Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter March 2020

Lent 2020 includes all of the days of March.  March is the month of devotions to St. Joseph.  See below for more information.

Calendar of Events.

March 9, 2020.  Luncheon Meeting and Prayer Service, 12:00 Noon at Cathedral Square.  Let us make a Lenten goal of attending both of the March meetings.
March 19, 2020.  The Feast Day of St. Joseph.
March 23, 2020.  Luncheon Meeting and Prayer Service, 12:00 Noon at Cathedral Square.

Looking Ahead..

May 9, 2020.  Sister's Dinner at Immaculate Heart of Mary.  All are invited to attend the 5:15 Vigil Mass, with social hour and dinner to follow.  At some point we will meet with the IHM kitchen staff to discuss menu and other plans.  We invite everyone to help with hors d'oeuvres,
cooking, serving, cleaning up and all else that is needed to make this event a success.  We will keep you informed as we work out our plans.  Those of us who remember Sisters' Dinners from the past recall how enjoyable these events have been for us and for the Sisters.  They are always so appreciative!

If you think you can help John with locating the sisters (they are scattered throughout the diocese and some live independently), let us know.  Also, he may need some help keeping track of the RSVPs.  We would like to get an accurate count, of course.

May 14, 2020.  Weldon Schwartz, John Osterhart, and Bob Barrett will meet several people from the Gaylord Diocese at a location near Traverse City.  They are working on forming a new Serra Club in Gaylord.  Pray for the success of this effort, and also pray for new members for our own club.

June 25-28, 2020.  

Serra's 78th International Convention, New Orleans, LA, at the Westin in New Orleans, overlooking the Mississippi River, on the edge of the French Quarter.  Register online at www.serrainternational.org.

Priests' Anniversaries for March.

Fr. Richard Host, March 17, 1974.

March Devotion--St. Joseph
 giarch is the month of devotion to St. Joseph, whose feast is on March 19.  The date of the solemnity of St. Joseph dates back o the end of the 15th century; within the next few centuries, the entire month as a time for devotion to St. Joseph became part of a tradition.

In a society which seems to discourage the importance of marriage and fatherhood, St. Joseph, the spouse of the Virgin and the man given the responsibility of raising Jesus, is an incredible model of an obedient, faithful Christian father.

There are indulgences attached to the devotion of St. Joseph during this month:  three hundred days daily for those who privately or publicly perform some pious practice in honor of St. Joseph, during a month, a plenary indulgence on any day of the month under the usual conditions.

At Our Lady of Sorrows, a parishioner of Sicilian ancestry celebrates the feast by baking a large variety of special breads, beautiful works of art in their own right.

Lenten Penance Opportunities.

As we begin the season of Lent, the Diocese of Grand Rapids will once again offer a special opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.

"The Light is on for You: An evening of Penance", Thursday, March 26, 5-8 p.m. in almost every parish in the diocese.  Visit grdiocese.org/penance for details.

Pray for the sick, including Fr. Dennis Morrow.  Because our mission is to pray for and support our priests, we could light a candle for Father Dennis, or we could send him a card.  The address of Ss. Peter and Paul is 520 Myrtle St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.

Prayer for Priests.

Keep them, I pray Thee, dearest Lord,
Keep them for they are Thine--
Thy priests whose lives burn out before
Thy consecrated shrine.,
Keep them for they are in the world,
Though from the world apart,
When earthly pleasure tempt, allure--
Shelter them in thy heart.
Keep them, and comfort them in hours,
Of loneliness and pain,
When all their life of sacrifice,
For souls seems but in vain.
Keep them and O remember Lord,
They have no one but Thee,
But they have only human hearts,
With human frailty.
Keep them as spotless as the Host,
That daily they caress--
Their every thought, word, and deed,
Deign, Dearest Lord, to bless.

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

Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us!

Grand Rapids Serra Club Newsletter, February 2020.

Serrans are lay Catholics-men and women from all walks of life, lawyers, doctors, accountants, business people, nurses, engineers, sales people, clerks, retirees, etc., all dedicated to promote and foster vocations.

