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THE
HISTORY OF SERRA INTERNATIONAL
75 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Al Giordano, Ph.D, Historian
The book, The History of Serra International, is now available for distribution. Only 500 copies were printed and 200 of those were sold at two regional conventions in Tacoma, WA and Riverside, CA.
Copies are great as gifts to speakers, to a new club member, for your Bishop or Chaplain, to honor outstanding Serrans, as well as being a great recruitment tool. The first four clubs each purchased a box.
Two copies for $50, a best buy, or $29.75 for one; a box of 17 is $400.
SEND YOUR CHECK TO:
SERRA HISTORY PROJECT
PO Box 3673
Carmel, CA 93921-3673
A Wish for Blessed Serra's 300th Birthday
November 24, 2013, marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of our patron, Blessed Junipero Serra. On June 5, 2011, the USA Council Board approved a resolution to plan an international celebration to honor this illustrious day. At the Serra International Convention in Ottawa last month, President Thomas Wong formed a committee to plan the celebration.
The celebration of Blessed Serra's birth will give our whole organization a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to honor our patron and to increase the awareness of our organization and mission to non-Serrans and the Church on a wide scale.
As we develop these events, stay in touch with us in the following ways:
Share ideas and friend us on
Facebook at
Majorca 2013
Bookmark www.majorca2013.com and visit
often
Check for updates at www.serraus.org and www.serra.org
We encourage all clubs, regions and districts to plan an extraordinary event
during 2012 and 2013 to mark the celebration locally. Make your objective to
attract non-Serrans to raise awareness of our wonderful Serran vocations work!
Order
your club's Serra Birthday Banner today. Part of the celebration on our trip to
Majorca will be to invite all the clubs to purchase a birthday banner marking
Fr. Serra's 300th birthday. Click the image on the right for more information.
Finally, let's plan to be in Fr. Serra's birthplace of Petra, Majorca, in July 2013. Majorca is a beautiful small island in the Mediterranean Sea just south of Spain. This momentous occasion calls for a momentous journey; please join us!
All
New - Illustrated Novel Of Blessed Junipero Serra’s Life
A terrific vocation activity. Give one to each eighth grade student in your
district and clubs area. To all school & church libraries A fantastic highly
professional design and printing. The children love it!! To order contact the:
USA Council of Serra International
65 E Wacker Place Suite 802
Chicago IL 60601-7238
Toll-free voice: 1-888-777-6681
Toll-free fax: 1-888-777-6803
Email: serraus@serraus.org /
www.serraus.org $1.00 ea Plus
shipping&handling
IRS Reporting Requirement
In order to comply with IRS Reporting Requirements for Not for Profit Organizations, the USA Council of Serra International is required to file a IRS Form 990-EZ for each Serra club in the United States. The Form 990-EZ must be filed by the 15th day following the close of the fiscal year on May 31 or October 15, 2012. Failure to file annually will result in the loss of a clubs' tax exemption.
The USA Council has created an easy to complete online reporting form for your Serra club to submit the required information in a timely manner, please complete this form by September 1. Click here to open the form, you have the option to submit a copy by email or print a copy to mail or fax. We also recommend that you print a copy for your club files.
2012-13 Serra Club Officer Reports Due
The 2012-13 Serra Club Officers reports are due. Please use this report form to submit your club officer report 2012-13 Incoming Club Officer Report
Working for You -- Committee News
Vocations
2011-2012 Best Vocations Programs
The USA Council Vocations Committee wants you to know that the committee believes this summary lists the "best" vocations activities your club can implement in the coming year <click here for the summary>.
Please complete our 2011 Club Vocation Committee Survey.
Begin Planning Today - National/Worldwide Vocation Events
The National Vocation Awareness Week, World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life and World Day of Prayer for Vocations are now available and posted to our website. The planning kits can be downloaded for use in your clubs, parishes, schools, religious congregations and dioceses.
Previously Serra Clubs, parishes and dioceses paid over $90,000 to NCCV for these materials. The USA Council will be providing these materials at no cost. The $90,000 can now be used for other vocation work and programs. We will not have printed versions available. In order to help us defray the cost of producing these materials, donations can be made to the Bishop Britt Vocations Restricted Fund.
