Vocations
serra club
Do you take a personal interest in prayerfully supporting the clergy and religious of our Church? Does it concern you that many fine young men and women are not supported enough in considering the possibility that God might be calling them to become future priests, brothers or sisters? Have you ever wondered how you could possibly assist the Church in fostering more vocations to the priesthood or consecrated life? Well, if you answered yes to any of the above, we just might have the opportunity for you. Consider joining the newly re-established Serra Club of Arlington here within our diocese. Serra International numbers over 23,000 members worldwide, this organization, comprised mostly of married and single lay men and women, exists primarily to foster and promote vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, as well as to assist its members to grow in a greater understanding, and public witness of our Catholic faith. Prayerfully consider becoming a member of this wonderful organization and encourage members of your parish, whom you think might be interested, to do the same. Call the Office of Vocations at (703) 841-2514 for more information.
Roster of Officers
| Current President | J. Laurence McCarthy |
| President Elect/Vice President | Frank Sowa |
| Vice President for Vocations | Dan & Mary O'Donohue |
| Vice President for Membership | Richard Gill |
| Vice President for Programs | Eileen Sowa |
| Vice President for Communications | Ed Conklin |
| Historian | Vacant |
| Treasurer | Jeannette Godlewski |
| Secretary | Bertha Braddock |
| Recording Secretary | Bertha Braddock |
| Chaplain | Father Robert Rippy |
| Trustees (3) | Herbert Brooks, Bill Wallace, Herbert Harmon |
Vocation Initiative Update
Mindful of the joy that the prayers of children bring to the Lord and the graces they bring to His people, Bishop Loverde and Dr. Timothy McNiff, Superintendent of the Office of Catholic Schools, have begun a vocation prayer initiative with the principals of the diocesan Catholic schools. Every morning students and teachers will pray for vocations and also pray for our seminarians and men and women in formation by name. Using the prayer calendar for the St. Therese Vocation Society which dedicates each day of prayer for a particular person in formation, the schools will join together asking the Lord of the Harvest to strengthen them in the following of His call to serve Him and His people as priests, religious sisters or brothers.
Click here for the prayer calendar.
This initiative directly corresponds with Jesus’ command to ask our Heavenly Father to send laborers to work in His vineyard. In doing so, not only will our men and women already answering His call be enriched, but also these young people will become more aware of the need to pray for vocations and be more open to the Lord’s invitation to follow Him in their own lives.
Vocation Theme for Our Club
To Jesus Through Mary
Speakers Theme for 2007-8
Speakers for the Year will focus on the "Encountering the Living Christ".