Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, December 2015

Help me, Lord, to carry the spirit of this joyous feast throughout the new year.  Let me celebrate the coming of Christ every day.  Let me welcome him wherever I find him.  May I always rejoice:  Hallelujah, Jesus Christ is born!   Source:  Catholic Art Calendar, 2015.

Calendar of Events.
Note:  Read Carefully.  We are in a time of transition as to meeting schedules and activities.

December 7, 2015.  Pearl Harbor Day (1941) and First Day of Hanukkah.
December 8, 2015.  The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Holy Day of Obligation.  December 8 is also the Patronal Feast Day of the United States of America and the first day of the Year of Mercy.
December 12, 2015.  Schubert Chorus Concert. 7:30 p.m. at East Grand Rapids High School Fine Arts Center. Ask Aggie about tickets.  Also Our Lady of Guadalupe.
December 14, 2015.  Christmas Dinner at 5:30 at the University Club.  As stated in the November Newsletter, this would be a fine opportunity to get accustomed to our new evening meeting schedule. If you or your friends have a difficult time making the noon meetings, join us for this occasion.  RSVP with Weldon Schwartz.
December 15, 2015.  Last day for early registration fee for the Houston Rally.
Early fee is $275;  after December 15 is $300.  Please visit serraus.org
December 21, 2015.  There is no Board Meeting in December.  We will resume in January.
December 25, 2015.  The Nativity of the Lord.
December 27,  2015. The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

Looking Ahead.  
January 14-16, 2016.  Serra Rally, Houston, Texas.  See below for important information about the convention.  We especially wish to call to your attention three very special talks and workshops:
Reaching the Masses: How to Promote Serra through Media;  Campus Ministry:  Increasing Vocation Awareness on College Campuses; and Hundredfold Workshop:  Laying the Cornerstone for your Parish Vocation Ministry.  
Call 1-281-443-2310 for information about accommodations at Houston Airport Mariott at George Bush International.  Book your room as soon as you decide to attend the convention.
February, 2016.  World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life.
March 28-April 7, 2016.  California Mission Pilgrimage.
June 30-July 3, 2016.  Serra International Convention, St. Louis, MO.
Please visit serraus.org and click on the link to the convention for all information about the rally.for all

About the Year of Mercy. 

During his homily for a Lenten penitential service, Pope Francis announced an extraordinary Jubilee to start the end of the year, which will be dedicated to a theme close tot he pontiff's heart:  mercy.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, I have thought about how the Church can make clear its mission of being a witness of mercy,..
It's a journey that starts with a spiritual conversion.  For this reason I have decided to declare an Extraordinary Jubilee that has the mercy of God at its center.  It will be a Holy Year of Mercy."

The Biblical passage for the Holy Year's theme is from Luke Chapter 6:36, in which Jesus tells his disciples, "Be merciful as I am merciful."  Source:  Catholic News Agency.

Editor's Note:  Luke's Gospel is a rich source of Scripture readings about mercy.

Priests' Anniversaries for December.

Fr. Norbert Leyrita,  December 21, 1964.
Fr. Michael P. Olson, December, 1994.  (No day given).
Msgr. John Porter, December 15, 1957.
Fr. Julian Reginato, December 19, 1964.
Why not address an extra Christmas card, or an anniversary card, to one or more of these priests to thank them for answering the Lord's call?  Addresses may be found on the dioceseofgrandrapids.org web page.  Click on the link to Priests.

Reflections on our Club's Direction and Mission for 2016.

At our November Board Meeting, we discussed Frank Lake's proposal for Holy Hours.

Mt 9:37.  Then He said to the Disciples, The Harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few, so ask the Master of the Harvest to send out laborers for the harvest.

Goal:  To encourage Grand Rapids Serrans and their families and friends to make Holy Hours for vocations.  Keep a count of Holy Hours made.

We had four transitional deacons ordained this past year.  How about asking our Lord for at least four a year for the next 10 years.  How about asking for 10 women per year to enter religious life?

1.  Ask members each month to make a Holy Hour.
2.  Report the Holy Hour.

Look for parishes which regularly hold Holy Hours.

Msgr. Hankiewicz suggested that we could even spend quiet time with the Lord in churches which are open.  He recommended no Rosary, no books.  Instead, just spend quiet time listening to the Lord.

No formal decision was made, but we will keep you in touch after the next Board Meeting.
Your suggestions on this and any other of our activities are always welcome.
St. Isidore Chapel's code, 24/7 is 513.  IHM times are 24/5, code 5412.

