degrees F. and a low of about 40 degrees F) and without snow.
Q:  What about leadership training that used to be offered at SuperWeekend?
A:  There will still be training but more educational and motivational programming.  Regional director/district governor training will also include use of the new online membership management technology expected to be available to Serra International and the Council by the end of 2014.  All Serrans attending the rally can participate in this new technology training or orientation program.
Q:  Will time and room be scheduled for national committee meetings at the hotel?
A:  Time and space will be allocated for the standing committees (Vocations, Membership, Communications and Programs).
We are excited to bring you exciting presentations by the following speakers:
***Father Shawn McKnight, Executive Director of the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations of the USCCB
***Rosemary Sullivan, Executive Director of NCDVD
***Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Episcopal Advisor to Serra's Council for the United States
***Rhonda Grunewald, author and vocations ministry leader
Key representatives of other ministries will be in attendance:
NET Ministries, Newman Connection, St. Paul's Outreach, Laboure Society, FOCUS, Vianney Vocations, and others to be announced.
The Serra Rally is for ALL Serrans, not just those in a leadership position.  All meetings are open.  The Serra International Board is also meeting in Houston at the same hotel, at the same time.  The SERRA RALLY will be a great opportunity to meet SI Board members from around the world!

Download registration materials from the serraus.org website.
Registration fee is $225 per person ($300 after December 15).  Fee includes four meals and 1 reception with heavy hors d'oeuvres.  Daily event registrations will be available.  Call the office at 312-419-7411 for details.  Make checks payable to Serra's USA Council.

Where?
The SERRA RALLY is taking place at the Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel, 3000 North Loop West Frwy. Houston, TX 77092.  To book your room online, please go to http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/serraintl
Or call the hotel directly at 713-688-0100.

Miscellaneous News:

Our club has sent Msgr. Ancona $75, designated to the Memorial Fund for his sister Theresa Ancona.

Also, ever since I took on the newsletter, Mrs. Anthony Preston has been on my mailing list.  This past month I received a message from Patricia Preston that Mrs. Preston was deceased.  However, she gave no other information.  I did not know Mrs. Preston's first name and therefore have not been able to find any further details.  I know that Anthony Preston was once an active member of Serra, but that's the extent of my knowledge.  If any of you long-term members can recall anything else about Anthony or Mrs. Preston, I would appreciate that.  At any rate, let us pray for the repose of Mrs. Preston's soul.

The Five Star Program.

If you're still not clear about the Five Star Program, developed by District Governor Bob Barrett, a tri-fold brochure is available which neatly and completely sums up the components.  They include
The Traveling Chalice, Bulletin Announcements, The 31 Club, Celebrate the Priestly and Religious Life, and Holy Hour for Vocations.  Mike Fiorenzo is taking the beginning steps to implement this program into the various parishes in the Diocese.  If you'd like to offer him a hand in his work, please let him know.  We will make the brochures available in upcoming meetings.
The program is designed to establish a culture of vocations within the various parishes and invites whole families to participate together in these activities.  As St. John Paul once said, "Vocations are Everyone's Business.

USA Council Executive Committee Meetings.  John Osterhart attended at St. John's University and Abbey. Collegeville, MN on October 20-23, 2014 and has prepared a detailed report on the proceedings.  Highlights of the topics covered are as follows:
1)  A new branch of Communications Committees, which includes IT/Technology and Resource Awareness,, Training, and Use of Available Materials; Vocations, including the establishment of Vocations Committees within parishes;  Membership, including the development of a number of recruitment planning, strategy, and action aids for expanded Serra Club membership; and Finances, including the restoration of dues payments among various clubs.  We will scan the entire report under separate cover and send it to your e-mail address.  Those who wish a paper copy should please call or write Nancy King.  I am available at 662-4569, 540-0506, or 3920 Acadia Drive, Hudsonville, MI 49426.  The whole program is designed in part to make our membership more aware of the great number of resources available from the serrainternational.org or serraus.org websites.

A Message from our President.

Dear Serrans:

Please pray for me and our local Serra Club as we work on the vocations' mission as well as our spiritual growth.  Special thanks go out to all Serrans who gave their support to the Holy Family Radio fundraising efforts.  Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all the wonderful things we are grateful about.  I am thankful to be surrounded by such wonderful Serrans of the Grand Rapids Club who work hard to support the sisters, priests, and seminarians of the Diocese.

As we swing into the holiday season, we have our annual Schubert concern, scheduled for Saturday evening, December 13, 2014 at the East Grand Rapids High School Fine Arts Center.  For tickets notify me by e-mail (aggcloyd@aol.com or phone 890-8403 or sign up on the sheet which will be passed out at our next meeting (Monday, November 10 at the U-Club.  The price of the tickets is $18 each and can be billed to your dues statement.  Many Serrans and their families make this concert a family holiday tradition;.

May the love and peace of Jesus be with you and your families throughout this holiday season.  Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us and guide us to bring dedicated leaders to the call of service in the Holy Catholic Church!

Aggie Kempker-Cloyd

Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, October 2014

IMPORTANT MUST READS:  HOLY FAMILY RADIO FUND DRIVE
                                                       
FIVE STAR PROGRAM

October is the Month of the Most Holy Rosary.

Calendar of Events.
October 12, 2014.  Our Lady of Sorrows Spaghetti Dinner, 11:00-3:00.  Call 243-0222 for tickets.  Cost is $8.00 for tickets purchased in advanced and $9.00 for tickets at the door.
October 13, 2014.  Luncheon Meeting and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at the University Club
October 20, 2014.  Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Ss. Peter and Paul.

October 22-October 24, 2014.  Fall Pledge Drive, Holy Family Radio.
October 24, 2014.  Our club's sponsorship of Bishop Walkowiak's hour on Holy Family Radio, 9:00 a.m.
October 26, 2014.  Priesthood Sunday.  Priesthood Sunday and other special vocations-related Sundays are one of the phases of the Five Star Program.
October 27, 2014.  Luncheon Meeting and Book Discussion, 12:00 Noon at Ss. Peter and Paul.  We will be discussing the last chapter of The Be Happy Attitudes.
Looking Ahead.  December 13, 2014.  Schubert Concert.  We need Serrans to attend and to sell tickets.  This will be our only meeting date as a club in December.

Priests' Anniversaries for October.
Fr. Darrell Kempf and Fr. Michael Hodges, both ordained on October 27, 2012.


ABOUT HOLY FAMILY RADIO.  A Message from Dan Grady, sent September 17, 2014.

Fellow Serrans:
Our local Catholic radio station, Holy Family Radio, is preparing for its Fall Pledge Drive, which will run fromWednesday, October 22 through Friday, October 24.  We have participated in HFR pledge drives previously in 2012 and 2013.  In the past we have contributed in three ways:

**volunteers to answer phones and record pledges during the drive
**representatives to promote our apostolate during the Serra hour
**provide matching funds for pledges made during the Serra hour

After some discussion of our participation and the schedule for this pledge drive, we are going to change our participation slightly this year.  Rather than have Serra members on the air, we are recommending that we provide matching pledge dollars and phone volunteers for the hour during which Bishop Walkowiak will be on the air--Friday, October 24, 9:00 aAM.  Our sponsorship will be promoted during the hour.

