By Katie Peterson, Tennessee Register/Diocese of Nashville
For the first time in 20 years, the Diocese of Nashville chartered and installed the officers of a new Serra Club in Middle Tennessee, the St. Serra Club of Nativity, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the Church of the Nativity in Thompsons Station.
Led by President Janet Wilgenbusch, the new club begins with 49 members. It is the third Serra Club established in the diocese, following the Nashville Serra Club and the Serra Club of Williamson County.
To mark the occasion, Bishop J. Mark Spalding of Nashville celebrated Mass, which included the official chartering ceremony and the installation of officers. Father Luke Wilgenbusch, director of vocations, and Father Jerry Strange, pastor of the Church of the Nativity, concelebrated the Mass.
“It is wonderful for us to gather on this great occasion, mindful of how we all have a responsibility for vocations in the Church; a responsibility of raising up wonderful vocations in Christ. In many ways, we have a calling to say, ‘Here is my vocation in life,’” said Bishop Spalding during his homily. “We’re blessed with a good number of seminarians, we’re blessed with our priests, we’re blessed with a number of religious women. You see a bounty of the Holy Spirit working, and Serrans are such a huge part of that.”
The chartering ceremony was led by Bob Rudman, a member of the Williamson County Serra Club and vice president of vocations of the Serra International Foundation.
“Serra International’s mission is a sacred ministry,” Rudman said. “You will strengthen Serra’s role as the lay arm of the Church for vocations in promoting, fostering, and preserving vocations to the priesthood and religious life, both by prayer and by active vocation programs.”
The officers include Trustee Jan Sliger, Treasurer Steve Wilgenbusch, Secretary Diana Calderon, Chaplain Father Cyriac Kurian, Vice President of Membership Tom Vogel, Vice President of Vocations Bob Zwibel, Vice President of Communications Amy Freitas, President-elect David Clare, and Club President and Vice President of Programs Janet Wilgenbusch, who addressed the club.
“While we have 49 members, it’s not just about the number. You all who have joined are just what we’re looking for, which are members who are going to pray for our vocations and our priests and sisters,” Wilgenbusch said. “That’s what it’s all about; the people really doing what Serra calls us to do and, because of it, we’re all growing in our own holiness.”
