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
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