May 12, 2008. Chaarter Night. By now, the arrangements have been completed, and all Serrans should have received their invitations. Mass begins at St. Andrew's Cathedral at 5:30 p.m., with reception and dinner to follow at St. George's Banquet Center, LaGrave Avenue SE.
Investiture of new officers will take place at the dinner.
May 26, 2008. No meeting (May 26 is Memorial Day).
June 7, 2008. Ordination of one priest, Michael Cilibraise, and two transitional deacons, Michael Burt and Aaron Ferris at St. Andrew's Cathedral. The Bishop has asked for ten Serrans to provide hospitality services. Those volunteering for this event should arrive at St. Andrews no later than 9:30 a.m. Abe Rossi and Len Gross will co-ordinate the Serrans' Hospitality Team.
The diocese has specified that exactly ten Serrans will serve on the Hospitality Team, although all Serrans are welcome to attend.
June 9, 2008. Serra Luncheon Meeting, Louis Benton Steak House, 12:00 Noon.
June 16. Board meeting.
June 18, 19, 2008. 2008 USAC Officers' Meeting.
June 19-22, 2008. Serra All American Conference, Notre Dame, Indiana. See the April Newsletter for details, or go to serraus.org for details. Tom Hausladen and Dick Dornbos are serving as chairmen for this event.
June 23, 2008. Prayer Service and Luncheon, Sacred Heart Church, 12:00 Noon.
October 13, 2008. Member/Guest Reception, 5:30 p.m. at Louis Benton Steak House.
December 2, 2008. Vocations Dinner.
Serra Nominations List for 2008.
President: Pam McKenzie
President-Elect: Dan Grady
Secretary: Joseph Westdorp
Treasurer: Pat Leikert
Vice-President, Communications: Nancy King
Vice-President, Vocations: Len Gross
Vice-President, Membership: Tim Hile
Vice-President, Programs: Joseph Scoville
Trustees: Abe Rossi, Bob Paul, John Osterhart, and Paul Nelson.
Past President: Mark Kubik.
Thank you, Bob Paul, for serving on the Nominations Committee.
Many Thanks...to all who helped in any way with the Sisters' Appreciation Dinner on April 12. Approximately 75 sisters attended, and by any standards one would care to apply, the event was a great success. The club received a number of thank-you notes, as follows:
From the Marywood Sisters: Thanks so much for inviting us to share in the beautiful mass, delicious hors d'oeuvres, dinner, and enjoyable entertainment. I also appreciated the opportunity to reconnect with people from the different parishes, where I served over many years. Thanks also for the food containers that enabled me to take home what I couldn't eat, and have enough for another meal. God bless you all, Sr. Marie Joy Yuhasz, O. P.
Thank you so much for your gracious hospitality and self-giving in providing such a beautiful celebration for us Sisters. We could not ask for more. We are most grateful to you! Be assured of our love and prayers and gratitude. God bless each one of you. Sister Carmella Conway.
Many thanks for inviting the Sisters to share Liturgy of the Mass with you. The German dinner that followed was most delicious. We tryly enjoyed the entertainment and our nice, firendly servers. Also thank you for all the work you do for others. Sister Margaret Kiemstra, O. P.
Thank you dear friends...God Bless your many good works. Peace. Sister Roseanne.
Everything was wonderful--the dinner, the music, and the friendship. Thank you. S. Thomasine.
God Bless you for your generosity to us. Everything was great. Sister Mary Jo Beckett, O. P.
What a lovely banquet. Thanks and thanks again for the wonderful time! Sr. Carol Ann.
Blessings on you for the special Religious Appreciation Mass, dinner, and entertainment and all your hours spent in preparation. Gratefully, Sr. Rose Serafhine, O. P.
Thanks much for your superb menu, your music, and your graciousness. SM
What a delightful evening and wonderful meal you gave us. God bless you for everything. S. Omma.
Had a wonderful time. Thank you so much. Sr. Marybride.
Your efforts to share a wonderful evening were much appreciated. S. Audrey.
Thanks so much for a marvelous time! My stomach is still rejoicing! Sister Monica.
Thank you so very much for your gracious love and service. The meal was delicious. What beautiful persons you are. Love and prayers, Sr. Phyllis Lopez, O. P.
What a delightful time...Appreciation and prayers, Sister Edith.
A super celebration@ Thank you. We'll keep you in prayer. Sister Angelina and Sister Adrienne.
Many, many thanks. All was so great. Dinner was most delicious and the munchies before were great, too. God bless you much. With much gratitude, Sr. Catherine Ann.
May God bless you many times over for a grand evening of prayer, a meal, and entertainment. I loved hearing, "I'm my own grandpa!" I hadn't heard it in ages. Years ago in New Mexico one of the convents had a record with the song on it. Gratefully, S. Michael Anne.
