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Featured Vocation Activities

Last Updated: January 05, 2009

The Best Vocation Programs...

What Serra does for you and vocations and what YOU can for Serra and vocations. <Take a look and share with your friends>

the COLLEGE CONNECTION program

A recent study completed by CARA for the U. S. Bishops concerning Catholic Campus Ministry (November, 2005) confirmed a strong opinion that those who were active in Campus Ministry: attended Mass more often than those who did not participate in Campus Ministry; donated more to their Parishes; became leaders in the Parishes; and were more likely to consider a vocation to the Priesthood or Religious Life.

The obvious conclusion: increasing the number of students participating in Campus Ministry should greatly benefit the Church in many ways.

SerraUSA wants to help High School graduates locate the "Catholic presence" when they arrive on campus - especially at schools that have an active Catholic Campus Ministry program.

the College Connection Update!

We are pleased to release the revised 2009 College Connection Activating Kit. While the program typically begins in the Spring, it will help to get a head start. Download the new 2009 College Connection Activating Kit today.

Mary, Queen of Vocations, pray for us.

Dick Stolly, Chairman
Diane Verhoff, Coordinator

2009 COLLEGE CONNECTION ACTIVATING KIT

 

Learn more and get started today...

 

The SERRA and NET Connection

This past year a successful effort was made to connect young missionaries of the National Evangelization Team (NET) with Serra Clubs across our nation. NET Teams, made up of 6 young men and 6 young women ages 18 to 28, visited over 70 Dioceses, giving retreats for young Catholics. The following information came from a meeting of Serrans and Netters during the annual NET wrap-up week. About 15% of all team members enter the convent or Seminary after serving on NET. The rest of the team are very good candidates as future Serrans.
<read more....>

NEW Program to Plant Seeds for Vocations via Serra Venturing in Catholic High Schools

Many Catholic priests and men and women religious serving the Church today began their discernment, or found support for their budding vocation interest, during High School and/or in Scouting.

Serrans across the country are invited to be part of a NEW movement to offer Serra awareness and discernment opportunities for youth in Catholic High Schools, through Serra Club chartered Venturing crews.

The Serra Club of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and their Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting (CCS) formed the first Serra Club chartered Catholic Venturing Crew for students at West Catholic High School

in Grand Rapids, with matching funds provided by a Serra International Foundation grant, for initial start-up costs.

Learn more and get started today….

Serra Club of Grand Rapids Forms First Venturing Crew Using the Matching Serra International Foundation Grant

Congratulations are in order for Dennis Leiber, the Serra Club of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting on forming the first Serra Club chartered Catholic Venturing Crew for students at West Catholic High school.<read more...>

School Vocation Awareness Program

The School Vocation Awareness Program is designed for use in parish schools to increase the vocation awareness of eighth grade students. It describes the procedures for obtaining approval, sample letters and the details of conducting the program. The teachers normally introduce the program to the students who prepare essays on a topic selected by the Serra leader. The essays are judged by members of the local club. The program normally includes Mass with the students, continental breakfast, viewing of a DVD/film (A Family Affair), a short talk by a Serra on Serra and vocations, a talk by the parish priest and / or nun, and the awarding of prizes for the winning essays. Click here for a program description... you may also contact Greg Lynch for additional information.

 

St. Mary's Parish and SW Denver Team up for Vocations

A new vocation committee at St. Mary's Parish in Littleton, Colorado was formed with the help of the SW Denver Serra Club. <read more...>
 

Special days for vocations

Here is a great example of how special days for vocations can be handled from Portland, Oregon. Notice the offer to help parishes form vocation committees. :)

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As August and summer comes to and end, it is a great time to plan what your parish might do to promote Vocations during the next school year.

Remembers there are four times in the liturgical year that are great for promoting Vocations

1. National Priesthood Sunday Oct. 26, 2008 If you go to www.serraus.org and click on National Priesthood Sunday it will give you a lot of great ideas You can also go to www.priestsunday.org. Selected materials are en español, for liturgy planning guide and the religious education materials are now in Spanish.

Consider putting a basket in the vestibule and having parishioners write Thank You card for your pastor or any priest who was important in their life.

2. National Vocation Awareness Week Jan. 11-16, 2009. A packet will be available through the same web site now. This packet has information for many staff members and ages from young children through grandparents, homily information etc.

Consider special activities during this week, homily on vocations, prayer cards passed out as people enter mass, special activities for the youth ie a priest or sister tell their story

3. World Day for Consecrated Life Feb 8, 2009

The past several years the Archdiocese of Portland has had a Vigil Prayers Service to honor those committed to the consecrated life.

In 2009 that service will be on Monday Feb. 2 at 7:00 pm at the Cathedral. Mark your calendars and do plan to attend!

4. World Day of Prayer for Vocations May 3, 2009

Everyday is a day to pray for Vocations, but this is just a special day or consider “31 Club’ where some one from your parish signs up to go to mass on that day each month (1-31) and pray for vocations.

The Portland Serra Club and the Archdiocese Vocation Committee is available to help you in any way. Please call us if we may be of assistance or we may call you!

Dan Jones

PS If you don’t have a Vocation Committee in your parish. How can we help you start one?

Serrans Serve at the Franciscan Spirit Olympics

by Barbara Eckart, VP Vocations – Serra Club of SEKC, MO

Twenty-nine 6th, 7th & 8th grade girls attended the first Franciscan Spirit Olympics (FSO) Camp. The participants were from all over the KC area including girls who are home schooled. Camp FSO was held on June 28th at the Franciscan Prayer Center in Independence. MO. <Read more...>

Want more here is link to the Catholic Key article:

Girls are introduced to a religious order at spirit camp

Affirming Priests and Promoting Membership

From the Serra Club of South Suburban Minneapolis

The Serra Club of South Suburban Minneapolis has started a new program of honoring and affirming our priests in our area. A member from the affirmation committee or vocation committee arranges a date with each priest to attend one of his masses in a group. We offer our Mass and Communion in a spiritual bouquet card in thanksgiving for his vocation. We also include a small gift card as a token of our appreciation. We usually have one member lead us as we pray over Father after Mass. We invite Father to attend breakfast with us if he has time. Some priests say a little something about the Serra Club and acknowledge us. This program was modeled after the SW Denver Serra Club’s program.

We have found this is a good way to publicize Serra. Some newcomers have started joining us for the masses and then expressed an interest in our group. We also pass out little notices about our upcoming meeting to the daily Mass attendees. We use the fourth Friday of the month to help members set their schedule. <Read more...>

School Awareness Program

Each year the Serra Club of Santa Clara, CA schedules a school awareness program with the 8th graders in 10 parochial schools in our area of operations. Each school has a club member as the Parish Contact Person and several months before the date of the program, they contact the pastor and principal requesting permission for the program. At this time we they give them the theme for the essay.

The programs are always conducted on the First Friday. Most of the schools are anticipating the event as we have done it regularly for many years. The students prepare the essays and the Serrans judge them.

On the day of the event we Celebrate Holy Mass, have continental breakfast, show the Serran Movie: “A Family Affair,” a short discussion usually by a priest, a nun, and a Serran about Serra and vocations and the awarding of prizes. Refer to Serra Booklet for complete details.

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