The Grand Rapids Serra Newsletter is a monthly publication showing the calendar of upcoming events and other items of interest pertaining to priestly and religious vocations.
Serra was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1934 by four Catholic friends seeking to live out Christian values in their professional lives. The founders chose, as their namesake and patron, Blessed Padre Junipero Serra, 18th Century Franciscan missionary to Mexico and California. Their organization, now called Serra International and headquartered in Chicago, has grown to more than 800 Serra Clubs in 37 countries and totaling approximately 22,000 members; Serra is aggregated by the Vatican to the Pontifical Work for Vocations of the Congregation for Catholic Education. Serra objectives are: 1: to foster, promote, and develop an appreciation for vocations to the ministerial priesthood and religious life; and 2) to form a "university of Christian Principles" which--through fellowship, interaction, and education--fosters a better understanding of the respective roles of laity, priests, and religious--nurturing and developing Catholic leaders and working disciples of Christ, fulfilling in our own lives, Christian vocations to service.