Another topic we touched upon was increased collaboration with the Muskegon Serra Club on various events throughout the year.  Again, no formal action was taken.
We invite you to share any special information about Holy Hours at your Parish.  Notify Nancy King.

Serrans United in Prayer.  

Along with observing Holy Hours, Serrans throughout the world are invited to pray an International Rosary for Vocations.  Again, you may find the link to the new Serra International web page to read more about this activity.  The practice was launched in October.

The International Rosary for Vocations takes place the last Saturday of every month.  To join the rosary from your computer, tablet, or smartphone , find the information on the web page.  You can also dial using your phone.  Access code: 314-315-981.  The dialing code for the United States is 1-312-757-3119.

A Message from our President.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you at our Christmas dinner scheduled for December 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the University Club.  This date will kick off the new time for our monthly meetings, the second Monday of each month at 5:30 in the evening.  There will be no charge for parking at the U club for our monthly dinners.

Also, from this month on we will have only a single meeting as described above, plus a board meeting on the 3rd Monday at noon at Saints Peter and Paul. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you!

P. S. from the Editor:

"I've just spoken with staff at the Kalamazoo diocese and they're planning to send two people from that diocese to our Christmas dinner as our guests.  We have been working hard to establish a new Serra Club in the Kalamazoo diocese, so I want them to come up and visit our club. 

Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!
Weldon Schwartz

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter November 2015

Important Editor's Note:  Some of our members have mentioned that the blog link that appears in your e-mail notification is no longer working as it used to.  If you are having this trouble, please let me know and I will see what corrections we can make to better serve you.
Also, Serra International is looking for our members' reports on Eucharistic Adoration Hours.
Log in your hours at Eucharistic Adoration Registry at Serra International.
Adoration times are St. Isidor, 24/7, 513 and IHM, 24/5 5412.
Calendar of Events.
November 1-7, 2015.  National Vocation Awareness Week.  Say a prayer of thanks for all those who have answered the call to serve the Lord in this way.

November 1, 2015.  All Saints Day.
November 2, 2015.  All Souls' Day.
November 9, 2015.  Luncheon Meeting and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at the University Club.
November 11, 2015.  Veterans' Day.
November 16, 2015.  Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Ss. Peter and Paul.
November 21, 2015.  Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
November 22, 2015.  Christ the King.
November 23, 2016.  No Meeting.  Enjoy your Thanksgiving Week.
November 29, 2015.  First Sunday of Advent.
Looking Ahead.
December 12, 2015. Schubert Choir concert, 7:30 p.m. at the East Grand Rapids Fine Arts Center. Tickets $20 per person.  Order from Aggie.  This is a fine opportunity to celebrate the Christmas season with friends and family.  Feel free to invite guests.
December 14, 2015.  Christmas Dinner, 5:30 p.m. at the University Club.  This is new.  Weldon has made a tentative reservation at the University Club.  The cost will be about $25 per person, and we will sell drink tickets as well.  RSVP to Weldon.  He has sent a separate e-mail about the dinner as well.  Please reply ASAP because the time of holding the reservation is limited.  This would be our first evening meeting at the University Club and makes a nice lead-in to our new schedule which will start in January 2015.  This is another opportunity to invite guests.  If you have mentioned Serra to your friends before, but they say they can't make the noon meetings, this is a perfect time to introduce them to the club.
January 14-16, 2016.  Serra Rally, Houston, TEXAS.
Go to serraus.org for more information about the upcoming rally.  All information about accommodations and meetings will be found at that site.
The rally will be held at the Houston Airport Mariott.  Telephone 1-281-443-2310 for reservations, and mention the rally.  John Osterhart and Tim O'Neill will give the State of Serra Address on January 15 immediately following the opening Mass.  Other talks include, "Laying the Cornerstone for your Parish Vocation Ministry, by Rhonda Gruenewald, "Campus Ministry-Increasing Vocation Awareness on College Campuses," by Rev. David Konderla, Texas A&M, and "Reaching the Masses:  How to Promote Serra through the Media," by Larry Massey.
The rally is designed to renew our dedication to our Serra mission, and (perhaps) for those who live in colder climates, to offer a brief respite from the winter season.
February 5, 2015.  National Day of Awareness of the Cloistered Life.

