We have lived up to our commitment and met the challenge of Fr. Serra

by Lloyd Crockett, USA Council Past President

Let me begin by saying this has been a busy and exciting year for USAC — and I hope you will agree, a productive one. We have planted the seeds of Serra and vocations in new people, in new parishes, in new dioceses, in new organizations, and in new relationships.
 

Over the past year, we have continued to labor in the vineyards to which God has called us and we can be justifiably proud of what we have accomplished.
 

Our membership efforts are reaping the rewards of what we have sown. Last fall, our first annual national membership campaign, combined with the spring Welcome Back campaign, brought us an increase of 1,289 new members for Serra. May I hear an "Amen" for this tremendous success? Will Vice President Fran Feyereisen and Chairman Jim Pretz and all the members of the USAC Membership Committee please stand up and take a bow?
 

God has also blessed our efforts in the area of vocations. The National Council of Catholic Bishops has asked us to play a leading role in the formation of the North American Congress on Vocations, which will be held next April in Montreal.
We have also had wonderful success in energizing our parishes across the nation. With encouragement and programs from the USAC Vocations Committee, our local Serra clubs have moved many parishes to form parish vocations committees.
 

In Programs, we challenged all Serrans to recommit themselves to the mission of Serra. This program, called "In His Steps" asked all members to sign a statement of support to pray daily for vocations and for one year, to pray daily for the canonization of Fr. Serra. In the statement of support, we recommitted ourselves not only to Serra, but also to the Church and the Hierarchy of the Church in supporting its goals and mission. Last December, during the great Serra Jubilee in Rome, we presented this statement of support to our Holy Father, along with the signatures of more than 12,000 Serrans from around the world.

In Communications, we have continued to move forward in harnessing new technologies. We now have an updated, state-of-the-art web site so anyone, anywhere, anytime, — can get access to and download information on Serra and our mission.
Finally, and I am very proud of this also, at the end of this fiscal year, we had a budget surplus of $2,980.
 

There is an old saying — we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us! Nothing could be truer for our USA Council. Only seven short years ago, we began our journey — yes, at times, we have stumbled, but through a good and gracious God, we picked ourselves up, and kept on going forward — and we did this through our leaders -- those dedicated Serrans who were willing to plow new ground and give their all to the mission of Serra and bring this Council to where it is today. They deserve our heartfelt thanks and gratitude. Please join me in thanking this special group of Serrans who have guided us successfully into this new millennium: Past presidents Dick Stolly, Sal Stagnitto, John Tichenor, John Latenser, Tom Benson, and Jim O’Hanlon.
 

It has been a good year — a year of progress — a year of Always Going Forward. But as I look back, there is one moment that shines in memory — an intense, personal experience that will stay with me forever.
 

Being with our Holy Father — just being in the presence of this good and holy man — feeling his reverence and spiritual awareness — was simply overwhelming. In his talk to Serrans in St. Peter’s Basilica, he noted our special commitment to promoting vocations. He said that our commitment must above all be a commitment to prayer, prayer that is constant, unwavering, and full of trust. And then he said something truly profound, something I will never forget. He said, "Your prayer moves the heart of God."
 

It has been a wonderful honor and a tremendous privilege to serve as your president. You have honored me more than I can express in words. I leave you with the firm conviction that we have lived up to our commitment and met the challenge of Fr. Serra, to "Always go forward, never turn back." I also leave you with the full confidence that the future of Serra will be bright and that we will be in capable hands under the leadership of Claire Howard.
 

Thank you for all you have done and all that you do for Serra.

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