November is the month of the dead. Let us pray for the Faithful Departed.
Save the Date. Looking Ahead to December 9, 2019.
December 9, 2019. Thank you dinner for Msgr. Hankiewicz at the University Club. 5:30 gathering time, 6:00 dinner. Invite spouses and guests, people who would make good Serrans, potential friends of Serra to this special event. Weldon is estimating a count of 25, but we would like to increase this number if possible. He is taking rsvp calls at 616-401-0227 or kazu12769@ gmail.com. Cost per person is estimated at $25.00 This will be our only December meeting. December 9 is also the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception.
November 3-11, 2019. National Vocation Awareness Week. This would be an excellent time for us to spread the good news about Serra and its mission.
November 11, 2019. Luncheon and Business Meeting, 12:00 Noon at Cathedral Square.
This is also the Feast Day of St. Martin of Tours and Veterans' Day. We have been discussing a Sisters' Appreciation Dinner. The ladies at IHM have mentioned their willingness to help. We also discussed a dinner for parents and family members of our priests and/or seminarians. Much remains to be done in working out the details of both events.
November 11, 2019. Fourth Annual Mass for God's Children, 7:00 p.m. at St. Andrew's Cathedral.Celebrant will be Fr. Scott Nolan. The Mass is offered for families to remember and celebrate the lives of children who have died before baptism. All are invited.
November 28, 2019. Thanksgiving Day.
Prayer for National Vocation Awareness Week.
O God, Father of all Mercies, Provider of a bountiful harvest, send your graces upon those you have called to gather the fruits of Your labor; preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of You. Open the hearts of Your children that they may discern Your Holy Will; inspire in them a love and desire to surrender themselves to serving others in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ. Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life guided by Your divine word and truth. Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, all the Angels and Saints, humbly hear our prayers and grant your church's needs, through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Bishop Walkowiak's Capital Campaign.
This campaign is one way, and an important way, for us to foster and support priestly vocations. In his words, "Good, holy, and compassionate priests are a gift to God's people and the parishes they serve. Our future as a Catholic community will be even more vibrant if we have a flourishing
priesthood.
We are grateful that so many young men are now discerning a priestly vocation; nearly 30 men are currently enrolled as seminarians for the Diocese of Grand Rapids. In the past five years, we have been blest with a 45 per cent increase in the number of men entering the seminary. We look forward to their gifts and leadership as a large group of faithful and faith-filled diocesan priests enter their well-deserved retirement.
As a diocese, we are committed to ensuring these young men get the best possible formation and education so that they and we will benefit for decades to come from their priestly presence among us. It is in support of this commitment that the Diocese of Grand Rapids is undertaking the Our Shepherds--Our Future Capital Campaign, a $33 million-dollar campaign to support seminarian education and priest retirement..."
Of this $33 million, $20 million will be allotted to the seminarian education endowment fund, $9 million to the seminarian education restricted fund, $2 million to priest retirement, and $2 million to campaign expenses.
Look for the formal kick-off time for this campaign for your parish.
'A Brotherhood of Men Striving After Christ.'
Don't miss the article by Seminarian David Bridge in the November issue of Faith magazine (page 19). As part of the Capital Campaign, he writes, "The purpose of college seminary is the formation of men. How can one become a holy priest if he is not first trained to be a holy and virtuous man?
At St. John Vianney College Seminary, our motto is, 'Men in Christ, Men of the Church, Men for Others.' I could not think of a better way to summarize the kind of formation a seminarian receives during his time in college seminary. This formation is vital for the Church and something that must be sustained...
To pay for this formation and education with my own resources would be impossible. Without the support of generous members of the diocese, I and many other seminarians would be unable to have opportunities to grow as men of the Church.
The support seminarians receive goes first and foremost to education and formation. It then helps supplement any sort of employment we would undertake, since the seminary does not allow us to work during the school year. This support allows us to focus on our formation and studies rather than worry about how we are going to pay for it all...
God bless you for your prayers and support for the future of our Church!"
David Bridge is a senior at St. John Vianney College Seminary at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Pray and Work for...
an increase in membership for our club. Also, Weldon is still hoping for a coup! Let us hope and pray for someone to feel called to serve as our club president.
What does the Lord require of thee but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
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