Our request to our members is as follows:

If you can make a contribution to provide matching funds for this hour, please send your contribution payable to Holy Family Radio directly to:

                           Lisa Brown
                           Holy Family Radio
                           2504 Ardmore SE
                           Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506

Please include a note that your contribution is for the Serra Club Matching fund for the pledge drive.  We ask that contributions to the matching funds be sent to HFR before October 20, 2014.

If you can help answer the phone during this hour (or any other hour), please notify
Elaine White at (616) 456-1140 or elainewhite12@gmail.com

Thanks for all of your support!

Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!

Dan Grady

ABOUT THE FIVE STAR PROGRAM.  A Message from the Diocese of Grand Rapids was sent on September 22, 2014.

Dear Monsignors and Fathers,

We are writing to recommend a new resource to your parish for promoting vocations, in particular religious and priestly vocations, from the USA Council of Serra International.  Serra USA has launched the Five Start Program in an effort to provide resources for parishes in building a culture of vocations.  In choosing to use the free resources, you also have the opportunity to create a local committee of lay volunteers who can coordinate the activities for promoting religious and priestly vocations in your parish.

The Five Star Program can also strengthen the faith of the families who participate.  Components of the program provide opportunities for parents to have faith conversations with their children, to pray together as a family, and to participate in service together as a family.  Research shows that these three activities as a family are the top means of children having a faith that "sticks" with them into their emerging adult years.

We recently met with Mr. Michael Fiorenzo, a member of the Grand Rapids Serrans who is coordinating the local implementation of the Five Star Program.  Members of the Grand Rapids Serra Club are ready to assist your parish volunteers in using the resources.  In the coming months, a member of Serra will be following up this message by calling ou to see if you have any interest in beginning the program in the coming year and to address any questions you may have.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.  Finally, thank you for your own "yes" to God's call to the priestly ministry.

Sincerely,

Rev. Ron Hutchinson, Office of Priestly Vocations, Mr. Carl Apple, Office of Communications, and Mr. Mark Mann, Office for Families, Youth, and Young Adult Ministries.

To the  Club:  To date, Mike is ready to go forward with the program and has been given full authorization by the board to do so.  Aggie has volunteered to help, but he will need others as well.
The committee will be working with the board and with the priests to decide on a schedule for meeting with the various parishes.  We expect to get the program underway within the next year.  Please help if you can.
Find a wealh of information about the entire five-star program by searching
serra usa five star program.  We recommend that you read the entire post, which takes only a very short time.

ABOUT PRIESTHOOD SUNDAY.  HAVE YOU BEGUN PLANNING ACTIVITIES IN YOUR PARISH YET?

We received the following message the Serra USA Council on September 10, 2014:

The Serra Vocations Ministry Outreach Committee was delighted to host 36 people on its free conference call discussing ideas for Priesthood Sunday yesterday.  Following is a great idea from Serran Jane Lyon of the Twin Cities MN Club:

"We handed out prayer cards for our pastor.  His picture was on the front, along with the name of our parish, and an excellent prayer was on the back.  We had these printed for a reasonable cost by a professional printer.  People were so thankful that we did it!  We figured one per family (1300) but had to order more."

The prayer:

Almighty Father, we thank You for the vocation of Father _____, whom you have called into the priesthood of your Son.
Jesus, may he always look to You as an example of humility, service, and charity.  Holy Spirit, use him as an instrument to challenge many Catholics, especially the young, to love Christ and embrace the heart of the Church.
Mary, wrap your mantle around Fther_____and intercede for his strength and faithfulness to the Church.
Holy Trinity-bless him!  Blessed Mother--intercede for him!  Saint John Vianney-pray for all priests!

The club also made a card for their seminarian.  The prayer for seminarians is ...as follows:

O Jesus, Eternal High Priest, I offer You through your Immaculate Mother Mary, Your own Precious Blood, in all the Masses throughout the world, as a petition for graces for all seminarians, Your future priests, especially for_____
Give them humility, meekness, prudence, and a burning zeal for souls.  Fill their hearts with gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Teach them to know and love the church, that they may always and everywhere speak, act, and think with her, the glorious spouse of Christ.
Teach them generosity and detachment from worldly goods; but above all, teach them to know You and to love the One and Only Eternal Priest.  God, Shepard of Souls, hear this, my prayer for saintly priests.  AMEN

Serrans United in Prayer.Both Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II have blessed the Serrans in Brazil with gifts in recognition of their work for vocations.  While few people today remember, it was in Brazil that Serra first welcomed and promoted the participation of women in Serra.  Today, Brazil leads the way among Serrans who work to find ways for poorer faithful Catholics to participate in our apostolate.  I am thankful for the blessings that God has bestowed on Serra through the efforts of our fellow Serrans in Brazil.

During (this month) let all Serrans join together in prayers of thanksgiving.  Thank God for the blessings God bestowed on each of us through Serra.

May our expression of gratitude during this time nourish our personal growth in holiness, and inspire us to share the blessings and work of
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!

Dan Grady
President 2014-2015
Serra International

A Thank-you Note.  
This past week, we received a note addressed to the club:
Thank you so much for remembering our dear sister Theresa.  Your prayers and kindness have been a wonderful support.
With great appreciation,
the family of Theresa Ancona.

In Support of our Priests.
This past month Pat Leikert sent a check in our club's name for the annual Fall Priests' Conference.

A Message from our President.

Dear Serrans,

Please pray for me and our local Grand Rapids Serra Club as we work on our vocations mission as well as our spiritual growth.  It has been a lively fall this month:  the Club has been busy raising funds for Holy Family Radio through the Jockey clothing sale.  Special thanks to the ladies of the club in this regard.  It was a great way to raise money and do a little shopping.  There are more opportunities to contribute our time, talent, and treasure to this worthy endeavor for Holy Family Radio.  As urged by our International President, Dan Grady, please send in a matching contribution to Bishop Walkowiak's hour and/or help answer pledge calls if you can do so.  I attest to the fact that Dan LaVille is so much fun to work with on pledge drives that it will not feel like work.  We have also continued to work on the Five Star program and could use some additonal volunteers.  This i.s a great way to promote vocations and the GR Serra Club.  We donated money for the Priests' Conference to show our love and support for all they do for us in this diocese.

We are blessed as a community to have Art Prize at Cathedral Square and other venues in our city.  When you view the art in all its various forms, you cannot help but reflect on the Divine Creator!

May the love and peace of Jesus be with you and your families this fall season.  Mary, Mother of Vocations, pray for us and guide us to bring dedicated leaders to the call of service in His Holy Catholic Church.

Agnes Kempker-Cloyd

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, September 2014

Then this shall be the sign for you:  you will eat this year what grows of itself, in the second year what springs from the same, and in the third year, sow, reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.  Isaiah 37:30.  (From the Beauty from Above Scenic Calendar of 2014.

