We know from our Serra prayer that Our Lord wants us to be converted and live! Yes, in that order! Not, “live and be converted,” but, “be converted and live.”
In Serra, our lives take another turn (or conversion) when we consider the mission we undertake: to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life and to develop our own spirituality. The mission is multi-purpose and the Serra structure takes account of that.
Before the energizing Eucharistic Congress in the United States in July 2024, Bishop Cozzens said in an interview, “We expect miracles! We want to be set on fire!”
Inspiring words! He added, “Our goal is to help the Church in the United States make this transformation that Pope Francis has called for, the missionary transformation, so that we can become the missionaries we’re called to be.”
To repeat: “…the missionary transformation, so that we can become the missionaries we are called to be.”
This is perfect for Serra!
‘Mission’ means being sent, and realizing why we are sent. We may not go out knocking on doors, but there is a “going out/going forth” implication. Serra is not only about Club meetings and personal nourishment, but those factors are supposed to arm us to go beyond – to go out to the world, even just to our own local world.
The new Serra Strategic Plan has that in mind. Granted, it is only at the stage of having been dealt with at the Council level. The challenge is now for the Councils to engage their Districts and Clubs.
The vision behind the mission (Vision 2035) is stated clearly in the Plan: “Become recognized as the worldwide resource for supporting religious vocations.” This is long-range strategy, allowing us 10 years to accomplish this. Meantime, the overarching goal of the Plan and all our Serran plans is one that’s familiar and our everyday challenge, “Foster a culture of vocations to the ministerial priesthood among parishes, schools, and families.”
I saw a movie recently that made me think about its application to the Serra organization. Called, “The Boys in the Boat,” it’s about a young man from a hard-scrabble background who manages to enroll in university and then in the university rowing team. Practice hours are long and arduous, and the coach holds all of the team to a high standard. The young man doesn’t have even the same nutritional advantages of the others, and only sticks with the program because there is some financial benefit, which he needs. At one point he’s at a low ebb and facing problems. He begins to tire of the constant push for success by the coach and questions the whole structure. The coach is not unsympathetic but more or less tells him to ‘put up or shut up’ (maybe ‘fish or cut bait’ in this context), stating, “It’s not about you – it’s about the boat!” And it is about the boat: it takes the whole team working hard and working together to be successful.
The implications for Serra are clear – no need to spell them out.
When we or our members say we don’t have time or complain that something is too hard to achieve, we need to remember – it’s about the boat, the Serra boat! It’s interesting that Jesus uses a boat several times from which to teach the apostles and then the people, even talking about the parable of the sower (not in a field, but from a boat!), saying, “Those who have ears, let them hear!” I find it interesting that Jesus never steered the boat himself, but left that to others while he slept, or tried to, even during storms. He trusted the crew to sail Him on His mission, forming the Apostles and their successors as the Church which we serve as Serrans to continue that journey.
I’m going to talk a little bit about myself here. Some years ago, I was invited to a meeting with several other people to listen to a talk about a group called Serra, and I left the meeting a few hours later having promised to be the First President of the Serra Club in our area. Sound familiar? A few years later I was approached by the District Governor to see if I would accept the office of President of Serra Council of Canada. What? I wasn’t even on the board! It was clear they were between a rock and a hard place, and I somewhat reluctantly agreed after thinking and praying about it. I spoke to Mario Biscardi, who was on his way to becoming President of Serra International, and to two former Serra International presidents, the wise men John Gennaro and George Damiani, and they all promised support when needed. I said yes, jumping up a few steps on the usual Serra ladder, no doubt. But it worked out, and the support given by other members of the board helped me develop into a reasonable President of the Serra Council for Canada. I was invited to be on the nominating committee of Serra InternationaI, which was then chaired by Tim O’ Neill, whose guidance and encouragement, along with that of Presidents Rubin Gallegos and Mike Bragg, led me to becoming Chair of the Long-Range Planning Committee, VP for Programs with President Greg Schweitz, and lastly with President Kurt Metyko as President-Elect, learning all the time from all of them and still doing so.
Working with experienced Serrans on long-range planning is broadening, as is working with VPs such as Margo Geddie and her amazing work in membership – a true missionary out there in the world; with Emanuele Costa in Communications, developing his committee’s “Serra Connects” newsletter to tell the stories of our global membership; Bob Rudman in Vocations and the Serra Coin project which is making great impact, and Tony Mangione and his dedicated work in Programs.
I became aware of the time, effort and sheer dedication that is given by Bob Campney, our Treasurer, and Colonel John Halloran, our Secretary, as well as the wonderful work done by the Serra International Foundation under Judy Schumaker, all contributing to the working of Serra. All trustees on the International Board are to be congratulated for the good work they do representing their countries and as trustees. Last but not least is the excellent work done by John Liston as Executive Director and his team of Barbara Luster and Giovanna Garcia, who are on the front line of calls and requests from Serrans, and who provide a cheerful and gracious response to our members.
I welcome our new 2024-25 board members and new VPs, Anne Larkins to Communications and Morie Ratuiste to Vocations, as well as Secretary Richard Ariens, and I look forward to working with those staying on the board while thanking profoundly those whose terms are over. We are a volunteer organization, and I have learned from all these people and many more whose names would be too lengthy to list that it is our missionary spirit that impels Serrans to give of ourselves, our time and our talents, for the good of Serra.
At this time I would like to point out a historic situation for Serra: the Serra International President, the President of the Serra International Foundation and the President of the US Council are all women — a “Serra Trifecta!” Judy Schumaker, Ann Roat and I are honoured to be working together, for the good of Serra! I’d also like to take a moment to recognize Sue Cicherski of the University of Dallas Serra Club as the first woman President of Serra International, 2002-2003. Thank you for leading the way, Sue!
I want to take this opportunity to thank Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto for his support and encouragement of Serra International as its episcopal advisor, and for his inspiring homilies and liturgical celebrations which root us in Christ and nourish the spiritual basis of our mission. The ongoing foundation provided by Cardinal Collins is essential and integral to our mission, vision and goals, and we are grateful!
Looking ahead, I am looking forward to hearing about developments concerning the Strategic Plan, which is beginning to gain the momentum that I hope will keep us all on the same Serran track. Every plan needs action and implementation, and it will be important to hear from Councils as to how they are moving forward in their areas, and to reading their reports, a necessary part of any strategy for evaluation purposes. I hope this year’s board hears from Councils via our Vice Presidents and Long-Range Planning Committee about what is being accomplished in their areas, as they take the steps necessary to reach our common goals.
I see this as exciting, challenging and yes, probably time consuming and in need of effort, but it is the mission we signed up for and it’s a noble one! The next year and the next few years give us an opportunity to re-think, re-view and re-commit to the mission of Serra, and every organization has to do that every so often.
I feel strongly that all Councils and Clubs should have a voice if we want to have a sense of belonging to an organization as well as having a sense of purpose, and that the international board is not an instrument for telling other layers of the organization what they ‘should’ be doing. Mission needs vision and vision needs to be shared and appropriated. It is less about aimless decision-making, but rather meeting together and saying: Look, here are the goals, let’s discuss them and decide how we will prioritize them, how we will achieve them, perhaps even decide to let some go. We’ll discuss how we will evaluate them and perhaps adapt them – all in the name of moving forward, because that’s the mission we signed up for. Siempre Adelante!
We know our mission has value. We know our goals have value.
Do we value our mission? Do we value our goals?
I believe we do, so let’s get to work for the good of Serra – everyday!
