Calendar of Events.
October is the Month of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This is New. Serra International Conference Calls for Club Committee Chairmen.
October 1, 2018 at 7-8 p.m. Conference Call for Programs Chairmen. Dial in 712-775-7031. Access Code 648-583-478#.
October 18, 2018 at 8:20-9:20 p.m. Conference Call for Vocations Committee Chairmen. Dial in 641-715-3580. Access Code 273848.
Calendar of Events.
October 2, 2018. Memorial, The Holy Guardian Angels.
October 7, 2018. Respect Life Sunday.
October 14, 2015. Our Lady of Sorrows Spaghetti Dinner, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 5830 Clyde Park Avenue SW, Wyoming. Please note the change in location. The K of C Hall offers easy access with no steps, lots of parking, and plenty of seating. Tickets are available now at $9 each. Call 243-0222 Tuesday through Friday to order, or they may be purchased at the door for $10.
October 15, 2018. Luncheon Meeting and Speaker, 12:00 Noon at Cathedral Square. Speaker will be
October 18, 2018. Feast Day of St. Luke, Patron Saint of Physicians, Surgeons, and Sculptors. Saint Luke was a gentile born of Greek origin. He was a doctor, who St. Paul described as the Beloved Physician. It is believed that he was an artist who painted the first portrait of Mary. Luke is the writer of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. We have Luke to thank for the Scriptural parts of the Hail Mary: "Hail Mary full of grace" spoken at the Annunciation and "Blessed are you and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus" which was spoken by her cousin Elizabeth. Luke best reveals Jesus as friend of the downtrodden, comforting even the thief who was crucified alongside him.
October 22, 2018. Feast Day of St. John Paul II.
October 28, 2018. Priesthood Sunday.
October 29, 2019. Board Meeting and Luncheon, 12:00 Noon at Cathedral Square. All members are welcome to attend. Just send an RSVP to Nancy King.
Looking Ahead.
Christmas Dinner. December 10, 2018. Christmas Dinner, 6:00 p.m. at the University Club. See the President's message below.
January 17-20, 2019. Serra Rally. Engage, Inspire, Ignigte!
Attend the USA Council's Serra Rally and return to your club with renewed energy to put our vocations mission into action.
Serra's USA Council's popular annual Serra Rally event is moving to Ventura, California, in
2019! Expect a super-charged leadership and inspirational weekend ibn a place infused by the spiritual presence of our patron, Saint Junipero Serra.
Venue. Ventura Beach Mariott Hotel is ideally located within walking distance of the shoreline, Piermont Bay and San Buenventura State Beach Park. It is approximately 1-2 hours north and west of Los Angeles and Burbank Airports, and 30 minutes east of Santa Barbara California airport.
Who should attend? Serra Board members, District Governors, Chaplains, Serra Club officers from all Serra Clubs; two or more are recommended to attend from each club, new Serrans, and those who have attended previously.
A Weekend Packed with Inspiring Talks, Spiritual Oases, and Practical Workshops.Our speaker line-up is excellent this year, featuring our keynote presenter, Fr. Eugene Hemrick, who will speak on "Energizing Ministry and Future Ministers through inspirational images." Fr. Hemrick will also lad a special track for Serra Club Chaplains. Christina Lamas, Executive Director of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, will tell us about "The I-Phone Generation" from which our current priests and religious are coming, and how we can understand and support them better. Highly anticipated is the presence of Serra International Episcopal Adviser Thomas Cardinal Collins of Toronto, who will speak on Serra discipleship and spirituality.
Costs. Registration Fee: $340 per person; register by December 17 and save $50. There is a special promotion for chaplains. Serra Club chaplains pay a reduced registration rate of $200. With two paying Serra Club members, registration is complimentary.
Hotel room rate: The special $130 per night hotel room rate will extend a couple of days on either side of the rally. If you make your reservation directly with the hotel, be sure to mention that you are coming for the Serra Rally.
Key Times. The Rally officially kicks off on Thursday, January 17. USA Council and Serra International board members and district governors should arrive on Wednesday, January 16.
Arrival Cities are Los Angeles, Burbank CA and Santa Barbara CA. The hotel does not provide shuttle service but bus and private taxi are available.
Find all the links you need at www,serraus.org.
Stay for the Mission Pilgrimage. A four-day Serra Mission pilgrimage will depart from the hotel on Sunday, January 20. Buses will pick up pilgrims at the hotel on noon on Sunday and make the first stop in Santa Barbara. The pilgrimage visits six missions and concludes with transportation to San Francisco Airport on Thursday, January 24, 2019. Serra Rally attendees save $100 off the pilgrimage cost.
Vocations Updates.
Fr. Stephen Durkee has been appointed as associate director of priestly vocations, assisting Fr. Ron Hutchinson. In the October edition of Faith Magazine, Fr. Hutchinson writes that this year we welcomed nine new men to our seminarian ranks, which means that of our 31 men studying this year, 15 will be at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and 16 will be at St. John Vianney College Seminary.
Fr. Hutchinson also writes, "You may think that the seminarians are not aware of your your prayers, but that is not true. They constantly share with me how much they feel your prayerful support when they face the challenges of academics and formation. They know that you are praying for them, and they experience the grace of God that you ask to be showered on them. Please do not forget to pray for them and their needs frequently.
In addition, our seminarians and I are extremely conscious of the reality that their formation and studies would not be possible without your financial generosity. Not a day goes by that one of them doesn't offer a prayer of thanksgiving for your financial support of their journey to the priesthood."
Remember that Fr. Hutchinson's remarks are addressed to all Catholics, not just Serrans. Let us keep these thoughts in mind as we continue on our Serran journey.
Some Thoughts on Membership. Keep in mind that Membership is the focus of all Serrans during 201-2019.
Serra International President Mario Biscardi requests for Serrans.
"What we need is what the Church needs: more laborers for the Harvest, qualified laborers who will place their hands on the plow and not look back.
I ask evey Serran to bring in one new member is 2018, and again in 2019.
I ask every district to bring in one new Serra Club in 2018, and again in 2019.
I ask every district to bring in one new Serra Club in 2018, and again in 2019.
I ask every council to work closely with their district govenors and bring in one new Serra Club in a nearby country or state where there is no Serra presently, in 2018, and again in 2019.
Simply put, let us ALL make a concerted effort to one year at growing Serra. It will be well worth the effort...It is through being of more service to our Church that Serra will grow. Source: The Serran, September 2019.
Our Grand Rapids Club and the Muskegon Club donated to the Priests' Convocation, as has been our custom for a number of years. Robert Nolan is now the President of the Muskegon Club.
Officer Vacancies. We are looking for President, President-Elect, and Committee Chairmen for Membership and Vocations. We also need Trustees.
Thank you to all who attended the Day of Prayer at St. Isidore and the Bishop's Holy Hour at the Cathedral. Both events were well attended.
Help for those in Need.
Bishop Walkowiak has launched a diocesean-wide special collection for victims of Hurricane Florence.
What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Thy God? Micah 6-8.
A Message from our President.
Dear Serrans:
Our Christmas Dinner will be held on December 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the University Club, as has been our custom for the last several years. This event will be considered a member-guest occasion. Invite spouses and guests.
Also, please note the officer vacancies. We invite you to step forward for one of these positions.
Weldon Schwartz