Calendar of Events.
September 3, 2014.  Feast of St. Gregory the Great.
September 8, 2014.  Luncheon Meeting and Speaker at the University Club and The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Speaker for September will be Marcia Carbines.
September 12.  The Most Holy Name of Mary.
September 14.  The Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
September 15, 2014.  Board Meeting and Luncheon, Ss. Peter and Paul.
September 22, 2014.  Luncheon Meeting and Book Discussion, Ss. Peter and Paul.  We will be discussing the last chapter of The Be Happy Attitudes.
September 23-25, 2014.  Annual retreat for the priests of our Diocese.

Priests' Anniversaries for September.
Fr. Loc Trinh, 9/19/92 and Fr. Ron Hutchinson, 9/24/1994.

Let Us Pray.  We regret to report the passing of Theresa Ancona, sister of Monsignor Gasper Ancona, Moderator/Chaplain Emeritus of our club. She passed away on Thursday, August 28.  Friends may pay their respects on Tuesday, August 2 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at St. Sebastian. There will be a vigil prayer service at 7:00. Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday, September 3 at 11:00 a.m.  Those wishing to send cards may address them to Monsignor Gasper Ancona, 5920 Lyn Haven Drive SE, Kentwood, MI 49512.

Congratulations.  We congratulate our moderator Monsignor Edward Hankiewicz, who recently received the Citizen of the Year award from the Polish Heritage Society.  The Polish Heritage Society's president Andy Budnik writes, "Monsignor Hankiewicz has been one of our most loyal and generous supporters.  Monsignor was ordained in Rome by Pope John Paul II.  He served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church for 17 years and is now at St. Mary's in Lowell.  He is continually seeking ways to promote Polish Heritage and was instrumental in starting our Matka Boska Zellna Mass.  He is a dear friend to the Society and we are honored to name him Polish Citizen of the Year for 2014.

Other News from the Society.  Those who attended the August Luncheon Meeting at the University Club will recall that Father James Chelich spoke of two notable women, Jadwiga Lenartowicz Rylko and Barbara Senna.  The Polish Heritage Society announces a new book by Dr. Barbara Rylko-Bauer, a medical anthropologist and long-term Grand Rapids resident:  A Polish Doctor in the Nazi Camps:  My Mother's Memories of Imprisonment, Immigration, and a Life Remade (University of Oklahoma Press, 2014).
 Jadwiga Lenartowicz Rylko was a young Polish Catholic physician in Lodz at the start of World War II.  Suspected of resistance activities, she was arrested in January 1944.  For the next fifteen months, she endured three Nazi concentration camps and a forty-two-day death march, spending part of this time as a prisoner-doctor to Jewish slave laborers.  In this book, Rylko-Bauer recounts her mother's life against the backdrop of twentieth century history--from her childhood and medical training, through her wartime experiences, to her struggles to create a new life as an immigrant to the U. S.  She lived in Detroit, Michigan from 1950 to 1984, and spent the last 26 years of her life in Grand Rapids, where she died in 2010, at the age of 100 years.

The book has 28 photos, 4 maps--and historical notes and a bibliography (for those interested in more information).  While grounded in scholarship, it is written to appeal to a broad audience.  It is listed at $26.95 for hard cover and is available at Barnes & Noble and on Amazon.
Information courtesy of Lee Sullivan.

Follow-up on Five Star.  On August 27, John Osterhart wrote:  Attached is the letter introducing and promoting the Serra 5 Star Program, a program which is intended to help build a parish culture of vocations.
The letter was sent by the Diocese of Grand Rapids to the priests in the 16 parishes comprising the Grand Rapids Deanery of the Diocese of Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids Serran Michael Fiorenzo has worked closely with the Grand Rapids Diocese to launch the 5 Star Program, starting in the Grand Rapids Deanery, with the intend to expand the program throughout the diocese once it has been established in the Grand Rapids Deanery.  Michael Fiorenzo has been supported by Serra District 15 Bob Barrett of the Detroit/Oakland Serra Club, who helped design the Serra 5 Star Program and who came to Grand Rapids on several occasions to assist in getting the program underway in our diocese, and also by the other Grand Rapids and Muskegon Serrans who have served on the ad hoc 5 Star Implementation Committee.

The letter from the Diocese of Grand Rapids is as follows:

Dear Monsignors and Fathers,
We are writing to recommend a new resource to your parish for promoting vocations, in particular religious and priestly vocations, from the USA Council of Serra International.   Serra USA has launched the Five Star Program in effort to provide resources for parishes in building a culture of vocations.  In choosing t utilize the free resources, you also have the opportunity to create a local committee of lay volunteers who can coordinate the activities for promoting religious and priestly vocations in your parish.

The Five Star Program can also strengthen the faith of the families that participate.  Components of the program provide opportunities for parents to have faith conversations with their children, to pray together as a family, and to participate in service together as a family.  Research shows that these three activities as a family are the top means of children having a faith that "sticks" with them into their emerging adult years.
We recently met with Mr. Michael Fiorenzo, a member of the Grand Rapids Serrans who is coordinating the local implementation of the Five Star Program.  Members of the Grand Rapids Serra Club are ready to assist your parish volunteers in utilizing these resources.
In the coming months, a member of Serra will be following up this message by contacting you to see if you have any interest in beginning the program in the coming year and to address any questions you may have.
Thank you for your consideration on this.  Finally, thank you for your own "yes" to God's call to priestly ministry.
Sincerely,
Rev. Ron Hutchinson, Office of Priestly Vocations,  Mr. Carl Apple, Office of Communications, and Mr. Mark Mann, Office for Families, Youth, and Young Adult Ministries.

The Newman Connection.  Regarding the Newman Connection, Mark Mann wrote,..."I would say this coming year our focus is on building the bridges between our parishes and the Newman Connection so that by next graduation season, we are ready to increase participation in this initiative.
Related to this, I am happy to say that a total of 304 incoming freshman were listed at our four main campuses here in the Diocese of Grand Rapids--GVSU, Ferris State, Hope, and Aquinas.  Peace and all good."

Update.  Let us continue to pray for Hazel Paul, who is back home after receiving wonderful rehab care at the Marywood facility which we visited this past June.

A Harsh Lesson.  In last week's Gospel Peter was praised for his act of faith, and rewarded by being made the bedrock of the Church.  This week he is named a satan for judging not by God's standards but by man's.  And Peter accepted the correction.  But we can still feel a little sorry for him.  After all, he loved Jesus so much, and when Jesus predicted his death at the hands of the Jewish leaders, Peter wanted to spare the Lord the agony he foresaw.  Even Jesus, when that agony was upon him, prayed to the Father not to allow it if it could be avoided.  So Peter could not have been wicked in his urging, "May you be spared, Master!"  Most of us would say the same thing.
We still struggle with suffering.  Not many of us understand our own sufferings, much less the troubles that plague the Church.  We see Christians persecuted in the Eastern European countries, and we think God is cursing them.  But perhaps he is not.  Perhaps the cross they bear is the weight not of their own sins but the weight of the apathy and laziness of us who find our untroubled hour in church every week a chore we hurry to finish.  The old truth still holds:  the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.  Out of love, those persecuted believers carry the burden of our failure.
Readiness to suffer and to love--how much we still need to follow in that commitment.  Lord, the only thing that kills the Church is lukewarmness.  The only thing that kills each one of us as Christians is a radical unwillingness to suffer and to love.  Sometimes you have to teach us that lesson harshly.  But please, Lord, never stop teaching it.
Source:  Bulletin, Our Lady of Sorrows, September 1, 2014.

