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5/19/09
Hearing, responding to the call to vocation
How a young man and woman answered the call in
Sacrament of holy orders makes Christ present to us
A weekly lesson from the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute. From TheCatholicSpirit.com
Pope ordains priests, warns of worldly spirit in the church
From CNS.
Seminarians stop in
3/21/09
If using dolls to practice the baptismal ritual is a humbling experience for seminarians, one can imagine what it was like for someone who already had baptized hundreds of babies. From CNS
An order of Catholic nuns in Minnesota that operate free health clinics in the state's two largest cities have a bird's eye view of the growing health care crisis in America. From fleshandstone.net
1/30/09
Religious order's pastries come with a side of support
Sales help fund services for the poor
From the Chicago Tribune
Nun serves God and Army
Whether in Afghanistan or D.C., Sister Dede is busy doing God's work
From the Washington Times
Maida: Detroit's rebirth coming
Outgoing cardinal proud to be part of the change
11/28/08
Local nun ministers to community: This Thursday, more than 400 Poughkeepsie families will have the ability to share a Thanksgiving dinner with loved ones, in large part due to the tireless work and commitment of Sister M. Rosaire Miraglia. From the Poughkeepsie Journal.
Faith-Based Initiative: For Chase Hilgenbrinck, a professional soccer career was a dream. But priesthood was a calling. From the Washington Post.
Many varieties of vocation are blooming in the Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph. From the Catholic Key.
Give thanks for people like Sister Therese: Sister Therese O'Sullivan makes sure homeless women and children are warm and fed on Thanksgiving, and throughout the year. From the Chicago Sun-Times.
11/12/08
What will really happen this week at the USCCB meeting in Baltimore: Since the election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States, several Catholic commentators have speculated on how the original agenda of the annual Fall General Assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will change. From CNA
Nuns proudly recount protest against missiles: In the distance, they could see the military trucks, soldiers with guns drawn. Dressed in white contamination-like suits with “citizen weapons inspectors” written on the back, the Catholic nuns were seated atop the 110-ton concrete nuclear warhead on a Colorado Air Force base. They prayed and sang, “O God, teach us how to be peacemakers in a hostile world.” From News-record.com
Psychology and Seminarians: Interview With Psychologist Frank Moncher. From Zenit.org
10/8/08
From Hollywood to an Abbey: A life in full: Former Hollywood starlet Dolores Hart - who once appeared opposite Elvis Presley - speaks of the call that took her to the Regina Laudis Abbey and a life of prayer. From Spero News.
Astronomy, space exploration have nun flying: Many people contemplate the union of science and religion. But few have embraced both with the fervour and dedication as that of Sister Clarice Lolich, a nun in the Community of the Holy Spirit, a NASA space science education specialist, Solar System Ambassador and bona fide thrill-seeker. From Science Centric.
VocationMatch.com Attracts Record Number of Inquirers Interested in Catholic Religious Vocations: Nearly 7,000 vocation seekers complete profiles on the Vocation Match site in the past year. From Market Watch.
 Don’t wait to start planning the Oct. 26 event in your parish! |
The liturgy guide for Priesthood Sunday 2008 is here! |
8/22/08
A 'new moment' for sisters: Some believe there's a "renewal" of interest in religious life for women, particularly within the Wichita Diocese. From the Wichita Eagle.
Nun tells her Tijuana tale: Sister helps poor in Mexico; local man making documentary. From the Durango Herald.
Nuns work internationally to fight poverty: From the San Mateo County Times.
Land of Missions and Vineyards: Did you know the first grapevines for what would become California’s huge wine industry were planted by our patron, Blessed Junipero Serra? Discover the Franciscan Legacy in California. By Elizabeth Lev.
7/30/08
Nuns are few, but proud: 175-year-old religious order's numbers may be sliding, but not its faith. From the Denver Post
Three Priorities for Promoting Vocations: Interview With Dominican Sister and Bishops. From Zenit.org
Move over, Madonna: A CD of Gregorian chants by a group of Cistercian monks is a surprise crossover hit, reaching the pop charts. From the San Francisco Chronicle
Married Catholic priest and wife getting ready for move to Archdiocese of Milwaukee. From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
7/14/08
Click here for a message from our new President, Michael Strong!
CALL TO SERVICE: CRITICAL MASS: Diocese of Las Vegas struggles to build up number of priests in growing city. From the Las Vegas Review Journal
Pastor, labor advocate, seafarer, biker: Texas priest does it all. From Catholic News Service
7/1/08
Today is the Feast Day of our patron, Blessed Junípero Serra!
Catholic dioceses turn to TV in an effort to recruit new leaders as numbers decline to crisis levels. From The Detroit News.
Called to a Life of Serving God
Chino Hills woman a success story of efforts to promote vocations. From PE.com.
Listening Early for the Call of Christ
Students of Cathedral Preparatory Seminary in Elmhurst, Queens, the only institution of its kind, are not required to become priests, only to be open to that possibility. From the New York Times.
6/24/08
Wisconsin Catholics try new ways to solve priest shortage: More parishes share pastors, give duties to lay employees. From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Documentary puts Sylvania nuns in new role: 16 Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania are taking part in a documentary about the harrowing experiences of Catholic nuns in five Eastern European countries that were under Soviet domination. From the Toledo Blade.
$310,000 paid for Mission San Juan Capistrano founding document: Anonymous bidder from Southern California wins letter signed by Father Junipero Serra. From the OC Register.