Thanks for a lovely supper, gracious service, and great music and door prize. Sister Juliana.
Thanks for going "all out" for us. Sr. Olga.
Thank you fir the five star dinner and entertainment. You certainly outdid yourselves. Sr. Janet Hertz.
Thank you very much for the support you continue to give us throughout the year. But today we would like, in a very special way, to thank you for your prayers, the five-star dinner, and the care package you sent us home with. We tryly had a wonderful time connecting with other religious sisters and with all of you. We assure you of our prayers for each one of you and your loved ones. May Our Lady Consolata intercede with God for you and grant all God's blessings of Peace, Love, and Health. Sincerely, Sr. Zelia M. Cordeiro and the Consolata Missionary Sisters.
It was a wonderful evening. The Mass was so prayerful. The dinner was pure delight. Please, thank all the persons who planned, cooked, served, etc. Everyone was gracious. Ifelt like "a Princess." I will hold all of you in prayer. Sister Fran, R. S. M.
Please extend my personal gratitude for the lovely evening provided by the persons associated with the Serra Club. The dinner provided with a "German flair" was delicious. Gratefully in the Heart of Mercy, Sister Karen, R. S. M.
Dear Mr. Kubik, Thank you so much for your leadership of the Serra Club and the lovely Appreciation Dinner the club hosted for Religious Sisters. Being German, I especially enjoyed the food! We had great conversation at our table and I was renewed by talking with other sisters and many Club members. Fr. Lou Anderson was an inspiring presider at the liturgy. He was so soncere in expressing his support and encouraging others to do the same. With the renewal of hope and healing evident in the Pope's recent visit, my prayer is that many will be open to God's call an consecrated life. May God continue to bless your work. Sincerely, Sister M. Rosita Schiller, R. S. M.
The Saturday evening event was superb! The Serrans outdid themselves. A big thank you to each of you. It is much appreciated. Blessings, Sister Patrice.
Dear Friends. What a wonderful celebration we had onSaturday night at St. Jude's. The hospitality, the wonderful meal and music--to say nothing of the thoughtful prizes--were truly great. Thank you all so much. In these days, as we age, our lives and life's work can easily be forgotten. The Serrans have not forgotten us. Thank you for your kindness and love for us! Sister Janice Mankowski, O. P.
We were greatly blessed on Saturday evening. Thank you for all of your kindnesses. We had a grand time. I haven't danced a polka in several years. Sr. Carmen Rostar.
Another kind of Vocation Appreciation. Serran Darlene Braunschneider informs us that the following priests will celebrate ordination dates in May:
Rev. Ernest Bernott 5/22/48
Rev. John J. Kenny, CSP 5/1/58
Rev. Peter Hoang-Xuan-Nghiem 5/20/72
Rev. Leonard Sudlik 5/15/76
Rev. Charion O. Mason 5/19/79
Rev. Mark David Janus CSP 5/15/79
Rev. Mark Przybycz 5/19/90
Rev. Msgr. William H. Duncan 5/19/90
We give thanks for these vocations.
Notre Dame Weekend. The Serra Board approved two scholarships @$ 350 for students attending the Notre Dame Weekend. More details to follow as to the dates of the events and the criteria for choosing applicants.
Just in case you missed these...items from the Spring 2008 issue of serraUSA. See a) "Vocations to the service of the Church-mission," the Message of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, for the 45th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, April 13,2008", p. 3, and Grand Rapids nun's sculptures are created in God's image, p. 4+. This article feagures Dominican Sister Phyllis Mrozinski's works created in her studio at the Dominican Center at Marywood. The publication also provides a registration form for the Serra All-American Conference in South Bend.
The Pope Brought Down the House. Rally was the right word for what took place in Yonkers, New York, April 19. The occasion, of course, was Pope Benedict XVI's visit to pray with and inspire young people, seminarians, and disabled children at an outdoor event.
An exuberant crowd of about 25,000 danced to Christian music until the Holy Father arrived at sundown--at which point they rallied indeed around his message of hope, truth, and salvation.
"Ultimately, truth is a person: Jesus Christ," he said.
Pointing to his firsthand experience with the "clenched fist of repression" in Nazi Germany, the Pope urged young people to reject relativism and embrace a life of prayer and contemplation. "Do not be afraid of silence or stillness," he said. "Listen to God."
"As young Americans, you are offered many opportunities for personal development, and you are brought up with a sense of generosity, service, and freedom," he said. "Yet you do not need me to tell you that there are also difficulties."
"The power to destroy does remain," he added. "Yet it never triumphs; it is defeated."