Pray for the Persecuted.  The bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Bishop David Walkowiak, asks that Christians throughout the diocese pray this prayer frequently on behalf of Christians throughout Iraq,  Thousands of Christians have fled from their homes in recent weeks rather than convert to the extremist brand of Islam imposed upon them by the Islamic State (ISIS).

Lord, 
The plight of our country is deep
and the suffering of Christians is severe and frightening.
Therefore, we ask you Lord
to spare our lives, and to grant us patience, 
and courage to continue our witness of Christian values with trust and hope.
Lord, peace is the foundation of life;
Grant us the peace and stability that will enable us
to live with each other without fear and anxiety,
and with dignity and joy.
Glory to you forever.  Amen. 

A Message from our President.

Please pray for me and for our local Grand Rapids Serra cllub as we work on our vocations and education mission.  I hope your holiday weekend was wonderful and filled with the love of Jesus.  This month we have another wonderful speaker lined up for our first meeting and we are finishing the Be Happy Attitudes as our group reading project.  Thanks to all the Serrans who volunteered to lead the group discussions each month.  This has resulted in some thoughtful debates and learning for all who have participated.

I want to give a special thank you to Mike Fiorenzo for his leadership and work with the diocese on the Serra Five Star Program.  He will talk about this at our two monthly meetings and will ask for volunteers in implementing this program in the Grand Rapids diocese.  Please be generous with your time and talent in this effort.

May the love and peace of Jesus Christ be with you and your families as we move from summer to fall.  Mary, Mother of Vocations, pray for us and guide us in our vocations work to bring dedicated leaders to the call of service in the Holy Catholic Church.

Agnes Kempker-Cloyd

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter August 2014

Attending the Serra International Convention from Grand Rapids, July 2014:  His Excellency Bishop David J. Walkowiak, Msgr. Ed Hankiewicz, Dennis Leiber (and Margaret), Serra International President 2014-2015 Dan Grady, USAC President-Elect John Osterhart, Mark Kubik, Nancy King, and Frank Lake.  Bishop Walkowiak served as principal celebrant at the closing Mass on Saturday, July 12.  The Most Reverend Jaime Soto, Bishop of Sacramento, served as Host Bishop.

We regret to report that our chosen keynote speaker, His Eminence Francis Cardinal

George, was unable to attend because of illness.  In 2011 he became the 9th Episcopal Adviser of Serra International.  The 2015 convention will be held in Melbourne, Australia.
Also, please note that the old serraus.org website has been replaced by serrainternational.org, at considerable savings which you will note below.  Questions are being addressed by e-mail, with great efficiency.

Calendar of Events.

August 6, 2014.  The Transfiguration of the Lord.

August 11, 1014.  Luncheon Meeting and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at the University Club.  Speaker will be Reverend James Chelich.

August 15, 2014.  Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Holy Day of Obligation in the USA.

August 18, 2014.  Board Meeting and Luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Ss. Peter and Paul.

August 25, 2014.  Luncheon Meeting and Book Discussion, 12:00 Noon at Ss. Peter and Paul.  We will discuss Chapter Six of "The Be Happy Attitudes."

Priests' Anniversaries for August.

The Reverend Don 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

Thank you to the Saginaw Club.

On July 21, John Osterhart wrote in response to a $25 dollar donation to our club in Nate McKenzie's name: 

Cy, Please express the thanks of the Grand Rapids Serra Club for your club's check in memory of our fellow Serran Nate McKenzie.  Nate will be missed by all of us.  It was very thoughtful and generous of you to remember him in this way, and we will make a special effort to use your gift for a cause that Nate would have supported.

Your club also sent a generous check when no one from Saginaw could attend our fund raiser dinner this past October which also honored retiring Grand Rapids Bishop Walter Hurley.  Your support of that event was also appreciated very much.  We are sorry that events conspired to prevent anyone from Saginaw Serra from attending and hearing a wonderful address by Archbishop William E. Lori of the Diocese of Baltimore.

Best regards to our Saginaw brother and sister Serrans.

Sincerely,

John Osterhart

Grand Rapids Serra

Serra Leadership Meeting, Okemos, Michigan

Present:  Detroit-Oakland Governor Bob Barrett, President Jim Wilson, Judy Cancro, and from Grand Rapids, Beth Gumina, President Agnes Kempker-Cloyd, Michael Fiorenzo, Nancy Mulvihill, John Osterhart, Weldon Schwartz.

Highlights are as follows:

***The importance of Eucharistic Adoration (especially around the clock) was discussed.  It definitely seems to be a powerful means for generting vocations to the priesthood.  Lansing has 34 seminarians, and the Archdiocese of Detroit has 32.  Jim Wilson, whose son is a seminarian, informed the group that in recent years 15 young men have entered various seminaries from University of Detroit Jesuit High School.

***John Osterhart presented two very helpful manuals:  A "Tool Kit" for addressing common problems within Serra Clubs and Serra Districts, and a second manual with suggestions regarding, "How to Have Successful Regional Conferences."  John also suggested combining each presentation of the 31 Club concept with a membership solicitation.

***Michael talked about participating in Cincinnati Serra's Bible Novena, lasting 108 consecutive hours.  People take turns reading the Bible aloud for two-hour segments.  The St. Joseph Bible is used.  Michael suggested this as a program for Michigan Serra Clubs to consider (Muskegon has done something similar as part of an ecumenical project with other denominations in Muskegon.  The project could include students reading as well.  Michael spoke of St. Isidore Parish, with 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration, as being a vocation making machine!

Judy Cancro, who submitted the summary of the meeting, points out that the work of the Newman Connection is so vital, as research shows that of those who are practicing Catholics entering college, an average of only 15% continue to practice their faith upon graduation. (Various members of our club are writing to or calling various youth ministers in our diocese to confirm that they have received packets of information about the Newman Connection for those members of their parishes who are entering college in the fall).

Note:  The meeting in Okemos was an abbreviated version of the annual District Spring Planning and Leadership Conference.  We thank all those who attended.

Highlights from Sacramento.

First, we urge you to take the time for a careful reading of Sean Yeo's State of Serra address.  It was submitted to my e-mail from several sources, including Dennis Leiber and John Osterhart.  Serra International Trustee Bob Rudman prepared a summary, "Serra International Score Card."

Dear U. S. Regional Directors, District Governors and Club Presidents

As a member of the Serra International Board, I wanted to report on the Serra International Scorecard for 2013-2014.

***Lawsuit settled.  Serra's National Council for the United States was re-established as the one Council in the USA, and all USA clubs are members of the council.

