Annual Vocations Luncheon for Young Women was a Huge Success!

What an amazing turnout for our Young Women’s Vocation Luncheon!  A record number of Middle and High School girls as well as a record number of Religious Sisters in attendance! Praise be to God!
As the young women arrived at The Pontifical College Josephinum they each received a ‘passport.’ They then traveled through The Jessing Center meeting all the different orders of Religious Sisters present. Each with their own Charism but all united in serving Our Lord! The young women had the privilege to enjoy lunch with the Sisters after their busy travels filling out their passports.
The Dominican Sisters of St. Dominic of The Holy Eucharist shared a brief talk on the virtue of Prudence and how growing in prudence aims us, and directs us to choose God! To practice prudence, one must actively listen, pray and then ACT!
We pray the fruits of today will be long-lasting.

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!

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.