5/23/08
73rd annual Seminary Tea: Portland fundraiser assists seminarians with tuition and education expenses. From the Catholic Sentinel.
St. Louis Archdiocese to ordain largest group of priests in 25 years on Saturday. From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
“We’re not on the shelf.” Retired San Antonio priest Msgr. Larry Stuebben stays busy as ever. From Today’s Catholic via Catholic Online.
Diocese of Buffalo ordains three much-needed priests. From the Buffalo News.
5/7/08
The end of an era: Sister Marlene Bemis, the last of Wheaton Franciscan sisters who have lived and worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital since it was founded in 1899, will leave for her order’s suburban Chicago headquarters. Bemis has lived at St. Elizabeth since 1965. From the Appleton Post-Crescent.
Many men in their thirties and many foreign-born are among the U.S. priests slated for ordination in 2008. This continues the trend of recent years. From CARA via the South Mississippi Sun Herald.
Priests-in-training are getting older: The Catholic Church priesthood shortage is being alleviated by men embarking on second careers, who bring special wisdom -- and challenges. From the LA Times.
Teen’s aspiration is priesthood: He is at a loss for words when explaining that feeling, but he says it involved watching his priest perform the ceremony for his first communion and just admiring the way the priest went through the sacred rites. From citizensvoice.com
4/18/08
Pope Benedict is praising America as a land of opportunity, where hope is "part of the American character." The German-born pontiff has been celebrating his first public Mass in the U.S. While here in the U.S., one of the pressing problems the Pope is confronting is the decline in vocations to the priesthood. From CBS4.com
4/15/08
Pope says U.S. visit will be 'special missionary experience' from Catholic News Service
Yonkers, New York: Facing Decline, an Effort to Market the Priesthood from the New York Times
Atlanta Vocations Director Sees Priesthood As ‘Great Adventure’ from the Georgia Bulletin
A Very Happy SuperWeekend: Serrans from around the United States gathered together from Jan. 11-13, 2008, for the USA Council of Serra International's biannual SuperWeekend meeting in Chicago. Click here for a report on the weekend,3/24/08
Priests and nuns to show their stuff at talent show in Chicago: 'A lot of people think we just say Mass and pray all day.' From the Chicago Sun-Times.
Today's nuns answer calls to serve differently: Modern sisters reach out to the world around them in ways unlike their stereotype. From the Denver Post.
Divine Mercy: Through their names, women religious live the spirit of St. Faustina, devotion. From the St. Louis Review Online.
The Sisters Who Came to Stay: In a copper-mining town, Irish nuns teach kids who are Hispanic, Apache and white. Welcome to Arizona. From the Tucson Weekly.
Click here to read USAC President Ernie Doclar’s column for the upcoming “serraUSA” magazine before you get it in print! President Doclar talks about the upcoming Serran gathering in South Bend this summer, and shares great news about the agreement made by the Serra International and USA Council leaders in Omaha in December.
2/13/08
Read our first-ever all-online issue of the Serra Leader newsletter!
2/7/08
Military copes with shortage of chaplains: Increasingly strained soldiers in the ongoing war in Iraq need chaplains now more than ever. Their dwindling numbers reflects a nationwide shortage of priests. From USA Today.
Nuns 'are a magnet' for Cottleville school: Habited Dominican sisters are a rousing success at St. Joseph School in Cottleville, MO, enhancing the schools highly visible Catholicity. From the St. Louis Review.
1/22/08
Vocations are the spice of life! USA Council Episcopal Advisor Bishop Blase Cupich shows off a special gift of salt and pepper shakers given to him by Mary Lynn Schwietz and her husband, Serran Greg Schwietz, of Omaha, Neb., shown on the left. University of Dallas Serrans Elena Blake and USA Council President Ernie Doclar are pictured at right. Photo by Elena Blake.
A Very Happy SuperWeekend: Serrans from around the United States gathered together from Jan. 11-13, 2008, for the USA Council of Serra International's biannual SuperWeekend meeting in Chicago. Click here for a report on the weekend, plus more photos, from our President Ernie Doclar.
1/10/08
Are you ready for the first ever all-online edition of the serraUSA magazine? Click here to find out how the Omaha Serrans above are helping priests in Uganda, plus much, much more!
1/3/08
Calendar aims to recruit priests
Twelve Catholic priests have swapped their pulpits for favourite pastimes in a calendar designed to try to recruit young men to the priesthood. From BBC News.
Nun nurtures love of sports
Sister Janice Iverson, OSB, of Watertown, S.D., has been blessed with the abilities and opportunities necessary to build a life of serving others while doing things she truly enjoys: sports! From the Bismarck Tribune.
Pope, Bush, mark Houston nun’s 100th birthday
Incarnate Word Convent marks a special day for a nun who has lived a life of humility, love and service. From the Houston Chronicle.
A Priest's Lonely Ministry
As the Hartford Archdiocese faces falling numbers of clergy, many priests must contend with isolation. From the Hartford Courant.
12/19/07
MERRY CHRISTMAS: Click here for a holiday message from USA Council President Ernie Doclar and the USA Council staff.
Anne Marie Lange was a nun in the Order of the Sisters of St. Elizabeth, whose mission was to help the poor and needy. Her legacy lives on in a Saskatoon group of women that calls itself Havin' Fun and Doin' Good. From the Star Phoenix.
Unusual sidekick helps priest teach children about Christmas: Ventriloquist Father Jim White puts a humorous spin on the holiday. From North Jersey.com.
