December 9, 2019. Christmas Dinner and Thank-you Dinner for Msgr. Hankiewicz, and much more.
Social Hour 5:30 p.m., Dinner at 6:00 at the University Club. For those unfamiliar with the setting, parking is available at the surface lot north of the 5/3rd Bank Building. You may redeem your parking ticket before you leave the dinner so that your parking will be paid for. Invite spouses and guests, but be sure to keep Weldon informed so that he can provide an accurate count. He can be reached at 401-0227 or kazu12769@gmail.com.
The planned program will include awards to Dr. John Stepovich for 50 plus years of service to Serra; Msgr. Ed Hankiewicz, retiring moderator and chaplain; and Msgr. Gaspar Ancona, Chaplain Emeritus.
This evening promises to be very interesting and informative for all of us, and especially potential new members who would like to learn more about what Serra does and what we do to pray for,
nurture and support priestly and consecrated religious vocations.
The dinner will be our club's only December event.
December 9 is also the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
December 16, 2020. Last day to register for the Serra Rally for a $55 discount. Added incentive: the hotel is only a block away from the beach.
February 1 and 2, 2020. World Day of Prayer for the Consecrated Life.
January 16-19, Serra Rally, Ventura, California.
June 25-27, 2020. Serra International Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Membership.
Note from Judy Cozzens. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, Serra is offering clubs an opportunity to receive money for the clubs that recruit the most new members. This new initiative will be broken down to Large Club Category (25 members or more) and Small Club Category (25 members or fewer). There is money to be had and free registrations to the Serra International Convention in N..ew Orleans, LA in June 2020. The deadline for registering new members is November 30,2020, so it is very important that clubs identify their contact person and get it to the Chicago office. Not only are there monetary awards, but also there is an opportunity to receive a ten percent discount on dues for one year starting July 1, 2020.
Just think! For THREE new members, these benefits will become ours. Please help us in our efforts to increase membership in our club. Pljease report to John Osterhart or Weldon to report any good news of an increase in membership.
Seven Serrans Prayer for Vocation Directors.
Judy Cozzens, President of the USA Council joined the Serra International Communications Committee to inform the group about the new program to pray for Vocations Directors in every diocese in the U. S. Each club is being asked to organize seven-member teams whose members agree to commit one hour of prayer (Mass, Holy Hour, rosary, or other prayers) each week for one year in support of their Vocation Director.
Those who want to participate will sign up for one of the days of the week. In our area, we may pray for Reverend Benjamin Rexroat of the Diocese of Gaylord. If you wish to drop him a line informing him of your support, his address is 12675 Center Road, Traverse City, Michigan 49686. e-mails can get lost in the shuffle, but a paper note or card is always special. Our Vocations Director is Fr. Stephen Durkee. Whether you have signed up for the special commitment or not, you may always offer your prayers for him and his work.
Prayer Cards.
We can order Serra prayer cards that we can hand out to family, friends, and even complete strangers to join Serra in praying for vocations from the Serra Store. They come in packets of 50 for about $4 each and a discounted amount for more packets. Pray the Serran prayer every day for vocations. As you hand out the cards, invite the persons to a Serra meeting or to a Serra event.
John Liston's End-of-Year Message.
Dear Serra Club of Grand Rapids,
During this season of giving and Thanksgiving, I am writing you today to invite the Serra Club of Grand Rapids to prayerfully and financially consider supporting the Serra Foundation. In 2018, with the help of many Serrans, we were able to provide 22 grants to organizations to help foster and support vocations to the Catholic Church. We received over 60 grants last year, but we were not able to support all of them due to lack of funds.
The Serra International Foundation was created in 1951 to assist Serra in fulfilling is objective of fostering and promoting vocations in the Catholic Church. The foundation provides monetary aid to seminaries, houses of religious formation, and other institutions tha promote vocations to the ministerial priesthood and religious life.
When Pope Francis addressed Serra International in 2017, he stated, "I encourage you to be true friends to seminarians and priests, showing your love for them by promoting vocations and through prayer and pastoral cooperation. Please keep pressing forward!" We must keep pressing forward with a spiritual diligence in supporting vocations on every level, especially spiritually and financially. We can respond to this call by supporting the Serra International Foundation. I am inviting you to consider supporting the Foundation at the Banner Club level ($1000-$1999).
We are so grateful for your support and are excited to tell you a about all the wonderful ways your financial donation will bless our future and current religious.
Sincerely,
John Liston
Executive Director of Serra International
From our President.
The main message for this month is to focus our efforts on making the December 9 dinner a success. The president also wishes everyone a blessed and holy Christmas season.
What doth the Lord require of thee but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly in His ways? Micah 6:8.
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