Dates Outside the Club.
November 12, 2015.  Serran Mark Kubik, who serves on the Board of Directors of the Widowed Persons Service, and Board chairman Aggie Cloyd, invite us to take part in the 6th Annual Widowed Persons Service Fall Fundraiser, at the LaFontsee Galleries, 833 Lake Drive SE, from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
It is advertised as An Evening of Art Appreciation, Hors d'oeuvres, Wine, and Silent Auction.
Parking is available right outside the door.  The proceeds help the organization to continue its mission of offering supportive services to those individuals in the Grand Rapids area who have suffered the loss of a spouse through death.  Charitable gifts enable WPS to serve thousands of widowed people through this most difficult time in their lives.

An Important Note.  As we look forward to the new year, we will be changing our scheduled meeting times.  We will hold one regular meeting per month;  most of these will be evening meetings with speaker at 5:30 p.m.on the second Monday of each month at the University Club  Parking will be free. Other events, such as Catholic Legacy Award Meeting and Charter Night, for example, will be announced in due time.

Priests' Anniversaries for November.

Father Daniel DePew, November 2, 1982.
Father Charles Hall, November 3, 1979.
Father Rock Badgerow, November 3, 1979.
Father Wayne Wheeler, November 3, 1979.
Father Thomas Bouffard, November 7, 1981.
Father Brian Johnson, CSsR, November 8, 1986.

A Catholic Priest's Miracle.
"My captivity was like being born again."  Catholic priest who miraculously escaped ISIS speaks our.
Father Jacob Murad was one of 250 Christians who were captured by ISIS from the Syrian city of Al Qaryatatyn.  Miraculously, with the help of a Muslim friend, he managed to escape the militants.  He has now spoken out about his time in captivity and of the amazing perseverance of the other Christian captives.
"Even while being deported, with my hands tied behind my back, I surprisingly found myself repeating again and again:  I am going towards freedom," Murad told the Arab Christian broadcaster Noursat TV-TeleLumiere.
"My captivity was like being born again," he said.
Before his captivity Murad belonged to a monastic community on the ourskirts of Al Qaryatayn.  He was abducted on May 21 by jahadis and taken to the ISIS-controlled city of Palmyra.  There, he was placed in a dormitory with hundreds of other prisoners including 250 Christians, also captured from Qaryatyn.
"The Christians," said Fr. Jacques, "were often questioned about their faith and about the Christian doctrine.  But they did not convert to Islam despite much pressure.  They were faithful to the recitation of the Rosary."
Among other experiences, Murad spoke of how he celebrated a mass in the underground dormitory with the other captives.  "This experience of trial strengthened the faith everyone including my faith as a priest.  It is as if I have been born again."
In a separate interview with Italian TV2000,  Murad recently told of how he was repeatedly asked to declare his faith in captivity, and threatened with death if he did not convert.
"Almost every day there was someone who came to my prison and asked me, 'What are you?'  I would answer:  "I'm a Nazarene, in other words, a Christian."  
"So, you're an infidel," they shouted.  "Since you're a Christian, if you don't convert, we'll slit your throat with a knife."
Despite the threats, the priest said he refused to renounce his faith.  He credits a Muslim friend and the Virgin Mary for his escape.
"I want to thank all those who prayed for my liberation," he said..

A Prayer for Persecuted Christians.
Father in Heaven, you make your sun shine
on good and bad alike.
Your Son Jesus Christ died for us all
and in his glorious Resurrection
He still retains the five wounds of his Passion.
With his divine power he now sustains
all those who suffer persecution and martyrdom
for the sake of their fidelity
to the faith of the Church.
Merciful and mighty Father,
do not allow Cain to return again to murder
helpless Abel, innocent Abel.
May persecuted Christians around the world
remain, like Mary their Mother,
together at the foot of the cross
of Christ the Martyr.
Comfort those menaced by violence
and those oppressed by uncertainty.
May your Holy Spirit of love
make fruitful the witness and the blood
of all the martyrs.
Source:  Quidnunc.  This prayer and others are from Aid to the Church in Need's website.  Please visit them for more information on how you can help persecuted Christians in Iraq, Syria, the Middle East, and around the world.

A Message from our President.
As you undoubtedly know, we are changing times for our meetings from luncheons at the University Club to dinners (at the same location), to be held on the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
We will begin the new times with our Christmas party on December 14 at 5:30 at the U-Club.
I look forward to seeing all of you at our November luncheon, which will be our last luncheon, and at the Christmas party in December.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for us!
Weldon Schwartz

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