Serra USA Central Region Conference

Our Serra Clubs of Wichita, Reno County, and Southeast Kansas invite you to the 2026 Central Region Serra Club convention on September 25-26th hosted at the newly remodeled historic hotel, The Vail by Hotel at Old Town, 210 N. Mosely St. Wichita, Kansas 67202. Check in at the Conference will start at 1:30pm on Friday.

Click here to register for our event.

The planning committee, Serra Clubs of the Diocese of Wichita, along with both District and Region leadership would like to invite you as a guest for our Central Region Convention.  Our convention is built on three topics, Stewardship, Service, and Brotherhood; our theme for this year’s meeting is “I have called you friends” (Jn 15:15).

We are excited to highlight our speakers to include:

Friday Session Speakers: (Sessions begin at 3:30pm)

Convention Rosary and Celebration of the Holy Mass Fr. Ken Schuckman, Chaplain of the Downtown Wichita Serra Club.

Fr. Andrew Hoffman, pastor of the St. Paul University Parish at Wichita State University and assistant director of the Office of Vocations, will open the convention with a story about the Wichita Diocese and provide an inspirational message to focus our minds in prayer and intention for the weekend.

Fr. Jarrod Lies, Vicar for Stewardship, Evangelization, and Discipleship for the Diocese of Wichita, will talk on Stewardship and the incredible impact Stewardship has made on our diocese.  Fr. Jarrod Lies holds undergraduate degrees in Philosophy and Theology from Conception Seminary College, and Master’s degrees in Sacred Scripture and Divinity from the Pontifical College Josephinum.  Fr. Jarrod has served in various pastoral and diocesan roles including high school chaplain, parish pastor, and diocesan director of faith formation.

Saturday Session Speakers:

Bishop Carl Kemme, the eleventh bishop of Wichita went to the diocesan seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, Illinois, Cardinal Glennon College, and Kenrick Seminary, both in St. Louis, Missouri, earning a bachelor of arts degree and a master of divinity degrees.  Bishop Kemme was ordained a priest on May 10, 1986.  After serving the Diocese of Springfield as a parochial vicar, pastor, vicar general and moderator of the curia, chancellor, and diocesan administrator, he was ordained Bishop of Wichita on May 1, 2014.  Bishop Kemme will celebrate the Vigil Mass on Saturday evening.

Ms. Emily Savage, president of Fiat Ministries, will discuss Fiat Ministries approach to foster prayer, self-knowledge, and authentic discernment in young Catholic women through a true relationship with Jesus Christ.  Fiat Ministries, under the guidance of the Blessed Mother and her “fiat,” is Christocentric, Eucharistic, Sacramental, Marian, and Prayerful.

Janet Eaton has served as Superintendent of Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita since May 2018. With nearly 40 years of experience in Catholic education, she began her career as a teacher and then principal at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Wichita.  In 1998 she moved with her family to the Archdiocese of St. Louis where she served as an elementary principal and later a high school principal.  Janet is passionate about faith formation for young people! 

A native of Wichita, Scott Carter first encountered Father Emil Kapaun, the heroic priest and Army Chaplain, as a senior in high school. Scott studied engineering in college then spent several years discerning a call to the Diocesan priesthood. Married with three young children, Scott has worked for more than 10 years as Coordinator for Father Kapaun’s Cause for Beatification and Canonization. With a great love for and intimate knowledge of Father Kapaun, Scott shares Father Kapaun’s legacy of courage, hope and sacrifice and works to promote his cause for sainthood.

Fr. John Lanzrath, pastor of St. John the Evangelist, has served the Diocese of Wichita in many capacities since his ordination in 1988—associate pastor, Vice-Chancellor, Moderator of the Curia, Director of the Spiritual Life Center, Director of Stewardship, Vicar for Priests, and Chancellor of the Diocese.  His leadership and vision were instrumental in the development of the diocesan manual The Pillars of Parish Stewardship, which has guided countless parishes in embracing stewardship as a way of life.  Today he will discuss the influence Fr. Kapaun has had on vocations.

About Four O’clock live podcast, featuring Fr. Chad Arnold, director of the Office of Vocations and director of seminarians, Fr. Garett Burns, director of vocational promotion, and Fr. Andrew Hoffman, assistant director of vocations and pastor of St. Paul University Parish at Wichita State University.  They will be discussing Creating a Culture of Vocations.

Transportation will be provided for traveling to Holy Mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church (Friday) and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Saturday). Adoration and confessions will take place in our Convention Center.

Limited rooms remain for the Serra Club Room Block at the Hotel at Old Town, Wichita, KS. Please call to book your room: 316-267-4800 or visit their website.

Register for our event here.

We understand that you may have many obligations, but we ask that you prayerfully consider joining us for the convention. All questions can be directed to my personal cell phone or email: 316-634-0315 ext.109 or rknapp@kapaun.com or to our Registration Chair, Kaye Brown at 316-655-3150 or kbrown7451@gmail.com

Please know our prayers are with you and our deep appreciation for all you are doing in our Church. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Robert Knapp
Planning Committee Chair
Serra Club of Wichita

A Huge Thanks to all of Sponsors and Vendors supporting our Convention:

Sponsors

• Fred Gorges
• Phil and Juanita Smith
• Jon and Amy Baxt
• Support for Catholic Schools, Inc.
• Mel Werner
• Nancy Wrinn
• Barb Pinaire
• Serra Club of Reno County
• Village Travel
• Multiple Anonymous sponsors

Vendors

• Shelterbelt 38
• Support for Catholic Schools, Inc.
• Eighth Day Books
• Rziha Rosaries
• Venerable Emil Kapaun Guild
• Serra International Foundation
• Adoration Foundation