"Much is required from those to whom much has been given"
(Luke 12:48)

by Claire Howard, USA Council President

Brother and Sister Serrans,

I am both humbled and proud to be your president for this next year.
My theme for this year is, "Building a Culture of Vocations." I am asking each club president to adopt this theme for the 2001-2002 Serra year. I would also like to inform you of my priorities for this year:

"In His Steps" renewal program. The Program Committee of the Council has revised this program. Coupled with this program will be a prayer for the canonization of Blessed Junipero Serra. I believe that it is necessary for each Serran to recommit themselves to the mission of Serra on an annual basis and to pray that our sponsor will soon be elevated to sainthood.

A national membership campaign is scheduled for the fall. Information on this membership campaign will be sent to each club in August. It is essential that all clubs schedule an effective Fall membership campaign.

My third priority is to encourage each club to work to assist in the establishment of parish vocations committees/activities in each parish in their area. The establishment of parish vocations committees/activities is key in building a culture of vocations and creating vocation awareness and recruitment.

I would like to encourage each Serran to consider participating in the Caribbean cruise planned for Dec. 1-8, 2001. This cruise should prove to be an enjoyable experience for all who participate. The special reduced rate is available to friends of Serrans as well. In addition, the Council will receive $100.00 for each person who attends this cruise.

In order for us to do the work of Serra, we need volunteers to be regional directors and district governors. Both of these positions require travel, long distance telephone calling and a great deal of other out-of-pocket expenditures. In January 1999, the Council board passed a motion encouraging each club to collect $5.00 per year from each member to help defray the out of pocket costs for the regional directors ($2.00) and district governors ($3.00). I strongly urge you to adopt this proposal.

I was attracted to Serra, as I'm sure you were, by the fact that Serra is an organization of lay men and women who are gathered in local clubs to work for vocations. The mission statement of the Council states this very clearly: "Our mission is to foster and affirm vocations to the ministerial priesthood and vowed religious life in the United States, and through this ministry, further our members’ common Catholic faith."

While the mission of Serra was my initial attraction, I found that Serra International's and subsequently the United States of America Council’s second objective had an equal attraction: "To further Catholicism by encouraging its members, in fellowship, through education, to fulfill their Christian vocation to service." Accordingly, I have asked each vice president and committee chair to develop measurable goals that will help us accomplish our mission and ultimately make our vision come true.

In his address to us during the December Pilgrimage, the Holy Father asked us to be faithful to our mission of fostering and affirming vocations. One of my favorite Bible quotes echoes his sentiment: "Much is required from those to whom much has been given" (Luke 12:48). The more resources, talents and understanding we have, the more responsibility we have to use them effectively. We need to ask ourselves, what are we doing with the gifts God has given to us?

I am asking each Serran in the United States to join with me to take those gifts and actively support our mission and our objectives. I am certain that if we stay focused we will have a tremendous impact in vocation ministry and that we will continue to grow in clubs and members.

During my year as president of the Council, I would like all Serrans to join me in saying my paraphrase of the Prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:10):

Oh, that you would bless Serra abundantly
And enlarge Serra’s territory
That you will be with Serra
in all that Serrans do,
That you will keep Serrans from evil,
And that Serrans may not cause pain.

I look forward to meeting many of you at the fall Regional and District Conventions and other meetings during my year as President.

Mary, Queen of Vocations, pray for us.

Claire Howard

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