The celebratory mood following the Mass on the Occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Serra Club, was perhaps best expressed by Bishop Emeritus Paul S. Loverde.
“I could dance for joy,” said Bishop Loverde. “This group is marvelous. They’re warriors for prayer and for the culture of vocations. They help us understand that and further that in the minds of people. I’m very proud of them.”
Bishop Loverde granted permission for the formation of the Serra Club of Arlington in 2004, with “just a handful of people,” according to club President Bertha Braddock, who said they now have 60 members committed to praying daily for vocations. Named after St. Junipero Serra, missionary to the New World, the Serra Club was founded in 1935 and has spread to more than 400 clubs in 46 countries with 13,000 members worldwide.
“I just came back from the Serra Club international rally in Florida, and everybody was wowed by the fact that we are ordaining 12 priests this year. That is fabulous,” said Braddock. “The fact that we have so many fine young men going into the priesthood — I feel blessed to be a part of it.”
In his homily at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington Feb. 16, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge congratulated Serra Club members on their anniversary and celebrated the hope it inspires.
“I see signs of hope as I look out into the congregation today and see members of our diocesan Serra Club present to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Serra in our diocese,” said Bishop Burbidge. “I am ever grateful to you for the dedication, generosity, and commitment you bring to this beautiful ministry and thankful to Bishop Loverde and Msgr. Rippy for the guidance they have provided you throughout the years. I also express thanks to Father Isenberg for his tremendous work as vocations director. Dear Serrans, on behalf of my brother priests, seminarians, and all those in formation, I extend sincere congratulations to you on your anniversary and ask God to continue to shower his blessings upon you and your ministry.”
“We’re just feeling so much joy and hope,” said Mary Petrino, president-elect. “We are grateful to have a shepherd like Bishop Burbidge, and in the year of hope, this is what the Serrans promote. We have hope in the Lord, we have hope in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, and above all, we have hope in Jesus Christ.’’
The private, persistent prayers of Serra Club members for the last 20 years provide a lesson in prayer, according to Father Michael C. Isenberg, diocesan vocations director.
“Prayer is so hidden in our midst, but we see the effect of it,” he said. “God says go to your inner room and shut the door and only your father who sees in secret will repay you. We see the repayment so often in the number of seminarians and the goodness and generosity of those guys. We have so many groups that pray for vocations and the prayers of the Serrans have been prominent for 20 years.”
“This is the fruit of all those prayers,” said Msgr. Robert J. Rippy, diocesan judicial vicar. “I’ve been privileged to be their chaplain for the past 20 years. They’re great people who do great work.”
Surrounded by Serra Club members at the reception following Mass, Bishop Loverde was full of gratitude. “It is such a wonderful gift to the diocese, and it makes me happy and grateful to God because he’s the one who calls,” he said. “I’m grateful to our Serrans.”
Find out more
To become a Serra Club member, contact Bertha Braddock at [email protected].
