After a two-year hiatus, the Serra Club of Erie was once again able to host its annual reception for the seminarians at St. Mark Seminary on the evening of Wednesday, January 11th.
The event is an opportunity for Serra Club members to meet the seminarians discerning their vocation in life, and for the seminarians to meet the people who pray for them daily during that process.
The mission of the Serra Club is to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life and to affirm our clergy and consecrated religious in their vocations and work.
Each member of the Serra Club is assigned a seminarian or religious novice to pray for daily, as they go through discernment. Serrans are also asked to attend one extra Mass each month and ask God for an increase in vocations to the clerical or consecrated religious state.
The annual reception is an opportunity for members to meet the men they are praying for in the seminary. It is an informal, relaxed get together, providing time for conversation, fellowship and fun.
The evening began with night prayer in the chapel, a normal part of a seminarian’s daily routine. After prayers Father Scott Jabo, Rector of St. Mark Seminary, introduced Father David Renne, Vice-Rector, and all the seminarians to the visitors.
Afterward all retired to the library for a buffet, beverages and socializing.
A short formal program was included and Michael Liebler, of the Diocese of Buffalo, talked about the promptings in his life that led him to enter the seminary. Max Kroell, who is studying for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, described the milestones in his life that led him to formal discernment at St. Mark Seminary.
There was a lively Q&A period after the talks.
The program and the evening ended with a prayer led by seminarian Joseph Preston of the Diocese of Erie.