News

Regular Meeting
22 Aug 08
Mark Sadd distrubuted copies of an article by Anna Arco entitled "The Renewal of the Dominican Order is Flourishing"

Speakers  Janet Kawash and Terri Moore Imani, scrip coordinators for Sacred Heart Grade School and St. Agnes Grade School, spoke about the important role that scrip plays in raising funds for their schools.  They expained how each of us can use scrip for our everyday purchases, at no additional cost to us, and provide our local Catholic grade schools with much-needed funds. Our speakers also distributed copies of the Sacred Heart Scrip Order Form, St. Agnes Scrip Order Form, a Scrip Information Pamphlet, the SHGS Aug. 22 Scrip Newsletter, and Information on Ordering Scrip on the Internet.

Regular Meeting
8 Aug 08
Speaker  L.J. Fairless, President of Snodgrass Funeral Home, will speak on directing funerals among a variety of cultures and religious traditions.

Regular Meeting
25 Jul 08
Chaplain's Remarks  Fr. Doug Ondeck spoke about the importance of living our lives in anticipation of the second coming of Christ, and planning, not for the present, but for the future.  Fr. Doug summed up his message with, "Look busy, the Lord in coming."
Special Meeting  
The Charleston Serrans had a special meeting to plan the upcoming year for the club.  They developed a list of specific goals over the coming year.

Regular Meeting
18 Jul 08
Induction Ceremony for New Member  Michael Tupta, Vice-Pesident of Membership, lead the induction ceremony for our newest member, Maria Rendinell.
Special Announcement  Our club president, Mark Sadd, discussed the efforts of St. Paul Radio Co., a Kanawha Valley Catholic lay apostolate dedicated to the development of Catholic radio to spread the good news of Christ to the Kanawha Valley and Southern West Virginia.
Speaker  The Honorable Joseph P. Albright, Justice, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, discussed Dilemmas of Conscience in Public Office:  "I do not speak for my church on public matters, and the church does not speak for me." - JFK


Optional Memorial of Blessed Junípero Serra, Priest

1 Jul 08
Members of the Serra Club of Charleston attended noon mass at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral in Charleston.  Fr. Doug Ondeck celebrated the mass and in his homily discussed the life of Blessed Junípero Serra and the contributions that Fr. Serra made to the Church in 18th century California.

Regular Meeting
20 Jun 08
Chaplain's Remarks  Fr. Doug Ondeck spoke about the import role that the Catholic Church has played in shaping world history and U.S. history, and how important it is for Catholics to understand their past while looking to the future.  He quoted St. Ambrose, one of the Great Doctors of the Western Church, who said, "Most men strive for the present.  We (Christians) strive for the future".  Fr. Doug also recommended that the Serrans read "When Worlds Collide", and article from The Weekly Standard by P.J. O'Rourke, and the books listed on Reading List for RCIA 2007-2008
Speaker  Ms. Emily White, Director of Archives & Records for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, presented "Celebrating West Virginia Day--A History of the Catholic Church in West Virginia"

Special Event
15 Jun 08
Serra Club of Charleston member Nick Casey was installed as a member of the Equestrian Order of Saint Gregory the Great at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral during the noon Mass.  The Holy Father announced his inclusion of Nick on the Honors List earlier this year.

Regular Meeting
13 Jun 08
Chaplain's Remarks  Fr. Doug Ondeck spoke about "Catholicism as a Lifestyle"
Speaker  Tony DeMeo, Football Coach at the University of Charleston spoke about "Faith, Football and Devotion to St. Anthony".  This was a timely topic since June 13th is the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua.  Coach DeMeo emphasized the four values that his assistant coaches and players live by - character, courage, class, and integrity.

Charleston Saturday Gazette-Mail Article
7 Jun 08
The Saturday Gazette-Mail published an article entitled "Fewer Priests, More Work".

Founders Day Dinner
18 May 08
Fourteen Serrans, twelve guests, and eighteen members of the local Catholic clergy and religious celebrated the 58th anniversary of the founding of the Serra Club of Charleston.  They had dinner at the Bleesed John XXIII Pastoral Center, and entertainment was provided by the Huntington Brass Quintet.

Diaconate Ordination
17 May 08
Two of our seminarians, James DeViese, Jr. and Joshua Stevens, were ordained as transitional deacons at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral in Charleston.  As stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, their ordination to the diaconate through the sacrament of holy orders “configures them to Christ, who made himself the ‘deacon’ or servant of all.” (1570). Deacons are ministers ordained for tasks of service to the Church. Ordination confers on them important functions in the ministry of the Word, divine worship, pastoral governance and the service of charity, tasks they must carry out under the pastoral authority of their bishop.
  

Regular Meeting
9 May 08
Chaplain's Remarks Fr. Doug Ondeck discussed the role of a chaplain in the life of a Serra club.  He distributed copies of the Serra Chaplain's Manual.
Speaker Catherine Romeo, Director of the John Paul II Campus Ministry Center, spoke abou the new ministry center located on the campus of the University of Charleston.  Thirteen of the twenty-eight colleges and universities in West Virginia now have a Catholic presence of some kind.  These ministries provide many activities for students including meditation groups, charitable activities, interfaith activities, retreats, and many other things.  Unfortunately, only 44% of students who participate in campus ministry activities regularly attend mass.  The following Serrans attended the last meeting:  Bob Galloway, Don Gosselin, Mike Kawash, Jim Milstead, Ron Rushworth, Mark Sadd, Bill Scharf, Vince Stricker, Mike Tupta, and Father Ondeck.  We had Maria Brendon as a special guest.

Convocation of Priests
6 May 08
Serrans volunteered to serve dinner to Bishop Bransfield and the priests of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.  This annual convocation takes place at the Blessed John XXII Pastoral Center in Charleston.

Regular Meeting
25 Apr 08
The speaker was Ron Rushworth, who presented the new Serra Club of Charleston website, and solicited comments from the membership.

Spring Leadership Planning Conference
19 Apr 08

District Governor Bill Scharf organized and presided at the biennial meeting of leadership from the five West Virginia Serra Clubs in Charleston, Parkersburg, Clarksburg, Morgantown and Wheeling.  Nearly 20 Serrans met in Bridgeport at the Pete Dye Country Club.  Don Gosselin discussed membership development.  Other Charleston club participants were Carol Hannah and Mark Sadd.  Diocesan priest and long-time Serran, Father Leo Lyden, addressed the group during the first session about the role of the club chaplain.

Bring a Boy or Girl Luncheon
9 Apr 08

Forty middle school children from St. Agnes, St. Anthony, St. Francis, and Sacred Heart Catholic schools joined the Serrans at this special annual meeting.  Our chaplain, Fr. Doug Ondeck spoke about his calling to the priesthood.

Officers' Meeting
31 Mar 08
Outgoing and incoming officers met at the Blessed John XXII Pastoral Center to plan their upcoming transfer of responsibilities.

 

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Next Regular Meeting
12 Sep 08



2008 Serra Super Regional Convention
Oct. 10th - 12th



Meet Deacon Stephen McGinnis