Category: LINKS

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An Abundance of Gratitude For The Catholic Foundation!

Heartfelt thanks to The Catholic Foundation for the generous financial grant

in the Vocations category of Responsive Grants for 2022 to help support the recent vocation luncheons for young men and women!
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Annual vocations awareness luncheons for high school and middle school boys and girls are organized and hosted by the Serra Club of North Columbus each fall, in the Jessing Center on the campus of the Pontifical College Josephinum.
The Girls’ Luncheon in early October was addressed by Sr. Leonarda Zielinska, O.P. of the Dominican Sisters, Immaculate Conception Province. Several of the various orders of sisters in the diocese presented information tables, enabling the attending girls to see the wide variety of charisms and apostolates of the sisters.
At the Boys’ Luncheon in early November, Bishop Earl Fernandes delivered a riveting talk on his own vocation story, and an explanation of the urgent need for young men to discern, and answer, Christ’s call to the priesthood.
Nearly 200 students attended each event, along with clergy, teachers, and members of the Serra Club.

The Catholic Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization that receives and manages assets to provide perpetual funding for the parishes, schools, and ministries within the 23-county Diocese of Columbus. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees is comprised of Church, business, and civic leaders who represent various regions of the Diocese. The Catholic Foundation inspires giving and assists donors to provide for the long-term needs of the Diocese of Columbus. For more information, to catholic-foundation.org

We are grateful!
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Serran, Vietnam Vet recently visits the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes!

Serra Club member Patrick Kent, a Viet Nam veteran, recently returned from the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France. “It was the healing opportunity of my life,” he shared with the club at its August 2nd meeting. The pilgrimage was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, who took care of all the travel, hotel, meals, and personal arrangements; and the Military Archdiocese of the US, who took care of all the spiritual aspects. The program, Warriors to Lourdes, is available to US combat veterans for their physical and spiritual healing. Religious affiliation is not a consideration, although a large proportion of those participating were Roman Catholic. “All of us are wounded,” Patrick explained,”War has a lasting impact on all of us. The combination of the peace of the location, and the companionship of other combat veterans enabled much beneficial sharing, and growth in our relationships with our Lord and with each other. Our Lady intended healing for us, and we were keenly aware of her presence.” Any combat veteran can connect with Warriors to Lourdes through the Knights of Columbus.
God Bless all who have and will serve our great Country!
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Priests Appreciation Banquet 2022

Bishop Earl

Bishop Earl

Tuesday, August 2 The Serra Club of Columbus hosted the Annual Priests Appreciation Banquet at Walter Commons on the campus of St Charles Preparatory School. Over 70 priests in the Diocese of Columbus and all 25 of the seminarians from the Josephinum attended along with Bishop James Griffin and Bishop Earl Fernandes.

The evening began with a social hour featuring hors d’oeuvres and beverages, followed by a wonderful dinner headlined with four entrees. The event was catered by Gary Alwine of Mustard Seed Catering and sponsored by Dee Printing.

The Serra Club of Columbus has been hosting this event for 40+ years. The mission of the Sierra Club is to foster and promote vocations to the ministerial priesthood of the Catholic Church as a particular vocation of service and to support priests in their sacred ministry. Saint Pope John Paul II said, “Serrans, you are the lay vocation arm of the Catholic Church”. In addition to the Banquet, this club has many other activities to support and pray for vocations. A few of these are First Friday Adoration, Annual Outstanding Altar Server Awards presided over by Bishop Fernandes, monthly luncheons with guest speakers, an Adopt a Seminarian program, and much more.

Serra International was founded in 1935. The Serra Club of Columbus was chartered on September 14, 1954.

Bishop Earl Fernandes met with the priests prior to the beginning of the Appreciation Banquet to celebrate a Holy Hour with the specific intention of praying for an increase in priestly vocations. He then talked to the priests about his vision and priorities for the diocese.