Serra Club - Gather and Pray

When four men gathered around a table to share lunch in Seattle, Washington in 1935, could they have known that they were planting a seed that would grow to become an international organization with thousands of members dedicated to working for Catholic vocations? With considerable foresight, Serra International's founders decided upon a very specific focus for their budding ministry: the encouragement of vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Today, approximately 20,000 lay Catholic women and men worldwide work in 18th century Franciscan missionary Blessed Junipero Serra's name to fulfill that objective. Spread over 42 countries, more than 750 Serra clubs comprise the organization. Inspired by the unwavering determination which drove their patron to complete a life's journey longer than the travels of both Christopher Columbus and Marco Polo combined (much of that on foot!), Serrans, as they call themselves, are dedicated to fostering and promoting vocations to the ministerial priesthood and vowed religious life.

Serrans accomplish this goal through such straightforward means as prayer, providing assistance to seminarians, or raising vocations awareness through multimedia communications. Some clubs raise thousands of dollars annually for special diocesan vocations projects.

Vocations affirmation in the form of ordination anniversary celebrations, personal letters and contributions to local press have become increasingly relevant in light of the recent sexual abuse scandals rocking the foundations of the Church. There is no better time to be an active and vocal supporter of our clergy.

SERRA PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

O God, who wills not the death of a sinner, bur rather that he be converted and live, grant we beseech You, through the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever virgin, Saint Joseph, her spouse, Blessed Junipero Serra, and all the saints an increase of laborers for Your Church, fellow laborers with Christ to spend and consume themselves for souls through the same Jesus Christ, Your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.

Amen

The best way to encourage vocations is to first create a culture for vocations within the community and family. This begins with a commitment to personal holiness which Serrans embrace. A second objective of Serra International is to further Catholicism by encouraging its members in fellowship, through education, to fulfill their Christian vocations to service.