DANBURY- At the Redemptoris Mater Seminary’s annual gala, held at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury on Sunday June 4, the St. Serra Vocations Ministry of Bridgeport was honored for the work we have done since our chartering in 2015 in supporting vocations within the diocese.
Spreading the word about vocations, supporting seminarians and religious in their formation, and assisting those ordained and professed is the mission of Serra. We also pray fervently for these same individuals as well as an increase in the number of those who answer God’s call to serve.
While we were honored to be recognized for our work, we know there is much to be done. We are dedicated to continuing our efforts to raise awareness among the laity of the diocese, encouraging them to support vocations, not only by joining our Ministry, but also within their own parishes.
Deacon Dave shared the following reflection at the gala:
Vocations, vocations, vocations.
The three primary factors to sustaining our sacramental life for us Catholics are: vocations, vocations, vocations.
Vocations are why we are here this evening.
There is no disagreement that the number of vocations is declining. One reason for the predicament we are in, I think, is because young men and women are not being asked if they have ever considered a vocation to the priesthood or the religious life.
Each of us can do something about that! It takes a little bit of courage to ask someone, “Have you ever thought about being a priest? Have you thought about being a sister?” I liken it to a boy at a dance where a girl has caught his eye but he’s afraid to ask her to dance. What he needs is a good friend to give him the confidence and a nudge to ask her.
That is what Serra does. It is that friend who encourages you to ask that young man and woman if they’ve thought about joining that vocational dance. The priesthood or the religious life may be the life-long partner they’ve been seeking.
The Serra I am talking about is spelled S – E – R – R – A. It is not to be confused with the Sierra Club. Both are concerned about the environment but different kinds of environment.
Serra is named after St. Junipero Serra, an 18th century Franciscan missionary who introduced Catholicism to the indigenous people in California. During the 13 years he served the people in what is now California, he established almost a dozen missions. A number of those missions grew into major cities that are familiar to all of us: San Diego, Carmel, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, San Juan Capistrano, and Santa Clara.
St. Serra was a tireless defender of the indigenous people. Several times he walked from California to Mexico City to advocate for their rights. That walk covered over 1,500 miles. He was a very committed priest!
Junipero Serra was chosen as the patron by the first Serra club that was organized in Seattle in 1935. Those first members strongly believed there was a need to encourage and support vocations. Since then, it has grown into an international organization with over 20,000 members in more than 1,100 clubs spread across 46 countries. Serra’s mission is to encourage vocations and to help form the spiritual life of its members.
On April 28, 2015 the Serra Club of Bridgeport was charted by Bishop Caggiano in a Mass celebrated at St. Pius X in Fairfield. That same year on September 23, Junipero Serra was canonized by Pope Francis in a Mass celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC.
Attending that Mass was a young student from the Catholic University of America, who was struggling over whether he had a vocation to the priesthood. At the canonization Mass, something moved his heart, that convinced him of his calling. The following year he began his priestly formation and, on this day, last year that young man, Fr. Colin Lomnitzer, was ordained by Bishop Caggiano at St. Augustine Cathedral. What a profound witness that was of St. Serra fulfilling his role as our patron saint!
A few years ago, Bishop Caggiano celebrated Mass for the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at St. Jude in Monroe. During his homily he said, “when we enter the Sacred Heart of Jesus something profound happens”. He didn’t explain what that something is though. He sort of left us hanging. But this weekend by the grace of God I came across a message from the Catholic Company that listed the twelve promises Jesus told St. Margaret Mary Alacoque that He makes to those who are devoted to His Sacred Heart. Number 10 is, “I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.”
We need good holy priests who can touch and soften the hardness of our hearts. Serra’s mission and specifically ours here in the Bridgeport Diocese is to help our bishop and pastors invite men and women to start the dance that will take them into Christ’s Sacred Heart and stay there.
There are a number of things our Serra vocation ministry does for that, but there is much more that can be done which would be possible if we had more hands whose hearts are committed to encouraging and supporting vocations. Our desire is for more, many more priests and religious to honor at events like this in the future. Please seek us out if you, too, share that desire.
Our Serran community is deeply grateful to Fr. Kukielka for honoring us tonight. Redemptoris
Mater has been a good friend to us over the years, inviting us to pray with them, eating with them and grieving with us when we’ve lost a loved one.
We pray God will continue to bless Redemptoris Mater with many vocations who will touch and heal harden hearts. You’ve certainly touched ours.
If someone has caught your eye, who you think might be a good priest or religious, please ask them to join the vocation dance. We wish all of you Godspeed.