Texas priest seen as 'godfather' of nascent liturgical music movement: If Ray Repp, of "Allelu!" and "Peace, My Friends" fame, can be considered the founding father of contemporary Catholic music, then Msgr. Joseph W. James can lay claim to the title of the music's "godfather." From CNS.
Sister Janet, a Franciscan Missionary of the Divine Motherhood and Vatican Radio host, created a slideshow called Flower on the Wayside designed to help those discerning a vocation. Click the link to view. (Best viewed in Internet Explorer.)
12/12/07
Priest in the kitchen, whipping up togetherness
Father Leo Patalinghug stresses the importance of families reconnecting as they sit down to dine. From the Baltimore Sun. (Click here for Fr. Leo’s website; visit his blog for recipes!)
Nun fights cussing with cussing
Parents shocked, others applaud principal firing off list of banned words in church. From the Detroit Free Press.
Priests are happy without wives
A look at Roman Catholic priests’ celibacy requirement in a recent column from Fr. Andrew Greeley. From the Chicago Sun-Times.
12/11/07
The Power of Prayer: We have the first results from the leadership meeting to discuss Serra’s structure last week in Omaha! Click here to read a letter from USA Council President Ernie Doclar and view documents from the meeting.
Sister Briege McKenna, herself a recipient of miraculous healing, urges others to put the Eucharist at the center of spiritual life to receive health and strength from Christ. From the St. Louis Review.
Despite her father’s disapproval, Dominican novice Sister Carmela Marie Millan responds to God’s call to serve Christ in the sick. From the Georgia Bulletin.
11/28/07
St. Patrick School's principal carries on tradition
Sister Marilou Irons, principal of St. Patrick School in Cedar Falls, Iowa, may be the only resident of the parish’s convent, but she continues the tradition of nuns teaching in Catholic schools.
Serra International Foundation chairperson Janet Dell-Freeman had the honor of meeting Pope Benedict XVI on her trip to the Vatican City in October.
11/13/07
Story tells of journey from 'Suds' to sister
Sr. Karol Jackowski became a nun after her novena to the Infant of Prague secured her the lead role in her high school play. Her humorous memoir, “Forever, and Ever, Amen” tells the story of her vocation and the religious life, before and after Vatican II. From the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.
Nun's health-care mission receives praise
Sister Shaun Malone is awarded for helping to enroll children in health insurance. From the Daily Press, Newport News, Va.
Coffee house series reaches youth seeking God's plan
Theology on Tap-inspired café in a Canadian parish hall is part of the Archdiocese of Edmonton's Committee for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life’s effort to create a culture for vocations. From the Western Catholic Reporter.
11/7/07
Click here to see a new message from President Ernest P. Doclar!
THE GREEN NUN: Did you know that hundreds of Roman Catholic sisters are part of a movement with the welfare of our planet at the heart of their ministry? From the Toronto Star.
Vocation directors discuss monastic roots during meeting: 52 Benedictines meet in Fort Smith to discuss their ministry. From the Arkansas Catholic.
The Most Rev Maurice Noel Leon Couve de Murville, Archbishop Emeritus of Birmingham, died peacefully last Saturday, Nov. 3, at the age of 78. Archbishop Couve de Murville wrote a biography on Blessed Serra entitled “The Man Who Founded California.” From Independent Catholic News.
A 47-year-old family physician from Altoona has cured herself of a chronic longing by joining the Little Sisters of the Poor. Judy Jacobus closed her practice Oct. 1 and joined the order Oct. 26 in Washington, D.C., as a “postulant,” eligible to become a full-fledged nun by 2015. From the Altoona Mirror.
11/2/07
Young Dominicans up to Alaska challenge: The Dominican friars at Holy Family Cathedral are a young bunch — younger than most. From the Catholic Anchor.
Karol Wojtyla, playwright: New York theater owner who is staging plays written by the late Pope John Paul II, who started out as a stage actor. From Religion News Service via DallasNews Religion.
Do you know the hymn “I Am the Bread of Life”? Songwriter Sr. Suzanne Toolan recalls how the song almost never reached the faithful’s ears. From National Catholic Reporter.
Vocations DVD wins Hollywood award: Fishers of Men, a DVD created to inspire vocations to the priesthood, has been awarded the Gabriel Award for its quality depiction of the priestly life. From Catholic News Agency.
10/17/07
Priest brings enthusiasm for Word to parishioners: Dressed in an old-fashioned cassock, Father Scott Courtney preaches happiness through holiness to his parishioners in Bellwood, NE. From the Columbus Telegram.
Song from '50s still paying off for Dominican priest who co-wrote it: Hammond, La.’s Father Cayet Mangiaracina was deciding between a religious and a musical vocation when he co-wrote a song made famous by Ricky Nelson.
Keeping the faith: A comprehensive look at the phenomenon of the increasing number of foreign-born priests in the United States. From The Oakland Press, Detroit.
“A person can come here and be treated with dignity.” Boulder, CO, Sister Donna Ryan visits the permanent homeless shelter she founded 25 years ago. From the Daily Camera.
Monasteries enter the internet age: A monk's life is still a simple one of prayer and austerity, yet many monasteries have moved online for business, communication and even headhunting purposes. From ABC Australia.
Google your vocation: Internet technology helps religious communities connect with potential candidates. From the Ventura County Star.
9/20/07
“The Year Ahead”: Click here to read Serra International President Lloyd Crockett’s address delivered at the convention in Atlanta last month.
