Developing SI’s contact with the Vatican

by John W. Woodward, Executive Director
Serra International and the Serra International Foundation

Since 1951, when Serra International was aggregated to the Congregation for Catholic Education through its Pontifical Work for Priestly Vocations, it has been customary for its serving president to make a special journey to Rome to visit with the Holy Father and to report on Serra’s work throughout the world.

In the great jubilee year 2000, President George Damiani headed a pilgrimage of over 1,500 Serrans from around the world and presented to Pope John Paul II a special book of signatures signaling the recommitment of Serrans to pray and work for Church vocations.

Looking to build on this expanded contact with the Holy See, immediate Past President Giovanni Novelli convened the fall 2001 meeting of the SI Board’s Executive Committee in Rome. Their presence provided important opportunities to meet with the newly appointed Prefect of the Congregation, Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski, and respond to an invitation to the opening mass of the Synod of Bishops celebrated by the Pope in St. Peter’s basilica.

As often happens, one good thing leads to another. During this year’s visit to the Vatican, President Sue Cicherski led the full Serra International Board of Trustees in greeting the Holy Father after the traditional Wednesday audience in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 9, 2002.

The next day, International Board members were present, by special invitation, in St. Peter’s for the ordination of the Pontifical North American College’s class of 2002 as transitional deacons, and at the reception that followed. During Friday’s board meeting, past International Trustee Antonio LaVerghetta was presented with a plaque and warmly complimented on his missionary zeal in extending Serra to many countries in eastern Europe. The day’s activities concluded with dinner with the staff and seminarians of the Pontifical College of St. John Lateran, an historic institution located at what was the center of ancient Rome.

On Saturday, Board members were warmly welcomed by Cardinal Grocholewski and Vice Prefect Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau. As well as expressing his gratitude for Serra’s generous service to the Church in vocations pastoral action, the Cardinal gave your board his personal assurance of the Congregation’s continued cooperation with Serra’s efforts to promote vocations to the ministerial priesthood and consecrated life throughout the universal Church.

As provided on page 4, Cardinal Grocholewski presented some important statistics on priestly vocations to help in identifying where new Serra Clubs are likely to be required throughout the world.

At the end of a momentous visit, board members departed for home renewed in spirit and feeling better equipped to lead Serra International into the new century.

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