***Executive Director was replaced and new ED John Liston was hired.

***Executive Director signed a contractual agreement spelling out the limits and scope of his financial commitments for Serra International with approval of Serra International Executive Committee and Board.

This was the first time in fourteen years that this measure was taken.

***Audited Financial Results for the year 2013 were completed three months after the close of 2013, a first.

***Personnel costs were reduced from 2013 to 2014 by 20 percent.

***Technology costs were reduced from $153,000 per year to $13,000 per year. 

***Consolidated Administrative Office was created whereby Serra International, Serra International Foundation and Serra's National Council for the United States share the costs of one office versus separate offices.
***Communications have been expanded to the four official languages of Serra:  Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, and English.
***World Magazine, "Serra Connects" has been published 12 times in the past year, making for more frequent communications in general.
***A new handbook, "Serrans Called to Holiness" has been published.  Please make sure you have a copy.
***A conference has been held at the Vatican of Pastoral Ministry for Priestly Vocations,  The booklet has been published in five languages indicating guidelines for support of vocations internationally.
"Thank you," Bob writes, "for allowing me to act as one of your representatives, as it has expanded my appreciation of what we can do not only in the USA but for your brothers and sisters worldwide.

We especially thank Past President of Serra International Sean Yeo and Executive Director John Liston for their outstanding leadership over the past year in bringing about these very positive changes.

Special Report:  Sacramento Serra International Convention, July 10-13-2014.

The 2014 Serra International Convention was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Sacramento,
CA.  As a general statement, things at the Sacramento Convention were VERY POSITIVE across the board.

The Board Meetings of both Serra International and the USA Council were held on Wednesday and Thursday prior to the start of the convention and were open to all.  At the Serra International Board Meeting the fresh start committee was dissolved.

At the Annual Club Delegates Meeting votes on Serra International Bylaw amendments and wording changes incorporated therein were all decided overwhelmingly.  Delegate Nancy King, representing the Grand Rapids club, and the three votes cast by John Osterhart as the proxy delegate for Saginaw, Detroit/Oakland and Clarksburg, WV were in agreement with the majority in all cases.  Questions decided included the following:
1)  Changing the SI fiscal year to be on a calendar year basis (the USA Council and the Serra International Foundation are also now on a calendar fiscal year basis.
2)  Defeating of wording which would have added non-compliance with a Serra International "policy" as grounds for disapproval of a council (bylaws and bylaw changes are approved by votes of the Serra International Board and are readily changed.
3)  Incorporating a due process procedure for Serra Councils who may be subject to formal disapproval by Serra International for not being in compliance for Serra International bylaws or policies (superfluous, as policies were not approved grounds for disapproval), or their own bylaws.
4)  A change in wording that states definitively that certain specified duties are assigned to councils versus "may be assigned" to councils--wording that allows additional duties to be assigned to councils in either case
was unchanged; a proposed amendment to the above amendment to restore the "may be assigned" wording was ruled "out of order" by the parliamentarian as being a second vote on a question already decided by a previous vote at this delegates' meeting.

The convention had a very spiritual emphasis, and there were many inspiring speakers and liturgies as well as opportunities for adoration incorporated in the convention program.  Serra President Sean Yeo presented a beautiful monstrance to the Diocese of Sacramento in thanks for hosting our convention.

In total, Grand Rapids, our Grand Rapids Diocese, and Michigan were represented by nine individuals (see above).  On Friday evening, that local contingent, together with Serra International Executive Director John Liston's mother, were able to enjoy dinner together at the Sacramento's historic Sutter Club.Grand Rapids Bishop Walkowiak was the principal celebrant of Saturday's afternoon Mass and was a concelebrant in other liturgies at the convention as well.  At Saturday evening's concluding banquet, Dan Grady gave a wonderful heartfelt speech as incoming Serra International President....

Respectfully,
John Osterhart

Editor's Note:  I would like to add a couple of other notes about highlights of the convention for me.
One was a meditation on the Annunciation and painter Henry Ossawa Tanner's interpretation of it, given by presenter Fr. John Horn, S. J.  Look it up by searching The Annunciation, Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1859-1937.  Tanner, whose mother was born into slavery but later escaped via the Underground Railroad, presents a very specific Mary and her very specific reaction to the news that she would become the mother of Jesus.  I thought especially of how much, in those times,  the great moments in the life of Jesus permeated the thoughts of people from all walks of life.
The other occurred at the dinner at the Sutter Club, graciously hosted by Dennis and Margaret, John, Dan, and Mark.  As we gathered around the table, John announced that he had Nate's rosary, in its worn blue leather pouch, and suggested that we each observe a moment of silence as we held the rosary. I, for one, thought about how much he changed my life.  Had it not been for him, I wouldn't have been sitting at that dinner, at that convention.  He was the person who invited me to join Serra.

He loved pies, apple, blueberry, rhubarb--whatever was in season, and he loved life in general.
I first met Nate a number of years ago at a dinner party at the home of John and Ellen Osterhart, but I really got to know him in May of 2003 when I, along with several others, shared a rented van headed for the wedding of Stephen (Osterhart) and Nardos in Oklahoma City  Ordinarily a fifteen-plus hour van ride and back would be thought of as an ordeal, but somehow the combination of characters, and most of all, Nate, made the experience a delight to be remembered always. My dad died that Memorial Day, the day after we returned home, and Nate and Pam, (as well as John and Ellen) drove to Niles for the funeral. That same summer, always generous with the time he gave to the Lord, he offered to teach the upper level class in my Vacation Bible School, a custom he continued for several years thereafter.  When the week was over, I thought about how to thank him.  A gushy thank you note?  Probably not.  A coffee mug?  That didn't hit the spot, either. Surely not flowers.  But I suspected from conversations in the van that he wouldn't turn down something special from the oven.  It was August, the height of the blueberry season. I sent him an e-mail saying that the Pie Fairy had left an extra on my kitchen counter and told me to pass it along to him.  A few days later, he wrote back, "Tell the p.f. the pie was delicious."

Since that time, not so often, but now and then, one of those pies would show up in return for gifts from his garden in Lowell. This past spring I sent my usual message, "If you'll get me some rhubarb, I'll see what the p.f is up to.  But, very much out of character for him, this time he didn't answer.  I wondered about that, but went about my business and mainly forgot about it.  All too soon I found out why.  He was too ill to tend to his garden.  I know now that he must have understood on some level that he was about to enter a new phase of his existence, with rewards far exceeding the earthly pleasures he so enjoyed.  But I, for one, will miss him, and the conversations with him and Pam around their dining room table, and his appreciation for the pies and his love of life in general.  Farewell.  Requiescat in pace.

A Message from our President.

Please pray for me and our local Grand Rapids Serra Club.  Summer is in full swing and the living is easy, or so the song goes.  I just got back from Cross Village and the Catholic Church's homecoming weekend.  It was reminiscent of my youth and the old time parish festivals, including bake sale, silent auction, craft booths, bingo, games of chance and a band for dancing.  Everyone was enjoying the weather and the company.  The air was filled with the fragrance of apple dumplings, fruit pies, brats, and barbecued chicken.  Laughter and joking were all around.  It reminds us to enjoy the life that Christ died to give us and to love and appreciate one another.