9/10/07
Serran tackles task of fostering, promoting vocations: An interview with our very own Past President Gary Davis in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul/Minneapolis’ Catholic Spirit!
International exchange program brings priests from other countries to western Kentucky. From the Kentucky New Era.
Florida parishes enjoy an unexpected increase in retirement-age priests, thanks to good weather and mild winters. From the Florida Times-Union.
8/31/07
Serra Reaches Out To College Students: An article by Barb Ernster about the College Connection Program featured on EWTN and promoted by the USA Council's Vocations Committee. From the National Catholic Register.
8/27/07
GOD'S CALLING: To most teenagers, the idea of joining a convent borders on the unthinkable. Today, two graduates of Central Catholic High School in Allentown, PA, leave their peers and home behind for a life of prayer and service of the sick and poor. From the Morning Call.
Dean's job is pursuing world peace: Father William Headley, leader of a San Diego Catholic university, will use $50 million from the late McDonald’s heiress Joan Kroc to train diplomats, relief workers and experts in conflict resolution. From the Los Angeles Times.
Families Asked To Create ‘Culture Of Vocations’: A report on the Serra International convention in Atlanta by Andrew Nelson of the Georgia Bulletin. Stay tuned to this page for photos from the convention!
8/17/07
"Prospects for reconciliation take a different path at Serra International Board meeting in Atlanta." Click here for a report from USA Council President Ernest Doclar.
Priests and brothers: The Revs. Patrick, John and Eugene showed that vocations can strike thrice in one family as they concelebrated Mass in Collier, PA. From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Challenging a history of injustice: Sister Dorothy Stang was an advocate for the landless peasants of the rain forest in Brazil. When she was murdered two years ago, the poor lost a powerful ally. The courts have the murderers, but will the man who hired the killers be convicted? From the Dayton Daily News.
New archbishop plans to attract more answers to the call to priesthood: Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz comes to Louisville, KY, with an impressive track record of recruiting priests when he headed the Diocese of Knoxville. Louisville has not ordained priests in two years, but six men will enter seminary next fall. From WKRN.com.
8/3/07
What happened at the July 31 meeting in Philadelphia between Serra International board members and Serra council representatives? Much of the discussion centered around Serra International's plan to disassemble the USA Council as we know it. Click here for a report from USA Council President Ernest Doclar.
7/24/07
Finding home in the journey abroad: Majestic cathedrals of Europe inspire North Carolina-native Michael Burbeck to acknowledge his vocation and enter the seminary. From the News & Observer.
Shawn Carey, seminarian at St. Patrick’s in Menlo Park, Calif., will become one of eight deaf priests in the United States in 2009, enabling him to meet the needs of both deaf and hearing Catholics. From the Boston Globe.
The Salt Lake Tribune offers us a rare visit and insight into the lives of monks in a Carmelite monastery in Clark, Wyo.
Shall we go forward, or turn back?
If you visit this page regularly, you are probably aware of the meeting that will take place on July 31, 2007 between the Serra International Board and representatives from Serra’s national councils across the world. According to Serra International President Robert Wright, the purpose of this meeting will be to ‘discuss’ the Serra International Board’s restructuring of this organization (particularly with regard to the United States Council).
Your USA Council will send four representatives to this meeting, as follows: Past President Gary Davis of St. Paul, MN; President Ernie Doclar of Grapevine, TX; President-elect Mike Strong of Tacoma, WA; and Executive Director Ed Verbeke from Chicago.
We request your prayers that a spirit of openness and true dialogue will prevail at this meeting. Stay tuned to this SerraUSA online news center for all the latest news regarding these issues.
7/17/07
A life-long draw: For Brian Clarke of Ashley, PA, the call to priesthood came at a very early age. From the Citizens Voice.
Katie Ringler of Tempe, AZ, is about to spend the next year traveling parts of the world, retracing the steps of Mother Teresa, the iconic Catholic nun who died 10 years ago this summer. From the East Valley Tribune.
Second career women: The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is experiencing an upward trend of women joining religious orders at middle age. From The Tidings Online.
Giving it all up to follow Christ: Idaho native Chris Canlas has given up a house, car and six-figure salary to study for the priesthood in Portland, OR. From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
7/6/07
Denver Post columnist David Harsanyi delivers a humorous but hopeful essay on the latest investigation of a miracle attributed to Blessed Junipero Serra.“Dead Theologians Society”: Wisconsin-based Catholic program devoted to teaching teens and young adults about the lives of saints makes its debut in Canada. From the Catholic Register.
Greensburg, Pa., native and Sister of Charity Gemma de Duca, is the first non-Jew and non-Israeli to receive Yad Vashem's Award for Excellence in Holocaust Education. From CNS.
Port Huron, Mich., Adrian Dominican Sister Leonita Noetzel, celebrated her 105th birthday in June! In the 1940s, she developed a program to help many children in the Detroit area and all over the country learn to read and surpass academic expectations. From the Times Herald.
6/29/07
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Blessed Junipero Serra’s feast day is this Sunday, July 1! Click here for a thoughtful look at our patron – why he is revered, admired, and also why his career is the subject of much controversy today. Recently, we reported on the ongoing Vatican investigation of a miracle attributed to Serra. This could be the one that advances him one more step toward canonization! Please continue to pray for Blessed Junipero Serra on his path to sainthood. |
Did you catch the June 14 “Life on the Rock” show that featured Serra and its College Connection program on EWTN? USA Council President Gary Davis shares his thoughts on his once-in-a-lifetime television debut here, including details on a special offer to get a DVD of the show free!
