HOBART – Serra Club of Northwest Indiana members hosted Diocese of Gary seminarians, their parents and their home parish pastors for a post-Christmas Mass and Dinner on Dec. 29 at St. Bridget.
“We host this dinner each year to show our appreciation for the seminarians, their pastors and parents because we need the Eucharist and without priests we wouldn’t have the Eucharist, which is the Source and Summit of our life,” said Susan Gryfakis, Serra Club president.
Referring to the first reading of the day (1 John 2:3-11), homilist Father Dominic Bertino, senior priest and chaplain of the Serra Club, spoke of the faithful dedicating their lives to God and keeping his commandments. “If we know God, we keep his commandments, but He’s not talking about the Ten Commandments … John warns us that we may try to keep the ten, but not the (most important) two – that we dedicate ourselves to God and take care of those around us.”
Speaking personally, Father Bertino admitted that “as I got closer to the end of the road, I thought we’d be further ahead by now in the Church community and we’d have a Kingdom of God … but there is so much work we need to do.”
With admiration for Pope Benedict XVI for speaking with clarity, Father Bertino noted that the late pope (2005-2013) “came to believe that Western society has rejected Christ, and pretty much the truth, and has relegated our Lord to just another thinker of the past, like Buddha.”
Looking out to the seminarians seated in the pews, Father Bertino told them: “You’ll be missionaries and (yet) you’ll probably never leave the diocese, but you’ll be missionaries right here. We’ll do all we can do to live the Gospel, preach the Gospel, and if we do, how can others not also do so.”
During the dinner following Mass, a festive atmosphere prevailed as introductions were made, a buffet meal was shared and door prizes were awarded, as well as Christmas gift envelopes from the 27 Serra Club members to the seminarians.
Father Nate Edquist, vocations director for the Diocese of Gary as well as pastor of Holy Family Parish in LaPorte, offered an update on his office.
Eleven young men discerning the priesthood joined the current seminarians at a Discernment Retreat, Dec. 27-29, at the Cedar Lake Conference Center, he said. “One is already applying for the seminary next fall, and several others have requested application materials,” he added. “We used a video series and small discussion groups to explain the priestly life.”
Seven current seminarians in graduate levels planned to attend the SEEK24 conference hosted by the FOCUS missionary group on Jan. 1-5 in St. Louis, Missouri, and a Discernment Trip is planned for interested young men to Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary at St. Mary University in Winona, Minn. on Feb. 15-17.
First-year seminarian Patrick Cullars of Munster, who attends the seminary in Winona, said the seminarians fielded many questions at the recent retreat, describing day-to-day life in the seminary and college courses. He said he enjoyed his six-week orientation with short courses last summer, helping him acclimate to his studies.
His mother, Josie Cullars, admitted she didn’t expect to miss her son as much as she does, but called it “a good thing” for him to become more mature and grounded on his own. “He doesn’t spend as much time on his phone or watching TV, and is more reflective and thoughtful,” she added. “I’ve changed, too, joining a prayer group online and attending daily Mass and praying the Rosary.”
Deacons Stever Caraher and Zach Glick are scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, June 1, and seminarians Ivan Alatorre and Alex Kouris are set to be ordained to the transitional diaconate along with 15 permanent deacons on Saturday, June 8, both at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary.
“A lot of great things are happening this year, so please keep them all in your prayers, the seminarians and those who are discerning,” Father Edquist concluded.
The next Serra Club meeting will be held on Monday, Jan. 15, with a 6 p.m. Holy Hour in the school chapel at St. Bridget in Hobart, followed by a business meeting. Anyone interested in more information about joining the Serra Club is welcome to contact Gryfakis at 688-8209 or vsgryfakis@gmail.com.
Caption: Father Nate Edquist, vocations director for the Diocese of Gary, spoke at the Dec. 29 Serra Club dinner at St. Bridget, summarizing a discernment retreat attended by 11 young men and hosted by the 12 current seminarians at the Cedar Lake Conference Center on Dec. 27-29. "We used a video series and discussion group (to discuss the priesthood)," said Father Edquist, adding that one discerner is currently applying for the seminary, while several others have expressed an interest. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)