The Serra Club of Columbus hosted its annual Priests Appreciation Banquet on Tuesday, Aug. 2 in the Walter Commons at St. Charles Preparatory School.
More than 70 priests in the Diocese of Columbus and all 25 seminarians from the Pontifical College Josephinum attended along with Bishop Emeritus James Griffin and Bishop Earl Fernandes.
“We’re grateful to all of our seminarians here and pledge to them our prayers and support,” Bishop Fernandes said.
Prior to the banquet, Bishop Fernandes joined with the priests in a Holy Hour to pray for more priestly vocations. He then talked to the priests about his vision and priorities for the diocese.
“When I look out at this presbyterate, I am proud to be the bishop and see great potential for the Diocese of Columbus,” Bishop Fernandes said. “Each one of you has the potential to be a catalyst for the Lord’s will for our people, and His will is that all should be saved and none should perish, and that all should share in the experience of His mercy and love.”
The talk was followed by a social hour and dinner.
“I thank you for making the offering of yourself — your life — to God and His Church,” Bishop Fernandes told the priests in attendance. “Each of us is different, each of us has different gifts.
“As a new bishop, I’m grateful for your presence, for your warm reception, for your prayers and especially for your ministry. You are co-workers with the bishop in the Lord’s vineyard and each of you, I know, works very hard to make sacrifices. You suffer with and for your people, and for that I’m grateful.
The Serra Club of Columbus has hosted this event for 40+ years. The club aims to foster and promote vocations to the ministerial priesthood of the Church and to support priests in their sacred ministry.
“To all the Serrans who are present and to all who have volunteered to make this evening so special for us and an opportunity for true fraternity, I thank you for your constant prayers and sacrifices for making our lives better in ways known only to God through whose grace we are able to do what we do,” Bishop Fernandes said.
Pope St. John Paul II said, “Serrans, you are the lay vocation arm of the Catholic Church.” In addition to the banquet, club activities that support and pray for vocations include First Friday Adoration, annual Outstanding Altar Server Awards presided over by Bishop Fernandes, monthly luncheons with guests speakers and an Adopt a Seminarian program.
Serra International was founded in 1935. The Serra Club of Columbus was chartered Sept. 14, 1954.
