Called to serve

by Anthony Plaia, USA Council President

Have you ever noticed that we as Catholics are constantly being asked to give of our time, talent and treasure? Typically the second (or third) collection for special needs comes to mind. Then there is the appeal for ministers of hospitality (ushers needed!) or a request that “those interested in serving as Eucharistic ministers please attend a special meeting,” or “Our choir is looking for a few good men,” and so forth. It seems that the easiest response to general appeals is a monetary one.

Yes, it is easier to give of our wealth than it is of our time! Yet, the time spent in ministry is truly the most valuable in my estimation. Parting with a few dollars may pinch at the time it is given, but it's over and done with upon writing the check . . . and offering to usher at a Mass is no inconvenience, “since I have to be there anyway.” But asking for a time commitment to serve seems to be difficult. So how about asking for a “limited” time commitment? Ask someone to come to a Serra meeting and join after seeing what we do, but only ask for a three-month commitment.

Nobody wants a temporary member, but who in their right mind would commit to a lifetime vocation after one meeting? And, maybe we, as the members of that Serra club, might accept the challenge to make that first three months so inviting that this new member might want to stick around and continue in helping our cause. This then becomes a commitment for your time too, to make sure that the right things happen. Just think what might come of such an effort. Would that invigorate your club? Would that invigorate you as an individual?

I guess the military has it right when they ask for a limited commitment, and then at the end of that term ask you to re-enlist. It has to be worthwhile, interesting and rewarding enough to say “Yes.” Each time a new person joins our club, we can all (not just the membership VP!) help to make that member not only want to stay but also bring along his or her friends to this new opportunity.

When the United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) asked the USA Council of Serra to help with the monstrance program, we were called to serve. (See the next page for more details.) As each bishop requests the monstrance for his diocese, the USCCB will accept on a first-come, first-served basis and notify USAC.

As coordinators of this effort, our USAC office staff will contact Serrans in the diocese requesting the monstrance and will send the monstrance to those Serrans to personally deliver it to the bishop. Along with the monstrance will be information on Serra and prayers for vocations. Please be sure to make these brochures available to those who come to pray before the monstrance.

In this way we can make contact directly with the diocesan office and hopefully encourage referrals to our local clubs for membership. What a wonderful way to serve and show non-Serrans what we do. It's exciting to know we, of all the lay organizations in the country, are the ones called to serve this effort.

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