Dr. Anne Roat, Serra US President
When I was a teacher, one of the classes that I taught every few years was on St. Francis de Sales’ book, Introduction to the Devout Life. It is a type of primer for lay people on how to live. So, I want to draw from the wisdom of this Doctor of the Church and apply it to us as Serrans.
One of the chapters in St. Francis’ book entitled Various Instructions for Elevating the Soul to God by Prayer and the Sacraments is devoted to prayer. As Serrans we are called to grow in holiness and this call cannot be accomplished without prayer. Prayer can be described as a lifting up of our heart and mind to God— a conversation with God—or even a surge of emotion. Serrans must be people of prayer to fulfill the call of being a leader for vocations.
You should each have a copy of Serrans Called to Holiness: Handbook for our Spiritual Life and our Mission of Fostering Vocations. First issued in 2014, and then revised in 2023, the book is a spiritual exercise written especially for Serrans. It contains many prayers and devotions that most Serrans are already doing, and those pious practices are important to help us grow in holiness and be fruitful in the Serra apostolate for vocations.
In the guidelines for doing the Serran Spiritual Exercises each Serran is asked to commit to one hour of prayer each day, every day. Daily Mass attendance is encouraged, and frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist is of utmost importance. Praying the Liturgy of the Hours should also be part of the prayer for Serrans because it is the prayer that all priests and religious pray daily in union with the whole church. Eucharistic Adoration is really a necessity, and Serrans are asked to visit and adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament daily. Confession, it is noted should be made at least once a month. All Serrans are encouraged to fast for the intention of the Serra apostolate for vocations and sanctification of our priests.
Another part of the St. Francis’ book deals with Instructions of the Practice of Virtue. There are several virtues in this section that can be helpful to us as Serrans.
Faith
As Serrans we have faith in our mission. As leaders in vocation work, Serrans must be familiar with the mission and vision of our organization. We promote and affirm vocations to the priesthood and vowed religious life and thereby grow in our own holiness. Our goal (from the Strategic Plan) is simple—to foster a culture of vocations to the ministerial priesthood among parishes, schools, and families.
We are blessed to have a succinct and easy to understand mission. Remind yourself and others about it constantly. It is good the remember the example of Saint Junipero Serra as a man who demonstrated the virtue of faith. His motto “always forward” provides a valuable lesson on what it means to use your faith to lead you to the goal. Often, we face temptation to whine, complain, or blame. Those of us in vocation work even face the demon of discouragement. “Always forward” calls us to move past stewing and complaining and instead to have faith in our mission.
Courage
The second virtue we Serrans need to embrace is the virtue of courage. We need to be courageous in sharing ideas and getting others to believe in them. Every organization needs a vision, but even more importantly they need people who have the courage to communicate that vision. Read about St. Junipero Serran and discover his story. Share the insights you gain from studying his life. Communicate both our mission and the work of our patron. When was the last time you invited someone to become a Serran and work for vocations? Be courageous in sharing about our ministry!
Perseverance
Another important virtue for a Serran is perseverance. We know that we need Jesus, we need the Eucharist, and we need priests to give us Jesus in the Eucharist. If this is true then we need to plan for the future. Leaders for vocations should be aware of the current statistics surrounding vocations both nationally and in your own diocese. How many seminarians do you have? How many men were ordained this year? What are the current trends of men entering formation? You can obtain up to date statistics each year on the CARA website site or from the USCCB. If vocations are our business, then we need to know the numbers.
Remember that the role of a leader for vocations is to actively seek out vocations. But to do that we need a plan. It is our responsibility to have a personal plan for promoting vocations and for our local clubs to take time each year to thoughtfully develop our calendar of events. Building a culture of vocations takes effort.
Generosity
The last virtue I want to mention is generosity. One of the most important characteristics a Serran can display is a generous spirit. Our passion and zeal should reach others and inspire them to feel the same. We can help those around us to become invested in our mission. Remember that if we do not believe in our mission then we will not be able to encourage others to work toward it. Serrans are inherently positive people, and we can help others draw strength from our steadfast optimism.
Pope Francis reminded us so eloquently of our generosity during his audience with the participants at the 75th Convention of Serra International in Rome.
“The Serra Club helps foster this beautiful vocation of being laity who are friends to priests. Friends who know how to accompany and sustain them in faith, in fidelity to prayer and apostolic commitment. Friends who share the wonder of a vocation, the courage of a definitive decision, the joy and fatigue of ministry. Friends who can offer priests support and regard their generous efforts and human failings with understanding and tender love. In this way you are to priests like the home of Bethany, where Jesus entrusted his weariness to Martha and Mary, and thanks to their care was able to find rest and refreshment.
Serrans need to be leaders for vocations. We can start by dedicating that one hour a day to prayer and asking God to send us holy vocations.
Have faith in the mission of Serra—memorize it, share it with others, be sure that you are always working to further that mission. Courageously communicate what we as Serrans do—tell your friends and family so that they understand our apostolate. Persevere in planning for the future of our organization. Finally, maintain your generous spirit for our vocation work—become a supporter of every priest you meet. Serra needs you to step up—be that leader for vocations.
Please do think about what I just finished telling you. Serra needs men and women who are willing to be invested in working for vocations. Each of you have seen the statistics, read the rationales behind them, and know what that means for our Holy Mother Church. We need holy priests, and it is up to each of us as Serrans to become those leaders for vocations. In the words of our patron, St. Junipero Serra—“always forward, never turn back!”
