Serra GB National Conference 2020
now rescheduled for October 2021,
at The Lancashire Manor Hotel, Wigan.
with Right Reverand Mark Davies, Bishop of the Shrewsbury Diocese as our guest.
Details to follow soon.
Our last conference of 2019, past with great memories.
See our December '20 issue of focus below, for a full report on "Christus Vivit."
Theme: "Serra and vocational discernment."
Glasgow Serra had the honour of organising and hosting our
Serra GB National Conference of 2019
at The Best Western Lancashire Manor Hotel.
It was indeed a most inspiring presentation given by our keynote speaker Fr Eamonn Mulcahy C.S.Sp. (Spiritan fathers) who guided us through the Holy Father's apostolic exhortation "Christus vivit." We were introduced to Fr David Pember from the "Just Youth Volunteers" also of the Spirit Fathers with some of his young members. Many of the young volunteers go forward to seminary or novitiate to become priests or religious, but mainly they work promoting our faith among young people.
Serra International Conventions
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic our 2020 Convention in New Orleans was cancelled.
Toronto will host in 2021.
returning to New Orleans in 2022.
77th Serra International Convention 2019
Our convention was a great success. Delegates were treated to a typical Mexican, Serran hospitality and joined in the celebrations with members from around the world .They enjoyed speakers of international renown. Serrans from across the world were honoured and indeed priveleged to visit the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe as a special highlight of our convention programme. Most outside the Americas were not familiar with Our Lady of Guadalupe. See our article in the August '19 edition of Serra GB focus.
The 76th Serra International Convention 2018
Our convention in Nashville Tennessee was an outstanding success with 5 prelates of the church as speakers and celebants at our liturgies. The introduction of our new Episcopal advisor, His Eminance Cardinal Collins of Toronto was our keynote speaker expressing the need for more vocations, encouraging our apostolate to continue carrying out the necessary work and expanding our membership throughout the world. The Cardinal's homily here .
In this December edition, we try to escape this virus, reflecting on Christmas and a time to rejoice.
The bi-monthly Serra GB focus contains information about our apostolate, vocations stories, articles relating to our liturgical calendar and news items from home and abroad. The Serra GB focus is distributed to our members, associates, friends of Serra and those interested in our vocations apostolate.Should you wish to view previous issues, enter Serra GB focus on your browser and select the month from the dropdown list or contact the Secretary.
Retrace St Junipero Serra's footsteps, courtesy EWTN: here
Due to the present health crisis many of
of our Current Events are cancelled.
Spiritual Communion and Prayers for release from Covid-19 here
Vigils for vocations: CancelledAround the time of the Holy Father's vocations message on Good Shepherd Sunday, 3rd May, our Vigils take on national and international importance with vigils being held around the country. Vigils for Vocations are on going in various parishes throughout the country, with Mass, reflections, Eucharistic Adoration, speakers, seminarians and finishing with Benediction and Night Prayer.
Contact your local Serra club for more information.
Anniversary: event postponed for present Glasgow Serra. Golden anniversary of their charter on 9th May 2020
Planning is ongoing for an eventful period of celebration.
Schools vocations events cancelled:
Our senior schools events, with pupils from the 4th-6th years attract some 500-600 pupils viewing our religious and diocesan exhibitions for priesthood and consecrated life followed by discussion groups and finishing with a concelebrated vocations mass. These school events are becoming very popular with the staff and school chaplains. We hope we are planting the seeds for the Lord's call. View some of our photos
Rosary for Vocations:
Serrans from all over the world are invited to join in a recitation of the Rosary for vocations. Our monthly international Rosary which started in 2017 continues on the last Saturday of every month. To join the Rosary free of charge from your computer, tablet or smart phone, click: here: You can also download a Rosary for vocations for you or your group, with intentions from our resources page under Holy Hours.
Holy Father's Message
for the 57th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, here
The purpose of this day is to fulfil the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2).
As a climax to a prayer that is continually offered throughout the Church, it affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries, to the Religious life in all its forms (male and female, contemplative and apostolic), to societies of apostolic life, to secular institutes in their diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life, in the particular sense of mission "ad gentes".
" Four words of vocation"
On the 4th of August last year, the 160th anniversary of the death of the Cure of Ars, The Holy father chose to write a letter to all those priests who daily devote their lives to the service of God's people in response to our Lord's call. He chose four words pain, gratitude, encouragement and praise as a way of thanking priests and supporting their ministry. Those words can be addressed to the whole people of God against the backdrop of the Gospel passage that recounts the remarkable experience of Jesus and Peter during a stormy night on the Sea of Galilee (Mt 14:22-33)
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