Staying on top of current events: Click here to read a letter from USAC President Gary Davis, President-elect Ernest Doclar, and President-elect-elect Michael Strong regarding the Serra International convention in Atlanta this August, an update on Serra International’s plan to restructure the organization, and Priesthood Sunday (Oct. 28). Please share this information with your club!
6/22/07
Nun prepares for first taste of convent life six decades after taking vows
Kazakh Sister Vladislava Veslavska will finally experience true convent life after 60 years of living a covert religious life under the Communist government. From Catholic Online.
Father Hemann: The Singing Priest
Siouxland parish priest's fifth CD released this week. From Sioux City Journal.
Faithful lift up priests, pray for future leadership
The Diocese of Joliet’s 17th Annual All-Night Vigil in Thanksgiving for Priests coincides with Father’s Day. From the Catholic Explorer.
Local panel submits findings for Blessed Junipero Serra cause to Vatican
Grandparents of a Denver girl anticipated to be born with severe defects prayed to Blessed Serra for his intercession; the baby was born healthy and is now a teenager. From the Denver Catholic Register.
CONVENT LIFE AT TWILIGHT
The younger sisters of Mission San Jose seek ways to modernize their message for a changed world. From the San Francisco Chronicle. (You may have to hit ‘refresh’ to reload the page if it isn’t visible on the first try.)
6/8/07
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Tune in to EWTN at 8 p.m. EST on Thursday, June 14, 2007, to see Fr. Francis Mary, host of the popular live call-in show "Life on the Rock," discussing Serra's new program, "COLLEGE CONNECTION." |
Featured guests:
As soon as it is available, copies of the program may be purchased here.
Chicago to shutter one of nation’s last seminaries: Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary alma mater to New York Cardinal Edward Egan and Atlanta Archbishop Wilton Gregory, will close its doors for good next week.
Ohio group walks 10 miles to raise awareness for vocations. From the Catholic Telegraph.
A twin set: Mario Jubinville will be ordained a priest of the St. Paul Diocese in Alberta on June 22. His brother, Martin, a pastor at Vilna, became a priest five years ago. From the Western Catholic Reporter.
5/30/07
The Marist Brothers, a 190-year-old international teaching order, has taken advantage of Internet technology and cultural phenomena Youtube, iTunes and Myspace in their new vocations campaign. Check them out at http://www.maritbr.com. From the Hudson Reporter.
The Joliet, IL, diocesan Catholic Construction Corps is proud to send 17 missioners to the Navajo Nation in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico this June. The group will re-roof houses, build additions on buildings and repair plumbing, among other tasks. From the Catholic Explorer.
Colorado Springs’ “Adopt-a-Sister” program is a win-win situation: donors get prayers from pros, and the order raises funds for its nonsectarian counseling ministry that primarily serves the poor. Find out more at www.stfrancis.org. From the Akron Beacon Journal.
“People are calling them the new Irish”
As Ireland became more prosperous and secular, its religious vocations also dwindled. Its place has been taken by Latin America, Nigeria, South and Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. From California Catholic Daily.
A new priest joins ranks amid an old problem: The Detroit ordination of a single priest, Anthony Camilleri, is joyful, but points to the decline in Catholic clergy over the past 25 years. From the Detroit Free Press.
The Diocese of Wichita ordains four priests. From the Wichita Eagle.
5/24/07
YouTube Catholics: Did you know that our own Serra International Episcopal Adviser, Cardinal Justin Rigali, has led the charge on using this online video technology to reach larger numbers of the faithful? From the National Catholic Register.
Sr. Dorothy Pawlus, appointed by the Diocese of Pittsburgh as its first “parish life collaborator,” says that her new position should be a wake-up call to the community to more actively encourage men to answer the call to priesthood. From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
For Sister Carol Keehan, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association, the role of Catholics in the health-care industry is an absolute necessity – both for health care and for the Church itself. From the St. Anthony Messenger.
5/9/07
Click here to read a new message from USA Council President Gary Davis about a special “chaplains track” planned for the Serra International convention this August in Atlanta, GA!
The get-it-done nun: Meet San Rafael, CA’s Sister Marion Irvine, Dominican promoter of social justice, teacher, and athlete. From the Marin Independent Journal.
Taking the high road: Former trucker Mary Annette Gailey answered the call to join the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in Philadelphia. From The Record Herald.
Cardinal Roger Mahony ordained Rev. Bill Lowe, the first married priest in the nation’s largest Catholic archdiocese, at Padre Serra Parish in Camarillo, CA, on May 6, 2007. Lowe is one of the married clergy who have left the Episcopal Church allowed to be ordained in the Roman Catholic faith. From the Ventura County Star.
Parish priest leaves home for military chaplaincy: Father David McGuire, of Holy Trinity Parish in Ocean View, PA, leaves on May 10, 2006 to become an Air Force chaplain at age 47. From the Virginian Pilot.
Ursuline president helps girls grow into leaders: Sister Margaret Ann Moser, president of Ursuline Academy of Dallas, will be honored for her accomplishments with an Ebby Award on May 19 at a gala benefiting the Dallas nonprofit organization Our Friends' Place. From The Dallas Morning News.
5/2/07
A day in the life of St. Louis Archbishop Raymond L. Burke: Can you keep up?