May the love and peace of Christ be with you and your families.  Please keep Bob Paul and his lovely wife in your prayers, as she has been very ill.  Mary, Mother of Vocations, pray for us in our vocations work to bring dedicated leaders to the call for service in the Church.

Agnes Kempker-Cloyd

Dan Grady and Bishop Walkowiak with the Nigerians in Sacramento.  The Nigerians were the best represented club at the convention.

Convention photos courtesy of Mark Kubik.

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter July 2014

Calendar of Events.
July 1, 2014.  Feast Day of Blessed Junipero Serra.
July 4, 2014.  Independence Day.
July 14, 2014.  Luncheon Meeting and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at the University Club.  Speakers will be seminarians.  Fr. Chelich is scheduled for August.
July 9-13, 2014.  Serra International Convention, Sacramento, California. President-Elect John Osterhart of Serra USA is the new president-elect, and Serra International President-Elect Dan Grady will become president.  Most Reverend David J. Walkowiak, Moderator Msgr. Edward Hankiewicz, Dan Grady, John Osterhart, Nancy King, club delegate, and Frank Lake, club alternate delegate, will attend from Grand Rapids.
July 21, 2014.  Board Meeting and luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Ss. Peter and Paul.
July 28, 2014.  Serra Meeting and luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Ss. Peter and Paul.  Please remember to prepare for discussion of Chapter 5 of the "Be Happy Attitudes."

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

A Message from Sean Yeo, on the Feast Day of Blessed Junipero Serra.

1 July 2014
My Fellow Serrans,
Shalom!
On this feast day of Blessed Junipero Serra, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for all the good works and personal sacrifices that you all have made for God's Kingdom in the Serra lay apostolate for vocations.  I would also like to thank you for all your prayers and for your support that you have extended to Serra International and to me over the past year. I hope you will continue to lend your support to Serra and to Daniel Grady who will be taking over the office...I also hope you keep Dan in your prayers so that he will be able to carry out the responsibility that God is entrusting him with.
I would also like to seek your prayers for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all who will be attending the convention from 10-13 July.  Kindly join me to offer a decade a rosary daily from 10 July (Thursday) to 13 July (Sunday) for this intention.  I pray for the special intercession of Blessed Junipero Serra for all of you.
If anyone serves, he should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen
1 Peter 4:11.

Some Significant Serra Events in June.

Last week, on June 23, 24, and 25, our club set a record in experiencing three consecutive days of important Serra events.
The first of these meetings was a dinner with the Dominicans at the Marywood Campus in observance of the opening of a valuable community resource, opening of the newly refurbished Aquinata Hall.  Aquinata Hall was dedicated and blessed  this past April as a long-term, assisted living community with 45 rooms on three floors.
The moderately priced rooms are open to area seniors 60 and older, and residents do not have to be Catholic.  Dominican sisters also in the home, which includes a central dining room, chapel, beauty salon, and three-story atrium. Each floor also features a community day room with fireplace, laundry facilities and an exercise room.
 Aquinata Hall, once an infirmary for the sisters, has been repurposed as part of the sisters' new focus on health care services.  It is part of a long-term plan to transform the Marywood campus at 2025 E. Fulton Street into a center that offers programs for all ages.  An important feature for Serrans to keep in mind is that the facility, in conjunction with Mary Free Bed, has rooms available for short-term post surgical rehabilitation.  The Dominican Sisters also collaborate with Porter Hills Retirement Communities and Services in offering Marywood Circle Home Health.
We enjoyed the opportunity to have dinner with the sisters and experience the beautiful Marywood campus.

The second Serra event, on June 24, took place on June 24 with District Governor Bob Barrett presiding.  Also in attendance were President Jim Wilson and Judy Cancro of Detroit-Oakland, and John Osterhart, Weldon Schwartz, Aggie Kempker-Cloyd, Beth Gumina, Nancy Mulvihill, and Michael Fiorenzo of Grand Rapids.  In summary, the group discussed the importance of eucharistic adoration, especially around the clock. The Diocese of  Lansing has 34 seminarians, and the Archdiocese of  Detroit has 32.  Jim Wilson, whose son is a seminarian, said that in recent years 15 young men have entered various seminaries from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School. Michael spoke of St. Isidore Parish, with 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration, as a "vocation making machine," and he also mentioned his participation in the Cincinnati Serra's Bible Reading Novena, lasting 108 consecutive hours.  Muskegon has done something similar as part of an ecumenical project with other denominations in Muskegon.    And those present discussed the many contributions of Nate McKenzie, who passed away in June, along with the opportunity to donate to the Sister Robert Anne Scholarship Fund, established in the name of Nate's grandson, Malik Haywood.  Donations can be sent to
Catholic Central High School, 319 Sheldon Blvd. SE, Grand Rapids, Michign, 49503, or (616-233-5899.  
One of the most important topics discussed at the meeting was the Newman Connection, which has replaced the old Catholic Conference, as a means of insuring the continuing involvement of college-age Catholics in the Church.  Research shows that of those practicing Catholics entering college, only 15 per cent, if left on their own, end up still practicing their faith upon graduation.
Bob Barrett, noting in an article appearing on June 13, 2014 in the Michigan Catholic the vital connection between campus ministry and the mission of vocations, says, "Sixty percent of vocations come out of campus ministry."  With campus ministries in college, he says, we have a better chance of more vocations.
The process involves getting in touch with youth ministers to inform them of what's available in offering a Catholic presence on college campuses.  As we move toward fall, John Osterhart, Michael Fiorenzo, Nancy Mulvihill, Weldon Schwartz, and Nancy King will be calling on various parishes to gather the names of those  headed for college.  Also, because eighty percent of Catholic high school students attend public schools, we will be working with representatives from all schools in the diocese.  Let John know if you'd like to help.

The third event was a gathering at the home of Dennis and Margaret Leiber with newly appointed Bishop Joseph Arshad and two other priests from the Diocese of Faisalabad, Pakistan, as guests of Father Ayub Nasar, chaplain of St. Mary's Hospital and frequent substitute priest throughout the diocese. The guests spoke of the challenges facing Christians in their country.  Pakistan is a country of more than 180,000,000 inhabitants, only 13 percent of whom are Christians.  An article from Agenzia Fides, an organization dedicated to propagation of the faith, reports that 2014 has been proclaimed a "year of peace and hope" in Faisalabad:
The Diocese of Faisalabad in the heart of Pakistan, Punjab, has declared 2014 a "year of peace and hope," is what the new Bishop, Msgr. Joseph Arshad said, who is making a pastoral visit to parishes, communities, educational institutions in the area, to learn more about the different realities, meet priests and religious mean and women, listen to the faithful, all in the name of two words, peace and hope.  As Fr. Emmanuel Parvez, pastor of the St. Paul Church in Pansara says, "the bishop continues to become familiar with the nature and potentiality of the diocesan Catholic reality, trying to exploit the existing pastoral resources."  In particular, the work carried out by Fr. Parvez regards children:  the priest has launched a special childhood pastoral, thanks to the presence of a statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague.  Fr. Pavez promotes spirituality and prayer meetings, educational, social, cultural, and recreational activities that involve thousands of Christian and Muslim children.  "Dialog, peace and reconciliation, in the name of Christ, who loves us all, start right from childhood.  If children of different religions are educated to getting to know each other and to live peacefully together, the foundations for a harmonious society are laid," he explains.  Bishop Arshad and also the Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies inPakistan.  Fr. Waseem Walter, appreciate and encourage the pastoral work with children promoted by Fr. Parvez.  (PA) Agenzia Fides 31/01/2014.
Let us pray for the efforts of Bishop Arshad and his fellow priests who offer hope for a better future in promoting peace and harmony among the various religions in Pakistan.  Let u
s remember that with God, anything is possible.

