Serra International is a global lay apostolate for vocations in the Catholic Church. Serra International is recognized by the Holy See. Serra reports to the Prefect of Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education through the director of the Pontifical Work for Priestly Vocations.
In 1935, in Seattle, Washington, four businessmen organized meetings to exchange ideas on Catholic thought. The primary objective was to encourage priestly vocations. They named the club after Father Junipero Serra, the Franciscan missionary who established the California missions.
Serra International has grown to about 600 clubs with 20,000 members in 42 countries throughout the world.
Objectives:
- To foster and promote vocations to the ministerial priesthood in the Catholic Church as particular vocation to service and to support priests in their sacred ministry.
- To encourage and affirm vocations to consecrated religious life in the Catholic Church
- To assist its members to recognize and respond in their own lives to God’s call to holiness in Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit.
Responsibilities:
- Serrans pray for vocations every day
- Mass offered for vocations each month
- Attend meetings twice a month
- Serve as a parish contact person
Meetings: twice monthly with speaker on appropriate topic
Examples of Serra Club of Reading Programs:
Parish Vocation Committees
Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations
Priest Appreciation Dinner
Newly Ordained Dinner
Christmas Party for seminarians and their families
Luncheon for priests in the deanery
Reading Phillies game for priests, seminarians and deacons
Support Vocation Days at high school and elementary schools
Thirty One Club
Retreat Day
Sister Appreciation Dinner
Picnic for Seminarians and their families
Monthly Mass as a club
The Serra Club of Reading combines with the 5 Serra Clubs of the Diocese of Allentown to form District 80-1 in Serra International.
The Serra Club works with the Bishop and his Vocation Director to assist them in their work in promoting diocesan vocations.
The Serra Club of Reading is open to new members looking to support vocations and grow in their own holiness.
The Reading Club is in the process of developing a website/ Facebook connection.
We’d be glad to have you join our team. Please visit our Contacts / Resources page to find the contact information for the Serra Club.
Mary, Mother of Vocations, pray for us.