During our July meeting, Michelle Dickson gave a recap of the All-American Conference for Serra USA, held on June 18-22 at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. The theme for the conference was “Vision of the Catholic Church in 2025.”
The meeting was an “amazing experience,” with 180 Serrans attending the conference. Being a Serran had clearly become a way of life for some attendees, who have been Serrans for 10-20 years.
Word of our activity is spreading, and members from several clubs expressed enthusiasm for the Serra Club of Boston. Serra clubs from New Jersey, Michigan, Indiana, Georgia, Texas, Montana, and Maine have asked us how they can obtain the magnets for their own dioceses.
On Friday there were two sessions of workshops. Serra Boston was listed as a “successful club” during a presentation on membership. The outgoing president of Serra specifically commented on the Serra Club of Boston, and urged attendees to meet Loretta and ask about the Pray for our Priest magnets.
Speaker at the Serra USA conference
Michelle spoke of meeting Fr. David Lincoln, a priest ordained at the age of 71. Fr. Lincoln had been dean of the law school at the University of Notre Dame, and was married until his wife died of cancer in 2003. After his wife’s passing he felt a call from the Holy Spirit to become a priest, and a Serra Club member was crucial in supporting him during his vocation discernment. Michelle passed out an article about Fr. “Link,” which you can read in full here: 71-year-old lawyer to be ordained priest, become prison chaplain
The conference ended with a rosary at the Notre Dame grotto, offering a quiet and prayerful atmosphere to finish the Serra conference. Two photos from the Grotto can be seen below:
Rosary at the Notre Dame Grotto
Michelle Dickson in front of the Notre Dame Grotto
After Michelle’s recap, Loretta gave out a handout on “World Priest Day” distributed at the conference. The last Sunday of October is designated annually as Priesthood Sunday (also known as World Priest Day), a one-day celebration of the priesthood organized by parish lay leaders and coordinated by the USA Council of Serra International. Loretta is writing an article for the Pilot to publicize this event, which will occur on October 26, 2008. More information on this national event can be found on the official World Priest Day web site.
Thanks to Michelle and Loretta for attending the conference and sharing their experiences with the rest of the Serra Boston club!