A Message from our President.

Please pray for me and for our soon to be elected SI President Dan Grady and our USAC President-Elect John Osterhart.  We are blessed to have produced so many leaders out of our local chapter.  Let us keep these gentlemen and their families in our daily prayers.
A big thank you goes out to all the Serrans who accepted the Dominican Sisters' invitation to their center for dinner and to share their vision with out club.  I encourage all of us to come together to be generous in our support of the Dominican Sisters and their work.  Do not let the starting pledge of $1000 scare you away from giving help.  Do the best you can do.  It is not necessary to give that amount ($1000) at one time...rather break that amount up to bite size pieces that are comfortable in your budget.  For instance, approximately $333 a year amounts to $999 or $200 a year for five years equals $1000.  Or, if you prefer a monthly budget, $30 a month for 34 months is a $1020 contribution.  Remember, every little bit helps.  If everyone does a little bit, that will make a big difference.  This joining forces to contribute also allows a naming opportunity for the Serra club.  We already have approximately  $76,000 given by the Serra Club.  May the Holy Spirit guide you in your gift giving to this worthy cause.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, pray for us in our vocations work to bring dedicated leaders to the call for Service to the Church.
Agnes Kempker-Cloyd

Editor's Note:  Those wishing to contribute to the Marywood Legacy Campaign may call 616-514-3106 to request a pledge card.

Serra Club Grand Rapids Newsletter, June 2014

 Calendar of Events.
PLEASE NOTE THE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT FOR OUR JUNE 23 MEETING.
June 1, 2014.  Celebration of the Ascension.  "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."  Matthew 28:18-20.
June 7, 2014.  Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate of Mr.  Douglas Braun and Mr. William VanderWerff, 10:00 a.m.Cathedral of St. Andrew.  Serrans have been asked to serve as ushers.  If you wish to help out, call John Osterhart at 245-1893.  Ushers are scheduled to arrive beginning at 8:30 a.m.
June 8, 2014.  Pentecost Sunday.
June 9, 2014.  Luncheon Meeting and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at the University Club. Our speaker will be Rabbi David Krishef.  See  bio below.
June 15, 2014.  The Most Holy Trinity.
June 16, 2014.  Serra Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Ss. Peter and Paul.
June 19, 2014.  Anniversary of installation of Bishop David Walkowiak.
June 22, 2014.  The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).  There will be procession at 2:215 p.m.  Starting locations are Sacred Heart of Jesus (West) and St. Isidore (East).  Dress reverently but consider the walk and the weather.  The walk will be approximately three miles from each location, ending at Our Lady of Sorrows.  Shuttle service and refreshments will be provided.  For more information call Mike Bertram (776-1274) or Peter Lundgren (459-4184).
June 23, 2014.  Dinner with the Dominican Sisters, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Marywood Health Center, 111 Lakeside Drive on the Marywood Campus.  The Dominican Sisters are hosting our club for a special presentation on the exciting changes taking place on their campus.  We will learn about the Sisters' current expanded ministry in health care and future plans.  A light dinner will be provided, and spouses are welcome.  Park in the Marywood Health Center parking lot (first driveway heading north off Fulton on the west side of the street).  RSVP TO DEB KALINKA AT dkalinkamanning@grdominicans.org or 616-550-1177 BY THURSDAY, JUNE 19.   THIS EVENT WILL TAKE THE PLACE OF OUR REGULAR FOURTH MONDAY MEETING FOR JUNE.  The sisters have requested that we notify her directly if we plan to attend.  It is not necessary to notify anyone else.  There is no cost to us to attend, but envelopes will be available for those who wish to donate to he home health care effort.
July 10-13, 2014.  Serra International Convention, Sacramento, California.

Rabbi David J. B. Krishef's Biography.  Rabbi Krishef grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Hebrew and Jewish Studies.  Following a two-year stint as a program director at the University of Minnesota Hillel Foundation (serving students at Carleton and Macalester Colleges), he entered the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, where he received ordination in 1994.
Since then, Rabbi Krishev has served as the rabbi of Congregation Ahavas Israel, a Conservative synagogue in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  In addition, from 2006-7 he taught Beginning and Intermediate Biblical Hebrew at Grand Valley State University; and beginning in 2008 he is teaching Jewish Life, Literature, Culture and History at Kuyper College.
He is the author of a CHAl curriculum revision published by URH Press, revising the CHAl curriculum to adapt the Reform curriculum for use in a Conservative or joint Reform/ Conservative religious school; and edited a section on Judaism for a World Religions textbook (published by Teacher Created Materials).
His interests also include BioMedical Ethics.  He serves on the Spectrum Bioethics Committee, and delivered an address, "The Beginnings of Life" at the DeVos Medical Ethics Colloquy in Grand Rapids.  He also serves as one of the volunteer rabbis on several internet AskaRabbi services.
He lives in Grand Rapids with his wife, (Cantor) Marisa, and four children, Zachary, Solomon, Harrison and Sarah.
We congratulate Rabbi Krishef on his many accomplishments and look forward to hearing from him on June 9.  

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, Scott Nolan, James VanderLaan, and Charles Schwartz.
June 2:  Matthew Barnum, Victor Kynam, Donald Lomasiewicz, Mark Peacock, Ken Schichtel.
June 3:  James Bozung, John LaGoe, Anthony Vainavica, Thomas McKinney, Anthony Russo.
June 4:  Luis Garcia, Eugene Golas.
June 5:  Charles Brown, David Gross, Pedro Garcia, Paul Milanowski, Louis Stasker, Most Reverend Walter Hurley (Priesthood;  appointed Bishop of Grand Rapids on June 21).
June 6:  Michael Burt, James Chelich, Thomas Vesbit, Msgr. John Giammona, John Wisneski.
June 7:  Michael Celebraise, Godfrey Onyekwere, Philip Silwinski, Anthony Pelak, Philip Salmonowiz, 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 Balsar.

Nominations.  Bob Paul is compiling our nominations list. 

A Letter from the Executive Director.

