Calendar of Events.
March 28-April 7, 2016. California Mission Pilgrimage. Pilgrims follow in the footsteps of St. Juniperio Serra.
April 3, 2016. Second Sunday of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday.
April 4, 2016. The Annunciation of the Lord.
April 11, 2016. Board Meeting and Regular Monthly Meeting at the University Club. Board Meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. Dinner Meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. with Speaker to follow. This month's speaker will be Dr. Larry Burns, who will speak on how his faith has guided his medical practice.
April 17, 2016. World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Download Parish Promotional Kit at www;serraus.org
April 21-24, 2016. USA Council Transitional Executive Committee Meeting, Techny, Illinois. John Osterhart will attend this event.
April 24, 2016. Spaghetti Dinner at Our Lady of Sorrows, 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Call 243-0222
Tuesday--Friday 10 a.m.--3:00 p.m. for tickets in advance, or tickets may be purchased in advance for $8.00 or at the door for $9.00 per adult.
April 30, 2016. Serra International Group Rosary for Vocations. 's website for instructions, or John Osterhart will be happy to assist as to how to dial the telephone connection.
June 4, 2016. Ordination of Deacons Thomas Cavera, Patrick Jagar N. Fickel, Colin J. Mulhall, and Daniel P. Schumaker to the Priesthood at St. Andrew's Cathedral, 10:00 a.m.
June 30-July 3, 2016. Serra International Convention at St. Louis, MO. This year's convention will offer a unique opportunity: to celebrate Junipero Serra's Feast Day as a saint on July 1 with the largest Serra Club in the world. Schedule highlights are as follows: Opening Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis celebrated by Archbishop Robert Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis on June 30.
USA Council Episcopal Advisor Bishop Andrew Cozzens will close Thursday evening with a Benediction before the Blessed Sacrament. Other activities include a retreat led by Bishop Hermann of the Archdiocese of St. Louis focusing on unilateral forgiveness, something all Catholics should be mindful of during this Year of Mercy. A Mass celebrated by Archbishop Lucas of Omaha on July 1, the first feast day of St. Junipero Serra since his canonization, and Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration throughout the convention.
Family activities are also included, such as Serra Night at the Ballpark, Royals @ Cardinals on June 29. The first pitch will be thrown by Bishop Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas. A 5k mile fun run/1 mile walk to support vocations with the National Life Runners on July 2. Complimentary child care will be available for Serrans with children under 12.
The convention registration fee is $425. Register by May 15 and save $100.
Priests' Anniversaries for April.
Father Bernie Campbell, CSP, April 27, 1968.
Father Steven Cron, April 1, 1978.
Father Peter Damian, April 2, 2005.
Father Roc Gerald Majalla, April 29, 1992.
Father Sahaya Stanley, SAC, April 30, 2003.
We Congratulate our newest Member, Dominic Niewald, formerly of Lincoln, Nebraska.
A Message of Thanks from Serra International President Tim O'Neill.
...Over the past 40 days, may of you enjoyed our first-ever Daily Serran Lenten Reflections prepared by a staff member in Chicago. These daily reflections, shared on Facebook and delivered by e-mail to those who requested them, were a great step forward to unite all Serrans in prayer.
I am happy to add these reflections to our list of services we receive from our office, and marvel at how wonderful it is in this particular season to partake of an activity that enhances our specific
Serran spirituality. If you chose to join us on this journey, thank you; I hope your personal experience of Lent was enhanced by the reflections as much as mine was...
We encourage all of our members to take advantage of the extensive services of Serra USA and Serra International in aiding our commitment to encourage and affirm the ordained priesthood and vowed religious life.
Mother Angelica.
We give thanks for the vocation of EWTN founder Mother Angelica, who passed away on Easter Sunday. She belonged to the order of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration and founded a men's religious community, the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word.
EWTN broadcasts 24-hour programming to more than 264 million homes in 144 countries, in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and German.
Mother Angelica was the first woman in the history of broadcast to found and lead a network for over 20 years.
Let us Pray for the Persecuted.
We trust that our Nigerian brothers and sisters will join us in the upcoming Serra International Convention. Let us also be mindful of unfortunate developments such as the following:
Killing of Christians in Nigeria Has increased by 62%.
...A partner director for West Africa says,: "This report shows that the extent and impact of the persistent violence on the church in northern Nigeria is much more serious than previously expected. Once Boko Haram is defeated, the problem will not be solved. Christians living under Sharia law are facing discrimination and marginalization and have limited to no access to federal rights. We hope that this report will prompt the Nigerian government and international community to take the real suffering of persecuted Christians seriously and act on their behalf. Next to that, I hope that Nigerian Christians will become much more involved withtheir brothers and sisters; that they will stand in the gap for them.
...In 2015, there were 4,028 killings and 108 church attacks. An estimated 30 million Christians in northern Nigeria form the largest minority in a mainly Muslim environment. They are at risk of violent persecution, as the report states: "For decades, Christians in the regiou have suffered marginalization and discrimination as well as targeted violence."
Open Doors works in northern Nigeria, funding development projects such as clinics, community health training, provision of waterholes, schools and teacher training, vocational training for farmers and micro-loans for orphans and widows. Trauma work is also done with people who have suffered violent persecution; emergency relief is provided for these people.
...Please continue to keep this nation in prayer as violence and persecution reaches unprecedented levels....
Source: Open Doors USA. Name of author changed to protect identity.
Furthermore, please consult the insert from this past weekend: USCCB
president Urges Support for Petition to Stop Christian Genocide, March 15, 2016. The petition is available at www.stopthechristiangenocide.org
Let us pray for the victims of this persecution, among whom have been numerous priests and religious. Please sign this petition.
"With each passing day, the roll of modern martyrs grows. While we rejoice in their ultimate victory over death through the power of Jesus' love, we must also help our fellow Christians carry the cross of persecution and, as much as possible, help relieve their suffering. By doing so, we will make the Middle East and the the world safer for people of every faith to live in peace.
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz
What doth the Lord require of thee, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!
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