February Devotion--The Holy Family.
February is the month devoted to the Holy Family. Though the start of the Lenten Season changes within the calendar year, a fair-sized portion of February gives us a space of time between the Christmas celebrations and the increased focus on Jesus's public life and ministry which occurs in Lent.  It is a transition from the feast of Christmas to the fasting of Lent.  Therefore February has become a time to recall the Holy Family; within the Holy Family is where Jesus spent the time between his birth and embarking on his public journey.

Calendar of Events.

February 1 and 2, 2020.  World Day of Prayer for the Consecrated Life.
February 2, 2020.  Presentation of the Lord.
February 10, 2020.  Luncheon Meeting and Prayer Service, 12:00 noon at Cathedral Square.
February 24, 2020.  Board Meeting and Lunch, 12:00 Noon at Cathedral Square.
February 26, 2020.  Ash Wednesday.

Looking Ahead.  

March 8-14, 2020.  National Catholic Sisters Week.
March 14, 2020.  Men, now is the time to do ONE thing that will make your life better.  Sign up now for the Building a Legacy/KEPHA Catholic Men's Conference at West Catholic High School.  God has worked powerfully in men's lives in the past and He's ready to do it again--you just need to show up.  Our speaker lineup is filled with men on fire for Christ who want to help you to live your best life.  Mass celebrated by our own Bishop David Walkowiak.  Don't miss this.  Tickets sell out fast.
More details and registration at buildingalegacy.org.  Questions?  Call Deacon Jim Thorndill at 616-242-0222.

Tentative Sisters' Dinner at IHM Parish.

On January 30, John Osterhart wrote,

All,

At our Monday, January 27th GR Serra Board Meeting, we had a discussion of, and a positive reaction to trying to resurrect a Serra sponsored dinner for Sisters in the GR Diocese.  As an initial step I have temporarily reserved IHM Parish facilities for two different dates--Saturday, May 9 (Mothers Day) and Saturday, May 16.  I told IHM that I would get back to them next week to select one date or the other.

The dinner presents several positives--a good recognition of the Sisters, good for PR for our Serra Club, potential for attracting members from the IHM Parish, and possibly raising some funds for a Serra, Parish, or Diocese cause (largely depending on whether we open the dinner to parishioners and/or others)

I would like to get input from some of the Sisters, our Serans, and IHM Parishioners who have expressed interest in participating in the event before making that choice.  Dan LaVille will be talking to some of the Sisters before this weekend, and I will talk to some of the Parishioners as well.

Some other significant details will have to be determined.  I would expect to have a joint meeting between IHM members and Serrans to discuss some of the details.

I hope that most of our Serrans will participate.  I would welcome any affirmation to that effect.  If you have preference for one of the dates, please let us know. We will also be open to any suggestions you may have.

Thanks to all for your help and any participation.

Blessings,
John Osterhart
616-245-1893
ejost1@att.net

John,
I would be very interested in helping.  As you know, my daughter is a Franciscan Sister.  I am certain she could attend.  I will be visiting her this Sunday and will pose the question.
George Rutherford

Note:  Dan LaVille has been talking with some of the Sisters.  As things stand now, May 9 is emerging as the winner.  John just reported to me that May 9 has a 99 percent chance of ending up as the date.  Also, Aggie just said she would be back from Mexico on May 6 and would be glad to help on May 9.  Please let John know if you could help as well.

Vocation Support for Military Chaplains.

Last weekend Our Lady of Sorrows held a special collection for the military.  To find out more about the Archdiocese of the Military, sign up for a free subscription to Salute Magazine by sending your title, name, address and phone number to support@milarch.org OR call 202-719-3600 OR write Advancement Office, Archdiocese of the Military Services, P. O. Box 4469, Washiongton, D. C., USA 20017-0469.

Pray for our Seminarians.ly, fait

Heavenly Father,

We give you thanks and praise for your son, Jesus Christ.  Send your Holy Spirit to inspire holy, faithful men to minister us as priests.  Lord, we pray for your grace to encourage and support our seminarians as they endeavor to become priests.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

What doth the Lord require of thee but to love mercy, act justly, and to walk humbly with Thy God?

Micah 6:8

Mary, Mother of Vocations, Pray for Us.