Serra Club of Siouxland continues to promote, pray for vocations

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Dec. 7, 2006

Serra Club of Siouxland came together for Mass and dinner on Nov. 30 on Briar Cliff University's campus.

Bishop R. Walker Nickless presided at the Mass and gave the homily in Our Lady of Grace Chapel.

"It is a joy for me to again be with men and women who share a passion for vocations and who care so much about advancing in the knowledge of your Catholic faith," said the bishop. "To grow in holiness is one of the most important goals of Serra. Each of us do that by the way we grow in our faith and celebrate it all the time. I don't think that there is a priest in any diocese that has a Serra Club that hasn't been touched, in one-way or the another, by the generosity of the Serrans."

He thanked the Serrans on behalf of the seminarians of the Diocese of Sioux City.

"They appreciate so much, not just your financial help, but also your prayers," said Bishop Nickless. "They need those prayers as we all do. I thank you for the prayers that you give to our seminarians and for those seminarians and others who are being called by the Lord right now to follow him as a priest, sister, deacon or a consecrated person."

He pointed out that his experience in Denver was that Serrans are "great examples of men and women dedicated to their faith. I am sure the same is true here in Iowa."

The Mass was held on the Feast of St. Andrew, so the bishop talked about the apostle in his homily. Andrew was the first apostle called. He was a fisherman and had a brother named Peter.

"Today's feast is special to us because he is an apostle, one of the original 12," said Bishop Nickless. "A disciple is one who follows, an apostle is one who is sent. These 12 men were sent to preach the good news - the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

At the conclusion of the homily, Bishop Nickless thanked the Serrans "in the name of the church of Sioux City for the generosity that you give."

"As members of Serra, the work you do is hopefully done, not because you want to be noticed by other people, but because you want to work and pray for vocations," he said. "You may never see the results of the work you do, but you plant the seeds. We can be assured that God will take care of the rest, if we just plant the seeds."

Six new Serra members were inducted during Mass. Terry O'Gorman, president of the Serra Club of Siouxland, announced the names and passed out certificates to each new member. Bishop Nickless assisted with the induction.

"My dear friends, it is the sign of the healthiness of a club that new members want to be a part of it," said Bishop Nickless. "This club must be very healthy because you want to be a part of it. I thank you for your willingness to be inducted as new members of the Serra Club."

The new members committed themselves to a list of Serra principles.

Following Mass, Serra members, priests and religious sisters shared a meal in the Stark Student Center. Jack Berg, Serra member, was the master of ceremonies. Father Dan Guenther, pastor at Immaculate Conception in Sioux City, gave the meal blessing.

Father Brian Hughes, director of vocations for the diocese and Serra Club of Siouxland chaplain, presented the talk for the evening.

"I want to thank you all for being here this evening," he said. "Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you a little bit about vocations, what that means in the life of the church and about the brave group of men that we have studying for the Diocese of Sioux City today."

Father Brian mentioned that there are currently 18 seminarians studying to be priests in the diocese. He told the group where many of the men are from and where they are in the process. There are men from the Diocese of Sioux City as well as from Mexico and other places that are studying to become priests in this diocese.

He pointed out that when he was thinking about becoming a priest that he had a support system in his family, parish and community. He added that the seminarians of today do not necessarily have the "cultural, familial or social support group that encourages them and blesses them for the choice they make to go to the seminary."

"In the last 100 years, the group of young men that we have entering the seminary today are among the bravest group of young men that the church has received because of the cultural stigma about taking on a celibate life, about giving themselves over to the Roman Catholic priesthood at this day and time, giving themselves to a simple lifestyle and giving themselves over to the spirit of obedience and service," said Father Hughes. "These young men that are studying for the Diocese of Sioux City come from homes just like your home."

Father Hughes commented that there are three qualities that he has found among men and women who seek vocations in the church.

"Our young people who have expressed an interest in vocations are a people of prayer," said the priest. "The young people who are interested in vocations to the priesthood and religious life are individuals who are willing to stand up for their faith. They want to be faithful to the church."

The third quality that he talked about was service in the context of the church.

"I would like to suggest three things for you, that you might take on for yourselves," said Father Hughes. "Like our young people, I want to encourage you in every part of your life to be faithful to the teachings of the church. Secondly, I want to encourage you, as the bishop said today, to help your children and your grandchildren to find their place in God's creation. Thirdly, I'd like to encourage you to not be afraid to speak the truth to young people to guide them to their own vocations."

He commented that it has been an honor for him to be the chaplain of the Serra Club of Siouxland for 10 years.

The evening concluded with the priests blessing the Serrans and all those gathered.