National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW)
Includes: liturgy planning guide, music suggestions, homily guide, general intercessions, prayer service, prayer card master, bulletin announcements, clip art, poster.
World Day for Consecrated Life (WDCL)
Includes: liturgy planning guide, music suggestions, homily guide, general intercessions, prayer service, prayer card master, bulletin announcements, clip art, poster.
World Day of Prayer for Vocations (WDP)
Includes: liturgy planning guide, music suggestions, homily guide, general intercessions, prayer service, prayer card master, bulletin announcements, clip art, poster.
Planning for Graduation - Class of 2012
College Connection for Catholics is a good way to share our Serra Mission.
Please check out the article below. Maybe you could get a similar one in
your Catholic Paper.
Serra Club of South Bend promotes faith connection in college
SOUTH BEND — The Serra Club of South Bend is sponsoring the College
Connections for
Catholics (CCC), a program that provides high school students with information
about Catholic
organizations at the college of their choice as well as providing campus
ministries with the
students’ information so that they can receive invitations to events and
liturgies.
Research shows that young Catholics who practice their faith in college attend Mass more often, become leaders in their parish and are more likely to consider a religious vocation. Saint Joseph’s and Marian high schools participated in the program last year. This year the Serra Club of South Bend is broadening the program to cover not only the two Catholic high schools but also Catholic students not attending Saint Joseph’s or Marian.
The Serra Club of South Bend is contacting parishes in the western end of the diocese. For more information, call your parish or contact Stephen Elek, Jr. at (574) 291-0550. The Serra mission is to pray, foster and support vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
College Connection for Catholics is helping your get started with new resources for 2012. <more...>
Serra’s College Connection for Catholics Program Links Catholic Youth with Church on Campus
Parents are often dismayed when their kids go off to college and wander away from the Catholic faith. The USA Council of Serra International saw the need to connect young people with the church on campus and developed the College Connection for Catholics program to forge that bridge.<more>
College Connection in the News!
Program connects college students with Catholic events (Denver Catholic Register May 2011)
Learn More...
the COLLEGE CONNECTION for Catholics
Communications
Attention all Serra Clubs: Do you have a website that we do not know about? Send us an email and we can create a link to your Serra Club's website. Need help please see our Serra Club Webpage Template page for more information.
Serra Club Newsletter Editors: Do you want to post your newsletter online? Send us a copy via email and we add it to our online listing.
Programs
Membership
Membership Workshops
Membership- 101- Recruiting
Membership- 102 - Retention
USA Council Awards Program!
Are you part of a winning team? Let us know.
SerraUSA
Current Issue:
Remembering Mother Teresa ~ Winter 2010
Past issues ...
What is a "Culture for Vocations?" ~ Spring/Summer 2010
Year for Priests ~ Summer/Fall 2009
The Serra Leader
If you have any questions, would like to submit an article, offer your suggestions please email the Communications Coordinator.
The Serra Leader (Print Editions)
The Serra Leader (Winter '11)
Vol 5|Num 3 The Serra Leader (Summer 09)
Vol 5|Num 4 The Serra Leader (Spring 10)
Vol 6|Num 1 The Serra Leader (Jul 10)
Annual Reports
USA Council of Serra International Annual Audit Report (2010-11)
USA Council of Serra International Annual Report (2010-11)
USA Council of Serra International Annual Report (2009-10)
USA Council of Serra International Annual Audit Report (2009-10)
Serra International
2012 Serra International Convention
June 21-24, 2012
Plan now to attend this wonderful event. The 2012 Serra International Annual Convention will be in Providence, RI June 21-24, 2012 it promises to be informative, historical, and very enjoyable. We hope to see you in Providence! For registration and additional information please visit the Serra International website www.serra.org.
Serra International Bellringers
Serra International Convention Registration/Delegate Credential Forms (March
Bellringers)
The March 2012 Bellringers has the latest information about the upcoming Serra
International Convention in Providence, RI. In addition, for your convenience it
includes a registration form, a delegate credential form, and the Serra
International Award nomination forms. Finally, the Bellringers lists the
proposed Constitution and Bylaws Amendments.
