ARCHDIOCESE — The Serra Ohio Valley-Great Lakes Regional Convention came to a close Oct. 10 with a Mass at the Cathedral of St.  Peter in Chains. Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr presided.

 

The Serra Club of Cincinnati hosted the convention, which began Oct. 8 and was co-hosted by the Serra Club of Northern Kentucky. The gathering was held at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. Bishop Roger Foys of the Diocese of Covington celebrated Mass with those in attendance at start of the convention. The liturgy was followed by a presentation by Father Jay Scott Newman, pastor of St. Mary Church in Greenville, SC, titled “Living as an Evangelical Catholic.”

Convention attendees had the opportunity to hear a panel of current seminarians and postulants discuss their decisions to enter formation for religious life and how Serra Club members can affect that decision with their support and prayers. Also featured was a workshop for parish vocation committee representatives during which they shared their current practices and gained ideas to implement in their faith communities. Other workshops focused on such topics as effective communication practices and membership recruiting and retention. In addition, a presentation on Theology of the Body and its connection to vocation was offered.

 

A reception with Archbishop Schnurr and seminarians from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West was also on the agenda, followed by a special dinner and keynote presentation by Catholic Radio host Brian Patrick on “Utilizing the Media in Building up a Vocation Culture.”