The King's Highway: El Camino Real on the History Channel. This “History Channel Classroom” episode focuses on our patron, Blessed Junipero Serra, his work, and how he has affected modern culture. Scheduled to air on Thursday, May 3, at 6 a.m.; check your local listings.
Got a Catholic question? Boy, 7, has the answers. From USA Today.
Nomads no more: Dominican nuns in the United States have not had a permanent residence for over a century. Read about the home they have found in Linden, VA. From the Fauquier Times-Democrat.
4/19/07
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Marriage Encounter joins with the USA Council in Priesthood Sunday Since 2000, Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been celebrating World Priest Day at a time of year different from our own Serra-coordinated Priesthood Sunday, which is scheduled every year for the last Sunday in October. We are proud to announce that this year, Marriage Encounter has decided to join us in our observation and celebration of Priesthood Sunday on Oct. 28, 2007. We would like to thank Marriage Encounter for joining us! |
Meaning of ‘support:’ Catholic dioceses give their priests and prayers to the military in Iraq, regardless of how the war is waged. From Our Sunday Visitor.
4/18/07
Helping with the healing: Sister Candida Oroc serves Hawaii Medical Center East in Liliha on Oahu as hospital chaplain.
Inside the USA Council of Serra: Click here for important notices regarding your club’s elections and the World Day of Prayer for Vocations!
4/17/07
Pope Benedict XVI turned 80 on April 15. From CNN.
“Nuns are back in style:” Sisterhood enjoys an increase of younger members. From Clerical Whispers.
4/12/07
'Commando crawl' and all, priests train to be military chaplains. Did you know that the shortage of priests in our U.S. civilian lives is reflected in the military? Catholic priests are a minority in ranks of Army chaplains, even though a quarter of all soldiers are Catholic. Read about their training by clicking the link above. From Catholic News Service.
Boca Raton: Our Lady of Lourdes parish’s Father Carl Hellwig reflects on how his calling to become a priest became clearly compelling – despite the sexual abuse scandals that drove other seminarians away. From the Sun-Sentinel.
3/27/07
THE LOST PARISH: An unlikely band of believers launches a crusade that will change their lives. The first of a three-part series from the San Francisco Chronicle.From faithful, push for sainthood: John Paul II is on the fast track to become a saint, but Vatican isn't rushing to judgment. From the Chicago Tribune.
3/23/07
Confession’s comeback: Bishops want to end the sacrament ‘crisis.’ From the National Catholic Register.
Have you ever wondered how those banners and altar cloths at church come to be? Click here to read about Sister Josephine Niemann, head designer for Liturgical Fabric Arts at the School Sisters of Notre Dame in the St. Louis area. Sr. Niemann was honored for her work on March 3. From the Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis.
3/14/07
Sioux Falls Diocese’s four Serra clubs (Aberdeen, Sioux Falls, Vermillion-Yankton and Watertown) grab a front page spot in the February 2007 issue of The Bishop’s Bulletin!
A down-to-earth leader with a higher calling: Colleagues praise new Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell's skills as a priest and an executive. From the Dallas Morning News.
3/9/07
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“The vocation to the service of the Church as communion”: Click here for the Holy Father’s message for the 44th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, April 29, 2007. Consider planning a club program or discussion around Benedict XVI’s theme and message. |
As we ponder the importance of forgiveness in our lives especially during this Lenten season, let us witness the heartbreaking yet uplifting story of Buffalo, NY’s Sister Karen Klimczak. The vibrant and brave nun who worked to promote peace and criminal rehabilitation was murdered on Good Friday of last year, and her killer was sentenced on March 7, 2007. Sister Karen had a premonition in 1991 that her life would end violently; a loving letter of forgiveness to her future murderer was read at the sentencing.
3/7/07
Have you seen the Sisters of Selma: Bearing Witness for Change documentary on your local PBS channel yet? Click here to read the inspiring story about 83-year-old Sister Antona Ebo, F.S.M., who was one of six St. Louis sisters (and the only black woman in her delegation) who joined the civil rights protest in Selma in 1965. From the Saint Anthony Messenger.
At the USA Council Leadership Training Conference last month, United States district governors and regional directors circulated and signed a petition stating their opposition to Serra International’s plan to restructure the USA Council. For more on this story, call the USA Council at 888.777.6681.
Increasing numbers of nuns and women discerning a vocation to the religious life are sharing their experience via online diaries, or blogs (short for web log). Here’s an article about Sr. Julie Vieira, author of the blog A Nun’s Life. From the Chicago Tribune (registration required to view the story).
FAITH IN NUMBERS: Indiana’s New Albany Deanery joins other dioceses around the nation who are facing a shortage of priests. From NewsAndTribune.com.
Canfield, OH, priest (who’s also the Society of St. Paul’s webmaster) is a hit with online videos. From vindy.com (short survey required to view the story).
Bill Lowe, a married man and former Episcopal priest, is accompanied by fellow Junipero Serra Church parishioners on his journey to the Catholic priesthood. From The Tidings.
3/2/07
“It is pretty simple, actually: happy priests attract other priests.” Check out Creating a Hunger for Priests: My Conversation with Cincinnati’s Vocations Director, Rich Leonardi’s interview with Fr. Kyle Schnippel. From the Catholic Exchange.
“Shortage” of nuns in the Valley brings in reinforcements from Mexico, lay people: Unlike other parts of the country which are experiencing a resurgence of women entering the religious life, the Rio Grande Valley is suffering a decline in the number of religious women who serve the Church. From the Monitor.
World Day of Prayer for Vocations Kits are here!