The Bellringers (Apr 13 '12)
The Bellringers (Apr 5 '12)
The Bellringers (Mar 22 '12)
The Bellringers (Feb 2012)
The Bellringers (Jan 3 '12)
The Bellringers (Dec 23 '11)
The Bellringers (Dec 22 '11)
The Bellringers (Nov 29 '11)
The Bellringers (Nov 11)
The Bellringers (Aug 11)
Looking Forward
Where two or more are gathered...
One Serran said, "A Serra meeting should be like spending an hour with Jesus." Serrans believe that when members gather for prayer, a meal and conversation, they grow in faith and are inspired and challenged by each other.
We invite you to consider anyone of the following opportunities for you to join us at these events and learn more and why we are Serrans.
On the road...visit a Serra Club during your trip
serraUSA Club Locator (As of Dec 2011, please note dates and times are subject to change without notice.)
Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations to Ordained Ministry and Consecrated Life
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His Holiness John Paul II blessed this monstrance for the Church in North America so that during the Year of the Eucharist we all might pray for vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life. In cooperation with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Vocations and Priestly Formation, the USA Council of Serra International is coordinating and sponsoring the tour of this Monstrance to US Catholic dioceses throughout the Year of Eucharist and beyond.
Adoration for Vocations
Jun 8-Jun 22, 2012 (Archdiocese of Santa Fe, NM)
Dates to Remember
June 20-21, 2012
2012 USA Council of Serra International Annual Meeting/Super Weekend,
Providence, RI
USA Council of Serra International Annual Meeting/Super
Weekend
June 21-24, 2012
2012 Serra International Convention,
Providence, RI
August - December, 2011
Annual District/Regional Conferences
USA Council of Serra International is happy to provide this list of Annual Fall District/Regional Conferences.
Join Serrans from your district and region for fellowship, inspiration, learning, and worship. Discover the world of Serra locally by attending a district or regional conference near you.
- May God bless you and your work for vocations.
New England Conference
Date: 2012 TBA
Location: TBA
Mid-Atlantic Conference
Date: 2012 TBA
Location: TBA
Great Lakes Conference
2012
Date: September 28-30, 2012
Location: Cleveland, OH
2013
Date: September 26-30, 2013
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Region 7 Conference
Date: 2012 TBA
Location: TBA
2013
Date: September 26-30, 2013
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Region 8 Conference
Date: Nov. 16-18, 2012
Location: Christ the King Retreat Center, Buffalo, MN
Region 9 Conference
2012
Date: Oct 26-28, 2012
Location:
Conception Abbey Guest Center
2013
Date: September 27-29, 2013
Location: National Shrine of
Our Lady of the Snows
Western Regional Conference
Date: Oct 12-14, 2012
Location: Santa Barbara Mission, Santa Barbara, CA
District 6 Conference
Date: Oct 13, 2012
Location: Christ on the Mountain Parish
District 1-Region 12 Conference
Date: Sep 21-23, 2012
Location: Embassy Suites-Washington Square, Tigard, OR
The USA Council will be happy to post a notice of your district Spring Leadership and Planning Conferences, Serra Club days of prayer and reflection, and other Serra Club events on our website.
Submit your event notice with us . . .
Vocation Discernment Retreats
"Vocation is about following that God-given pull or leaning that seems to come from deep within."
USA Council of Serra International is happy to provide this list of open invitations to hear God's Call.
Please contact the retreat master directly for more information regarding each scheduled event.
- May God bless you on your discernment journey.
Retreat Masters
The USA Council will be happy to post a notice of your days of discernment, life awareness, prayer, and reflection on our website.
Submit your retreat notice with us . . .
Pray! Invite! Encourage! Affirm! Vocations
Text & Design © 1997-2012 All rights reserved. | Last Modified:May 16, 2012 |
USA Council of Serra International
65 E Wacker Place Suite 802 · Chicago IL 60601 · Phone (312) 201-6549 ~
888-777-6681 · Fax (312) 201-6548 ~ 888-777-6803