As it happened the rally fell on the thrid anniversary of Benedict's election as the 265th successor to St. Peter. Nostalgia was high; many participants recalled the exhilaration they felt three years ago during the papal transition and related to the Register how Benedict has influenced their lives.
Eric Wagner, 26, is in his third year of studies for the priesthood at Aquinas Institute in St. Louis. He said he and some of his classmates drove 17 hours to get to New York. "It's worth it," he said. Like many young men at the foot of the stage, Wagner was wearing a cassock and a bandana the color of the papal flag around his head.
"This event has been very significant for me," Wagner said, while taking a break from dancing. "How often do you get a chance to see the Pope?"
Wagner said he is not disheartened when he hears people talking about the dearth of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. "That hasn't been my experience," he said. "The Spirit seems to be at work and a gathering like this helps encourage (vocations)."
Inside the seminary, the Pople blessed disabled children and their families and watched a performance of the Arthdiocesan Deaf Choir. He walked back and forth from side to side of the chapel aisle, blessing the children and caressing their faces. Many of the children hugged him...
Outside, while the wait was on, the energy level occasionally bordered on the frenetic. Friars played hacky-sack with seminarians in cassocks and cowboy hats while waiting for the shuttles to take them to the seminary. Food was free, but people had to wait in line for hours to get anything to eat or drink. Those gathered in the field were entertained by half a dozen rock and rap artists, including Father Stan Fortuna, the Franciscan friar who's also a rap artist, and pop star Kelly Clarkson, winner of the first "American Idol" TV show...
Cardinal Edward Egan, archbishop of New York, acknowledged the challenges young people face. "This is not an easy time to be young," Cardinal Egan said. "Attractions of much that is unworthy of brothers and sisters abound--movies, Internet, TV are constantly calling people away from what is holy. They need to hear another voice, the voice of the Vicar of Christ."
As this event came at the end of the Pope's fourth day in the United States, the crowd was quick to forgive him for sounding a little weary as he read a prepared speech while seated on stage. "Pray for me," he said during his address, "because I have just had a birthday." The young people responded with a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" in German.
As the schedule wound to a close, camera bulbs sparkled. People waved white and yellow bandanas. And the ecstatic cries went up, "We love you!"
Judging by the Pope's joy, I'd say he heard every voice.
By Tucker Cordani. National Catholic Register, April 27, 2008. Tucker Cordani is studying for the priesthood at Blessed John XXIII National Seminary.
News from Boy Scouts of America and Serra Club of Grand Rapids. Gerald R. Ford Council BSA Program Director Aaron Gach suggests the following three websites regarding the national Catholic Committtee on Scouting. http://www.bsagrfc.org/ describes the Serra partnership. http://www.scouting.org/ is a national site, providing great overview information on venturing, and www.ncss-bsa.org/activities/SerraVentruing.php and http://www.nccs-bsa.org/ present more excellent information. Keep posted as our BSA/Serra Venturing activities develop.
A Message from our President. Dear Serrans: It has been three years since I was nvested as your president and began writing my monthly president's message. It is hard to believe that this time has passed so quickly. We are about a week away from celebrating the 60th anniversary of our chartering as a club and the investiture of new officers for the next fiscal year.
This year CharterNight marks another great milestone in our club's history. Many clubs and organizations such as ours celebrate the milestone anniversaries, but few in today's world can celebrate with the vibrancy of our club. As I reflect over the past three years, I am continually amazed at the level of commitment our organization receives from its membership, thus creating the rich history we share today.
The three international presidents from the Grand Rapids club, Bernard Haviland, Ralph Hauenstein, and the Honorable Dennis Leiber, have represente our club in a most exemplary manner. Because of their service to the international organization, clubs around the world are aware of our club's rich history of service.
The commitment to the Serra mission from our founders continues today, and we are fortunate to have Ralph Hauenstein as a charter member of our club and honorary chairman of the 60th Annual Charter Night celebration. Our club's history speaks for itself because so many of our members have moved into other voluntary positions within the heirarchy of Serra.
We as members owe this history to our founders and have an obligation to continue our positive contributions to our club and to Serra International. Our founders' and past club leaders' service provides an example of how we should strive to carry on the mission of Serra. The innovative business model we have adapted for creating growth of membership has become the envy of clubs throughout the United States. Because of this approach, our club's activities and involvement in the Diocese have never been greater.
We must continue our innovative approach for membership and the fostering of vocations. As we share our time, our talent, and our treasure with the club, I am confident of our ongoing success.
I would like to thank you for all of your support over the past three years. It has been an honor to serve you. I look forward to seeing you at Charter Night on May 12.
Very truly yours,
Mark A. Kubik