09 May 2014
Dear Serrans and Friends of Serra.
May the love and joy of the Easter Season be with you and your families.

There are several reasons for  us to be joyful this Eastertide, as our beloved apostolate for vocations continues to grow and improve.  Signs of growth include, but are in no way limited to:  the chartering of the Serra Club of Caltagirone in Italy, the upcoming charter ceremonies for the Serra Club of Northeastern Houston, Texas, in the USA, and the Serra Club of Ourinhos in Brazil, a recent request from Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay and member of the College of Cardinals, to charter a Serra Club in Bombay, and a request from the Most Reverend Paul Ssemogerere, Bishop of Kasana-Luweero, to bring Serra into Uganda.  These activities would not have happened without the work of dedicated Serrans throughout the world.
From an operational standpoint, Serra has taken several steps to reduce its overhead and serve
Serrans throughout the world more efficiently and effectively.  The offices of Serra International, Serra's National Council for the United States, and the Serra International Foundation have been consolidated to one location, at 333 West Wacker Drive, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois, 60606.  This consolidated office has also led to closer collaboration between Serra International and Serra's National Council for the USA,  This collaboration includes a joint invoicing system for all Serra Clubs in the USA,
Serra Club Treasurers in the USA will receive one invoice for both Serra International and US Council Dues during the upcoming dues cycle.  This joint invoice allows Serra Clubs in the USA to write one check to cover all of their dues and submit one membership roster--saving time, effort, and money.
Serra continues to move forward, refocusing its efforts on vocations.  We are all one Body of Christ:  "If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all parts share its joy." 1 Cor. 12:26.  Serra has suffered from divisiveness, which distracted Serrans from their work of fostering and promoting vocations for far too long.  Now is the time for us to move forward, not looking back, to share in the joy of the work of our apostolate.  I am very happy to report that the lawsuit between Serra International and Serra's National Council for the U. S. has been dismissed with prejudice, effective today, and cannot be refiled or reinstated.
Finally, contributions to the Serra International Foundation have increased sharply over the last 8 months, thank in part to a large donation from the estate of a Serran who has gone on to his eternal reward.  These contributions will enable the Serra International Foundation to support more dioceses, seminaries, and houses of religious formation throughout the world.
This is just a brief list of recent "highlights," as there are many more wonderful things taking place throughout the Serra world.  I pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide us as we move forward.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, pray for us!
John Liston, Executive Director 

About the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Corpus Christi is celebrated with processions carrying the consecrated host through the streets of cities and towns around the world.  The monstrance is often carried by a bishop under a canopy and escorted by religious associations, parish groups, and others who walk beside and behind the canopy.  Participants walk slowly, in prayer and singing hymns, and some carry candles.  Children often spread flowers along the procession route.  In some countries, houses and buildings are decorated with altars along the route and the streets lined with carpets of flowers.  The procession ends with a solemn Benediction.
The celebration of the body and blood of Christ, present in the Eucharist, has its roots in the 13th century and was inspired by decades of work on the part of Juliana of Liege.  According to legend, Juliana, a Belgian nun, dreamed of the Church under a full moon with a black spot, which was understood as the lack of a celebration for the holiest element of the Church:  the Eucharist.
In 1208, Juliana reported her first vision of Christ in which she was instructed to plead for the institution of the feast of Corpus Christi.  The vision was repeated for decades, but she kept it a secret.  When Juliana eventually told her confessor, he relayed it to Robert de Thorete, Bishop of Liege, who in 1246 issued a decree for such a festival to be celebrated in his territory.  In 1264, Pope Urban IV instituted the feast throughout the Church, and in 1311, at the Council of Vienna, Pope Clement V made Corpus Christi an obligatory feast for Catholics.  Until then there had been no universal festival to celebrate the sacrament of the Eucharist.
By the 17th Century the Feast of Corpus Christi was being held throughout Europe with processions featuring unique characteristics such as dragons, serpents, and demons running in fear from the Blessed Sacrament, as well as the figure of Jesus, children dressed as angels, and others depending on the country and its traditions.  The celebration was a time to expose the Blessed Sacrament, not just to Catholics, but to the entire community, and included processions, pageants, and flower-lined streets along the procession route.
In Spain, processions date back to the 1300s with the first procession in Barcelona taking place in 1320, where it is celebrated with the Dancing Egg, which consists of emptied white eggshells placed above the water jets of fountains.  The fountains are decorated with flowers.  Eggshells symbolize the body of Christ and the water represents renewal.  If the eggshell does not break, it means the coming year will be a good one.  The Barcelona procession includes elements of Catalan folklore, including figures of giants and mystical creatures.  In Valencia, the Corpus Christi procession includes the "momos" or seven demons symbolizing sin.  People from balconies along the route pour water over the participants.  In Toledo, participants in the procession wear medieval costumes representing nobility and knights, while in Granada, the feast is celebrated with two processions, one with giant characters and folk music and another that is more religious in nature.  Spanish missionaries brought this tradition to Latin America and it then spread to the United States.
Source:  Our Lady of Sorrows Bulletin, May 25, 2014.

Cincinnati's Bible Reading Project.  

We thank Serra Mike Fiorenzo for participating in the Cincinnati Club's Bible Reading Novena, which took place this past month from May 6-9.  Asked whether he would like to add a few comments about the event for the June newsletter, he replied,  "It was a thoroughly enjoyable event.  It was done completely in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  They were very gracious as well." 

The Benefits of Being a Serran (While actively pursuing the Serra Mission).
Download some exciting new materials from the serraus.org web site, including a new membership recruiting brochure, JOY from MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCES,  "Go and make disciples from ALL NATIONS..."  Matthew 28:19.  This brochure is an excellent membership recruiting tool.

A Message from our President.

Please pray for me and our local Grand Rapids Serra Chapter.  At long last, spring has arrived and we are blessed with more sunshine, warm weather, beautiful foliage and flowers.  To match the glories of spring, we have three wonderful events this month.  First is the ordination of two men to the transitional diaconate, Douglas Braun and William VanderWerff, brother of Serran Sara VanderWerff; then a luncheon meeting with speaker Rabbi Kreshev;  and last, a dinner with the Dominican Sisters to showcase their new Home Health Care Center.  
I want to give a special thank you to our program chair, Beth Gumina, for organizing our Sisters' Appreciation Dinner this year.  She had a wonderful committee of devoted Serrans and spouses to do this work:  Joel Gumina (co-chef), Weldon Schwartz (chef's helper), Nancy King, Bev Shields, and Nancy Mulvihill (pastry chefs), Francis Lake, Len and Roberta Gross (set-up), Sara VanderWerff and Tim Hile (reservations and kitchen helpers), John Osterhart (wine), and a whole host of Serrans too numerous to name) that served and brought appetizers.  Events of this kind take many dedicated Serrans working together.  It was a special evening for the sisters, who love to get together and socialize.  We have been getting thank-you e-mails, notes, and cards which can be shared with our club at our next meeting.  Many of the sisters remarked with joy about the parting gift of a lovely rose to take home.  Congratulations to the Serra Club of Grand Rapids for hosting such a lovely event for the hard-working sisters!
May the peace of Christ be with you and your families.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, pray for us in our vocation work to bring dedicated leaders to the call for service in the Church.
Agnes Kempker-Cloyd

What doth the Lord require of thee, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?  Micah 6:8.