Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, November 2017

498 Clubs in 46 Countries.  14,490 Members.*

We Welcome New Member Mr. George W. Rutherford.  

His home parish is St. Patrick's of Portland, where he serves as Co-ordinator of the Youth Ministry, Lector, and Cantor.

Calendar of Events.  PLEASE NOTE IMPORTANT CHANGES IN OUR MEETING INFORMATION.  

October 29, 2017.  Priesthood Sunday.  Pray for priests today and every day.
November 1, All Saints Day.  Holy Day of Obligation.
November 2, 2017.  All Souls Day.
November 4-11, 2017.  National Vocation Awareness Week.  Any day is appropriate for the message of  Most Reverend Peter A. Labasci, Bishop of Manchester, New Hampshire:  "I urge you to make your appreciation known to your parish priest.  An invitation to lunch, a card, a smile, even the simplest of gestures to assure him of your gratitude for his service to the people of God...will mean so much."
November 11, 2017.  Veterans Day.  Pray for veterans, especially on November 11.  See below the article on the Archdiocese For the Military Services, USA.  Also keep in mind that our moderator is a veteran of the United States Navy.
November 13, 2017.  Note change of location.  Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Ss. Peter and Paul.  Billy K will cater. Speaker will be Ms. Dana Prince, Executive Director of St. Anne's Home.  Sister Gabriela will accompany her.  We look forward to hearing them. Weldon will be receiving information from the University Club regarding choices of menu.  At that time, if you have an opinion, let him know.
November 23, 2017.  Thanksgiving.
November 27, 2017.  Board Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Ss. Peter and Paul.

Looking Ahead.
There will be an evening Christmas meeting at the University Club on Tuesday, December 12.  We were not able to get the room for our regular Monday date. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m., with dinner being served at 6:00. The dinner will be open to friends, relatives, or spouses.  Please invite them or prospective Serra members to enjoy the dinner, the  prayers, and the fellowship.

January 11-14.  Serra Rally, Phoenix.  Early Bird registration is available for $300 until December 15.  Chaplain Early Bird rate is $200.  See the web site at inspireserrainternational.org


Priests' Anniversaries for November.

Reverend Daniel DePew, November 2, 1982.
Reverend Rock Badgerow, November 3, 1979.
Reverend Thomas Bouffard, November 7, 1981.
Reverend Peter Schaefer, November 10, 2005.
Reverend Wayne Wheeler, November 3, 1979.

Thank you to Dan, Dennis, Sara, and John.

On October 18, Dan Grady, Dennis Leiber, Sara Vander Werff, and John Osterhart filled the 5-6- p.m. time slot during the fall 2018 fund drive for Holy Family Radio.  They discussed their recent trip to Rome, the Papal Audience, and activities in general of our Grand Rapids Serra Club.  Thank you to all of them for their excellent job in making our club and its activities known to the Holy Family Radio listeners.

Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.

In observance of Veterans' Day, we present the November 2017 newsletter of Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, USA.

Dear (Friends).

On 1 November, the solemnity of Saints (All Saints Day), and November 2, the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day), I will remember the deceased relatives and friends of the faithful of this Archdiocese, and those of her benefactors, during the celebration of the Eucharist...
"The souls of the just are in the hands of God (Wisdom3:1"

On 10 November, I will participate in the annual Veterans Day event at my alma mater, Boston College, one of two events held on campus each year focused on honoring those who have served in the armed forces.  Since 11 November, 1918, when an armistice was reached to end the fighting in World War I, Veterans Day has commemorated the service of the brave men and women who have fought honorable to protect our nation.  Veterans, and their families, sacrifice selflessly so that all Americans can enjoy freedoms, including the freedom of religion.

This month, I ask for your continued prayers and financial support so that the Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS), USA, may continue to provide access to the sacraments to service men and women who may be in harm's way.  Through your generous gifts, the AMS is able to:
provide for the formation of future chaplains through the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program; provide catechesis through the Archdiocesean Curriculum Guide; initiate a young adult conference and marriage retreat; and continue to provide pastoral visits to military installations and the 153 Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.  These inportant programs would not be possible without your kind support.

There are 43 AMS Co-Sponsored Seminarians, from 26 different dioceses in the United States currently studying in 19 seminaries across the country.  This is the largest number in recent years, and your continued support and prayers are needed to prepare these men, the next generation of priests, to answer the call to serve God and country as military chaplains...

AMS programs and services are solely funded by by the generosity of private benefactors...
With heartfelt sentiments of gratitude, I remain, Sincerely in Christ.
Readers may visit www.milarch.org if you wish to choose this path in supporting and praying for priestly vocations.

In Case you Missed it...

The Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids are now publishing a quarterly magazine, Mission and Ministry.  The Fall 2017 edition contains an article about the Transportation Ministry of the Sisters, which they describe as one of the many ways of "Making a Difference in the Lives of people who need you  We look forward to future editions of this publication.

*Please note that the numbers at the beginning of the newsletter differ from those appearing on the right describing the history of Serra Clubs.  That information was entered at the time we began the online blog and I have lost access to the edit option.  We apologize for any confusion on this matter.

Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us.

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter October 2017

October is Respect Life Month and Mary's Month.

Calendar of Events.  Please note change to 11:30 a.m. for our Monday Meetings.

For various reasons, it seems appropriate to begin this newsletter with our President's Message for this month:

Dear Fellow Serrans:

We are going to continue with our luncheon meetings at Olive's Restaurant in East
Grand Rapids.  It would help them if we would begin our meetings or at least place our orders around 11:30.  I agreed to try this for the next meeting.

We delivered Serra brochures and prayer books and other brochures for the Fall Convocation of Priests event held at Shanty Creek Lodge.  We also prepared bifolds announcing that the Muskegon Club and the Grand Rapids Club were supporting their event by funding their reception.

Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!

Weldon Schwartz

October 9, 2017.    Columbus Day and Luncheon Meeting and Speaker, 11:30 a.m. at Olive's Restaurant.  This change will help the server because she is responsible for both the downstairs and upstairs sections.  We will try this change for the October and November meetings.  Information about the December meeting TBA.  A short board meeting will follow.  Our speaker will be Father Thomas Cavera.

Father Cavera is the grandson of the late Joseph Cavera, who joined Serra within a year of its founding and who is remembered as one of our longest-time and most dedicated Serrans.  Among other things, he acted as keeper of the archives.  Let us also remember him for his devotion to the club and its mission.

October 29, 2017.  Priesthood Sunday.  Help prepare for this day in your parish.  This day provides a great opportunity to make your fellow parishioners aware of Serra and its mission. 

November 4-11, 2017.  National Vocations Awareness Week.

Priests' Anniversaries for October.  

Reverend Michael Hodges, October 27, 2012.
Reverend Darrell Kempf, October 27, 2012.

Work and Pray for Membership.

John Osterhart received a call from someone inquiring about becoming a member of Serra.  The caller had received his Serra brochure and his Serra Prayer Book from his priest, who got them from the Fall Convocation.  Thank you, Weldon, for distributing these materials at the Convocation, and thank you, John, for responding to the inquiry.  Right now we are reaching out to two prospective members and will let you know of any further news.  We need your prayers and your help.

Also, be sure to get some copies of John's Invitation to Catholic Laity...to join and support Serra.  We will have some available at the October meeting.

John also tells us that he and Ellen encountered David Mohan and his wife Lilly at Devos Hall a couple of weeks ago and found out that they are moving to Florida.  John invited David to come to our October meeting.

Serra Promotion and Resource Kit.

Welcome to the Serra Promotion and Resource Kit (spark.org)  Brought to you by the U. S. A. Council of Serra International, Spark is a free online collection of best-practices tools in religious vocations ministry...
Created by a group of experienced laypeople with a longstanding devotion to the Roman Catholic Church, SPARK covers everything from discernment retreat agendas to vocations talks to using social media in vocations promotion...and much more.

Nearly two dozen topics are covered in this site.  Also look for SPARK videos for vocations.

Serra Club Activities in New Orleans.

John Osterhart attended a Serra USA Council meeting of the Serra USA Executive Committee on September 22-29.  This meeting coincided with the National Convention of Diocesean Vocation Directors.  Serra USA held a reception for the Vocation Directors.

Hurricane Relief.  

During September and October, our attention has been directed toward aid and relief for victims or Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.  We can help in the form of monetary donations, but also we must remember to pray not only for the victims but also for the priests and religious in the affected locations. 

One of the many ways to help in Puerto Rico is by donating to Catholic Charities of Central Florida

Hurricane Maria:  Catholic Charities of Central Florida joins aid efforts for Puerto Rico.  

September 30, 2017.

Orlando, Fla.

As recovery efforts continue in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, Catholic Charities of Central Florida is ramping up its own initiative to assist people on the island.  The Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary held a Mass of solidarity Saturday for those devastated by the hurricane in Puerto Rico.  Many members of the church have family on the island.

Catholic Charities of Central Florida parked two trucks outside the cathedral to accept the donations of nonperishable food and personal hygiene items like shampoo and toothpaste.

Father Miguel Gonzalez is a priest at the church.  He's still waiting to hear from some of his relatives on the island.  "The relatives in San Juan are fine, but up on the mountain area, we still have not been able to connect with them," said Gonzalez.

Let us pray for Father Gonzalez as he waits for news of his loved ones.

Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!

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