First place winners of Vocations Creativity Contest honored at Mass and banquet

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
March 29, 2007

The first place winners of the Vocations Creativity Contest traveled to Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City on March 24 for Mass and a banquet with Bishop R. Walker Nickless.

The contest is annually sponsored by the Serra Club of Siouxland and the Office of Vocations for the Diocese of Sioux City.

Five of the nine first place winners and their families were present at 5 p.m. Mass and a sixth winner and his family joined the group for the banquet.

Bishop Nickless presided at the Mass with Father Brian Hughes, vocations director for the diocese, concelebrating. Newly ordained Deacon Dick Billings assisted with Mass.

During his homily, the bishop reflected on the readings and the Gospel.

"Forgiveness of sin is a great gift of our God," said Bishop Nickless. "Our readings tonight are about forgiveness of sin."

After Communion, the first place winners in attendance joined Bishop Nickless on the altar. He presented the students with their contest entries. The congregation recognized the winners with a round of applause.

"I want to acknowledge in a small way the winners of the contest who are here," said the bishop. "This is a wonderful event for the children of our diocese. The theme this year, Baptized for Service, reminding us all that when we are baptized we are called to be holy men and women."

After Mass, the winners, their families and Serra members gathered in the basement of the Cathedral for dinner.

Before dinner was served, Terry O'Gorman, Serra Club president, welcomed those gathered. Father Hughes said the opening prayer.

Bishop Nickless invited all of the first place winners to join him and Father Hughes at a table for dinner.

The six winners in attendance include Hallie Reuter, first grade; Elvis Castro, fourth grade; Cameron Sexton, fifth grade; Carly Luft, sixth grade; Christopher Beck, seventh grade; and Katlynn Cloud, eighth grade. The three not able to attend were Drake Allen, kindergarten; Thomas Schultes, second grade; and Madison Kampen, third grade.

Following dinner, Deacon Billings introduced Bishop Nickless and asked the students how much they knew about the bishop. He asked where the bishop was from, how many siblings he has, etc.

"I want to first of all thank the Serra Club," said the bishop. "Serra Club is group of men and women who do as much as they can to promote vocations and to sustain vocations for those of us that are already ordained."

He pointed out that he was the chaplain for a Serra Club in Denver for 17 years when he was a priest there.

"Junipero Serra was a Franciscan priest who came from Spain to work in Mexico and the United States," said Bishop Nickless. "He was a great visionary and cared a lot about the church."

He explained that the Serra Club started in Seattle, Wash. in 1949. Since then, it has spread all over the world.

"There are thousands and thousands of Serra Club members who meet once or twice a month and pray for vocations and do a lot of wonderful things," said Bishop Nickless. "Any bishop, any priest can tell you how grateful they are for what they do for our vocations."

The bishop thanked Father Hughes for being the vocations director for the diocese.

"He is the one who has the job, most importantly, of getting us more priests," said Bishop Nickless. "If we don't have a priest, we don't have the Eucharist. If we don't have the Eucharist, we don't have a church. He does a very important job, but he can't do it alone. He does his job with all the other priests that are ordained and with the parents and grandparents who are here. There is no other place where vocations will come from except your families."

He mentioned that it is important for families to pray for vocations. He added that there are several vocations including marriage, single life, priesthood, deacons and consecrated religious - brothers or sisters.

"One of things the Serra Club does is help us awaken an awareness of vocations," said Bishop Nickless. "That is what this contest is all about."

Toby Berg, one of the coordinators of the contest, announced all of the winners in attendance and what their assignment was for the contest. Jolene Billings was the other coordinator of the contest.

Each student got up and explained their drawing or read their entry. The winners then received a certificate handed to them by the bishop. They also introduced the members of their family that were present.

O'Gorman concluded the evening with a thank you to the bishop. Those gathered then said the prayer for vocations together.