2/21/07
Read about Fr. Augustine Tolton, who was born a slave in Missouri and became our nation’s first African-American Catholic priest.
Minneapolis-St. Paul CBS station WCCO Channel 4 brings us a story and video on the trend of younger women choosing to become nuns.
How Michael Leclerc, former blackjack dealer, bar bouncer and mutual-fund broker found the road to the priesthood. From the Montreal Gazette.
2/16/07
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It’s that time of year again! Club newsletter editors, we want to see your best. Submit your newsletter for the USA Council Outstanding Newsletter Competition! Click here for details. |
Does the USA Council owe Serra International money?
It appears that some Serrans are still misinformed about this story! Last year, Serra International’s then-president Dennis Leiber appeared in an online video stating that the USA Council was “withholding” funds owed to the International office at a figure “close to $100,000.” At the time, the USA Council Board and staff defended themselves against such a damaging and divisive statement, stating the obvious: the USA Council cannot remit dues which have not yet been sent in from clubs. For more on this story, call the USA Council at 888.777.6681.
2/15/07
Would you like to contribute a monetary gift to the USA Council of Serra so that we may continue to perform our work for vocations in the United States? Please click here to find out how your donation can help ensure the future of our mission.
2/12/07
Whatever happened to the Serra organizational structuring controversy? After the heated discussions at the Delegates Meeting at the Serra International Convention in Spokane last July, things have been pretty quiet. Unless you are new to Serra or haven’t been keeping up on our organization’s current events, you probably know that last year the Serra International Board voted to restructure the worldwide organization. For more on this story, call the USA Council at 888.777.6681.
"SISTERS OF SELMA: BEARING WITNESS FOR CHANGE
February 2007 (check local listings)
This program is an unabashedly spiritual take on the Selma, Alabama, voting rights marches of 1965 from some of its unsung foot soldiers – Catholic nuns. Following the violence of “Bloody Sunday,” sisters from around the country answered Dr. Martin Luther King’s call to join the protests in Selma. Never before in American history had avowed Catholic women made so public a political statement. Risking personal safety to bring change, the sisters found themselves being changed in turn – and they tell viewers how. Selma blacks testify about the importance of Catholic clergy in their lives, and explain why it took until the year 2000 for them to become fully enfranchised. Newfound dramatic archival footage carries much of the story. In 2003, director Jayasri Hart reunited the nuns to let them view themselves and the protests on tape for the first time. Their recorded reactions help narrate the film. Other Selmians, Catholic and Protestant, white and black, give their views on the nuns’ contributions to history."
Visit the Sisters of Selma Homepage
Check your local PBS schedule to find out when "Sisters of Selma" will air in your town
Whom did you root for on Superbowl Sunday? Of interest to both Bears and Colts fans, here is a fun interview with Fr. Nick Marro, who has served as “unofficial” chaplain to the Chicago Bears for over 20 years. From the National Catholic Register.
2/7/07
Reaching out to Catholic youth seen as key to increasing vocations
National Religious Vocation Conference Executive Director, Brother Paul Bednarczyk outlines several ways religious communities can attract younger vocations. From Catholic Online.
Bill Murray's sister as a saint?
Saturday Night Live comic and movie star Bill Murray’s sister is really a sister! Sister Nancy Murray, an Adrian Dominican nun, takes on the theatrical role of Saint Catherine of Siena, drawing connections between the medieval controversies St. Catherine faced and those we face today. From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Remembering Drinan
Rev. Robert F. Drinan, the liberal Jesuit priest who ran for Congress in 1970 and was re-elected five times, has died at age 86. From the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.
Father John Vollor rides into town on his Harley-Davidson
St. Elizabeth and Immaculate Conception parishes in Clarksdale, MS, welcome Fr. John Vollor, their new pastor and resident HOG enthusiast. From the Clarksdale Press Register.
2/2/07
“In my mind, to know those homes are sitting there in decent shape when so many need housing is a sin.” Sister Helen Prejean, the nun who was portrayed in the movie Dead Man Walking, is speaking out against a federal plan to raze much of New Orleans’ public housing. From BusinessWeek.com.
“Signing away” her life with great joy: How writing a philosophy paper meant to support euthanasia, September 11, and cleaning out her apartment led Nashville native and computer programmer Joy Payton to convert to Catholicism, and eventually, take her first vows as a Handmaid of the Sacred Heart. From the Georgia Bulletin.
Franciscan Sister Joan Preising of Joliet, IL, took the occasion of her 105 th birthday to talk about her childhood, vocation, and her 70-year career as a teacher in Catholic schools. From the Catholic Explorer.
Here’s a fascinating glimpse into how German monasteries are staying alive and serving the community despite graying and falling numbers. From Spiegel magazine.
1/29/07
‘Sisters of Selma: Bearing Witness for Change’: Follow the story of women religious who served the black community of Selma, Ala., during the civil rights movement. Check your local PBS channel listings for dates of this documentary partially funded by the U.S. Bishops’ Catholic Communication Campaign. The documentary will air in February 2007 as part of special programming for Black History Month. From Catholic Online.
Catholic ethics and global warming
Sister Cecile Leclerc’s life was changed when she was chosen as one of 15 Catholic religious delegates to the U.N. Climate Change Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, last November. In this article from the Nashua Telegraph, Sister Leclerc discusses how our environmental choices affect Third World countries.
