MADISON — The Serra Club of Madison held its annual Bishop’s Dinner on May 22 at the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center.
All priests of the diocese were invited to join Serrans, their spouses, and guests at the annual dinner.
Msgr. James Bartylla, club chaplain and diocesan vocation director, introduced all the priests present, noting especially two golden jubilarians attending: Frs. Henry Kalscheuer and Roger Nilles.
Grant Emmel, club president, thanked Monsignor Bartylla for his work. Emmel said the Serra Club “appreciates the opportunity to help foster vocations and provide opportunities for fellowship among seminarians and priests.”
Emmel noted that the Serra Club sponsors weekday Eucharistic Adoration in the O’Connor Center chapel. “We’re very proud of that,” he said.
The club also sponsors a seminarian Christmas gathering, a Valentine’s dinner for consecrated women at Edgewood College, and a summer baseball outing for seminarians and priests.
The club has also been involved in promoting the Traveling Chalice program in parishes and this year has been involved with the College Connections Program, which has connected over 500 incoming college students with Catholic campus ministry.
Bill Pschorr announced that Patrick Stiennon was selected as the recipient of the Serran of the Year Award. He is a former club president and has held other Serra offices. He has also been instrumental in providing books and tapes for seminarians and priests. Stiennon was presented with the award at a later time.
In his remarks, Bishop Morlino thanked all the priests in attendance. He encouraged all priests and seminarians to imitate the holiness of Mary. “Be with Mary and like Mary in knowing Christ,” urged the bishop. “Mary was the only one from the moment of conception to know her son.
“If Jesus Christ calls young men to follow him, then pray that they will say ‘yes’ in an absolute way like Mary did,” he said.
The Serra Club also presented the bishop with a monetary donation to support the education of seminarians. The check was given at a later date.
For more membership information on the Serra Club, contact Tom Delaney at 608-233-2232.