Organizations that promote Priestly and Religious Vocations:
USA COUNCIL OF SERRA INTERNATIONAL
The Mission of the USA Council of Serra International is to foster vocations to the priesthood and vowed religious life in the United States through prayer, awareness, affirmation and support and through this ministry enrich and develop its members’ common Catholic faith. If you are interested in joining Serra International or assisting them in their vocations work you may contact them at:
The USA Council of Serra International
65 E. Wacker Place, Suite 802, Chicago, IL 60601-7203
(888) 777-6681, Fax; (888) 777-6803
E-mail: serraus@serraus.org; Web: www.serraus.org
Or by directly contacting Serra Clubs of the Diocese of Sioux City:
SERRA Club of Siouxland
c/o Cleo Harder, President
320 South Davidson Street
Sioux City IA 51103-4608
E-mail: cha8703626@aol.com
Phone (712) 258-5911
SERRA Club of Carroll County
c/o Rosemary Paulsen, President
307 Skyline Drive
Coon Rapids IA 50058-1017
E-mail: rosemarypaulsen@yahoo.com
Phone (712) 999-2446
The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal benefit society founded by Father Michael J. McGivney in 1882. Still true to its founding principles of charity, unity, and fraternity, the Knights of Columbus has grown to become the largest lay Catholic organization in the world with more than 1.7 million members.
Throughout its history, the Knights of Columbus has been active in promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. This support includes the Knights of Columbus Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP), where local councils “adopt” one or more seminarians or postulants and provide them with financial assistance and moral support. Other vocations-related projects include:
- Scholarships to men in seminary from its Father Michael J. McGivney Scholarships Fund and Bishop Thomas V. Daily Vocations Scholarships Fund.
- Support for the missions of the national seminaries for priestly training in Rome: the North American College, the Pontifical Canadian College and the Pontifical Mexican College.
- Support for the American College Seminary in Louvain, Belgium.
- Publication of the Keep the Faith Alive series of full-page color advertisements on the back cover of each issue of Columbia magazine. Each month features pictures and a vocation narrative of a person who has chosen to answer God's call to the priesthood or religious life.
- Funding to the Bishops' Conference of Cuba for a seminary there.
- Assistance for the construction of a house of discernment for women religious in Brazil.
- Financial help with renovations for the Polish Pontifical Institute in Rome, and for new construction of a seminary in Tlalpan, Mexico.
- Contribution to the U.S.-based Institute for Priestly Formation and Institute on Religious Life.
If you are interested in joining the Knights of Columbus or assisting in the work and support they provide the Church on behalf of vocations you may contact them at:
- Find A Council. Click on this link and it will take you to the Knights of Columbus webpage. This feature will enable you to find Knights of Columbus Councils in your area.
- Contact your local parish office. Often your parish will have its own local council. If not, your parish priest or parish office can direct you to the nearest council in the area.
- Contact your campus minister on your college or university campus.
- Look in the Yellow Pages. Local Knights of Columbus councils are normally listed under the "Clubs and Organizations" section in the phone book listings.
- Ask a friend in the Knights for help.
- Call the Supreme Council at (203) 752-4044.