Six habits of highly effective dioceses
Why do some dioceses attract more vocations than others? Every Serran should read this article and brainstorm ways to encourage these activities and techniques as part of their club’s mission! From the National Catholic Register via Catholic Online.
1/26/07
Abbé Pierre, the French Catholic priest who gave up his wealth to champion the homeless for more than 50 years, has died aged 94. From MSNBC. Find out more about Pierre’s worldwide hostel movement, Emmaus International. Click here to read about H.O.M.E., an Emmaus cooperative in Maine.
A New Tradition: A new, younger generation of women is answering the call to the religious life. From the Sacramento Bee. Plus, did you know tennis star Andrea Jaeger became an Anglican Dominican nun last year? She talks about her vocation in the Bee article, but click here to read an article from People magazine.
Trying to figure out God’s will for you? Why not spend a day with a priest, brother or sister? Perhaps you will find your path in life at the 7/11 Ministry Day on Jan. 27, 2007, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. For more information, e-mail Sr. Kathy Bryant, RSC, vocations director.
1/23/07
My Vocation & My Life: Check out this blog by a 22-year-old seminarian in the UK.
Serra Club supported Runnin’ Revs games seeks out vocations, competition
The parochial vicar at the Church of Notre Dame in Hermitage, PA, has found the basketball court to be an outlet in finding vocations to the Catholic priesthood. From the Herald, Sharon, PA.
Nun Helps Lift One of America's Poorest Counties
As part of the ministry of the Edmundite Missions in Selma, Sister Ann Chaput, BVM, brings food, elder care, education and home repair to Lowndes County, Alabama. From AP via Fox Washington D.C.
Prison chaplain-nun devotes life to work that 'can't be measured'
Read about Mercy Sister Natalie Rossi’s ministry as full-time chaplain at the State Correctional Institution for Women in Cambridge Springs, Pa., a minimum-security facility primarily for women nearing their prison release. From CNS via Catholic Online.
1/22/07
Nun’s Super picks are in
Find out who Sister Jean Kenny picked to win for Sunday’s NFC Championship game! She hasn’t decided on her Super Bowl pick yet, but she has correctly predicted 17 of the last 21 Super Bowls. From USA Today.
Ranks of priesthood dwindling in Pittsburgh Diocese
Priests discuss jam-packed schedules and factors affecting the vocation shortage. From Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
Vietnamese Immigrants Are Filling Up America's Catholic Priesthood
“If you visit the Divine Word College, a tiny Catholic missionary school outside of Dubuque, Iowa, you will hear the hallway conversations most likely not carried out in English. Usually, they are in Vietnamese. So is the music played late at night in the school’s cafeteria, when students are hungry for a bite . . .” From Asianweek.com.
Northern priest trades in Anglican faith for Catholic calling
After 29 years as an Anglican priest, Don Flumerfelt will lead a Catholic church in the Sahtu region of the Northwest Territories. From CBC News, Canada.
1/18/07
What drew one man to the priesthood
How Jonathan Dalin of South Philadelphia overcame societal pressures to “marry and get a job” and follow the path to priesthood instead. From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Dioceses call out for more priests
Ambitious drives have been launched to fill thinning ranks while the U.S. Catholic population grows. From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
1/17/07
Serrans in the Archdiocese of Kansas City, KS, and in the dioceses of Phoenix and Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO will be advisors for the Venturing youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young people ages 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20. Venturing's purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature into responsible and caring adults.The units chartered by Serra clubs will include vocation discernment activities and Catholic faith development.
A message of hope for vocations! The priest shortage isn’t over, but seminaries are filling up. From the National Catholic Register.
New friar expects his medical experience to help in ministry: After getting so caught up in his career as a registered nurse that he drifted away from regular attendance at Mass, Zoilo Garibay answered a vocation that led him to take his first vows as a Capuchin Friar last month. From the Michigan Catholic.
City Priest, Country Priest: The Archdiocese of Omaha’s Catholic voice interviews two priests – one with urban ministry, the other rural – to provide a glimpse into their very different pastoral lives.
Spiritual riches far outweigh material rewards. Four seminarians from St. Louis Archdiocese Kenrick-Glennon Seminary left lucrative careers to pursue a priestly vocation. From the St. Louis Review.
Utterly Humbled by Mystery: Read a modern essay by Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, aired in the This I Believe segment of NPR’s Morning Edition on Dec. 18, 2006. Fr. Rohr is founded of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, NM, in 1987.
Welcome to this new section of the USA Council website! Click here to read a message from our president, Gary Davis.
1/15/07
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Bishop Alexander Sample of the Diocese of Marquette, MI, celebrates Mass at the Church of Loretto on Oct. 28 during the Serra Region 6/7 conference held at Saint Mary’s College and the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. |
O Father, Where Art Thou? As the number of parishes without resident priests increases every year, Catholics are coping with surprising stand-ins and creative solutions. From US Catholic magazine.
Vocations Are Up at English-Speaking Seminaries
A number of reasons are given for the upturn, but the most significant are believed to be stronger bishops and the papal transition last year. From the National Catholic Register.
12/19/07
Chicago priest calls for more priests with “wisdom and intelligence” via CNS
From the USCCB: U.S. Bishops vote unanimously to release money for research on sexual abuse by clergy
Click here for the USCCB page on the vocations monstrance.
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Here I am, Lord; send me!The 2006 Serra International Convention was held in Spokane, Wash., from June 29-July 2. Among the business covered at the delegates meeting was a Serra International dues increase and a postponement on the action to reorganize councils. Click the links below for our convention coverage.
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