The St. Serra Club of Louisville was named one of four U.S. chapters to receive the “Siempre Adelante” Gold Certificate Award from Serra International, according to an announcement by club president Chuck Lynch on Apr. 21.
This recognition highlights the club’s efforts in supporting and encouraging vocations to the priesthood and religious life, a core mission shared by all 191 Serra Clubs within the Serra USA Council. The award is based on evaluations that consider club activities, interactions with vocation directors and bishops, communications, and other criteria.
Lynch said, “We almost always have outside speakers — some telling us of their vocation journies and others telling us about other archdiocesan agencies or groups.” He also noted ongoing collaborations with the Archdiocese of Louisville’s Vocation Office, including programs such as Adopt-A-Seminarian, Altar Server Awards for eighth graders, a Vocation Poster and Essay Contest, luncheons for religious sisters, and an annual seminarian send-off event.
“We are currently working with the Vocation Office on an annual Jubilee Mass and luncheon to recognize our archdiocesan sisters, priests and brothers who are members of various orders, and particularly those celebrating special anniversaries this year of their ordination or consecration vows,” Lynch said. He added that new efforts aim “to promote vocation ministries in parishes, schools and other Catholic organizations,” which he believes will raise awareness about vocations needs and encourage more young people to consider religious life.
The Archdiocese of Louisville supports Catholic spiritual development through its ministries according to its official website. It maintains archives preserving historical documents from its institutions according to its official website, aligns with the Roman Catholic Church as an ecclesiastical territory according to its official website, seeks to spread the Gospel while addressing human needs according to its official website, operates under guidance from the Archbishop along with consultative bodies according to its official website, and provides pastoral care across central Kentucky parishes according to its official website.
Serra International includes more than 12,000 members in over 500 clubs located in 30 countries worldwide.
