December 1, 2016

 

Dear Parishioner,

 

We are inviting you to join our Carroll Area Serra Club (Serra). The mission of Serra is to encourage and support vocations to the priesthood and religious life in the Sioux City Diocese, especially in our own parishes. All parishioners of the surrounding parishes and communities are invited to partake in this mission. In light of the ever-decreasing number of active priests in our Diocese, there is an ever-greater need and responsibility for each of us to personally and tangibly promote and support vocations.

 

We are blest to have Fr. Brian Feller working in our parishes and Kuemper Catholic School. He is promoting vocations not only by his enthusiastic example but also by working with the youth in discipleship groups, youth ministry events, retreats, and taking groups of students to seminaries and convents. He has also initiated parent retreats to unite parents together and support them in their vocations as moms and dads who are open and willing to help their children reach heaven and all that God has to offer them, including the possibility of priesthood or religious life. As a Serra Club, we support Fr. Feller, along with our pastors’ efforts, to create a culture open to vocations. Thus, our mission continues to expand in order to encompass the increasing ways we can support our young people discerning the Lord's plan for their lives.

 

Some of our activities are:

 

·         Pray for vocations daily.

·         4 p.m. Holy Hour at St. Lawrence (Carroll) every Thursday.

·         Support seminarians with care packages, letters, etc.

·         Honor and encourage area priests, religious, and deacons during Priesthood Appreciation Sunday with an appreciation card and monetary gift.

·         Send Christmas cards to retired priests.

·         Promote National Vocation Awareness Week, especially at CCRE and in our Catholic Schools.

·         Financially assist with expenses for youth to attend retreats, e.g. Franciscan University’s Steubenville Conference and visits to seminaries or convents.

·         Support by advertising in the Diocesan Globe which recognizes newly ordained priests, Diocesan priests and religious.

·         Assist the Bishop and Diocesan Vocation Director with special events for seminarians.

 

The Carroll Area Serra Club and the Sioux City Serra Club are the only Serra Clubs in our Diocese. We work together for the annual summer picnic with the seminarians at Okoboji. Our Serra Club is part of both the National and International Serra Club which are recognized by Bishops and the Vatican.

 

Currently. the Carroll Area Serra Club meets on the first Saturday of the month at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. Rosary begins at 7:05 a.m. and Mass follows at 7:30 a.m. We have our meeting immediately after Mass in the Greteman Center. We hope that you will prayerfully consider joining the Serra Club and take action to call forth more priestly and religious vocations for our diocese.

 

Sincerely,

 

Carroll Area Serra Club

 

Contacts:                                 Deacon Louie Meiners            Twilla Hoffman

712-683-5795                         [email protected]