VOCATIONS AWARENESS WEEK is coming up Jan 11-18, 2009!

Here is a chance for Serrans to do something concrete to support vocations.

Write something for your parish bulletin and ask that it be published.

Ask your priests to speak about the importance of religious vocations in their homilies.

Encourage prayer for vocations.

Do something! God Bless.

Grandchildren

An older man was grocery shopping with his grandson. The toddler was crying

and at times screaming at the top of his lungs.

As the old gentleman walked up and down the aisles, people could hear him

speaking in a soft voice.

'We are almost done, Albert ... Try not to cry, Albert ... Life will get better,

Albert.'

As he approached the checkout stand, he gently brushed the toddler's tears

from his eyes and said again, 'Try not to cry, Albert ... We'll be home soon,

Albert .'

As he was paying the cashier, the toddler continued to cry and a young

woman in line behind him said, 'Sir, I think it's wonderful how sweet you're

being to your little Albert.'

The old gentleman blinked his eyes a couple of times before saying,

Links to Excellent Web Sites:

http://www.sbserra.org

http://www.catholicculture.org/library/collection.cfm?collectionid=2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW-3KwXpkkM

http://www.serraus.org/

http://www.serra.org/

http://www.sfmuseum.org/bio/jserra.html

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13730b.htm

http://www.catholicculture.org/library/collection.cfm?collectionid=2

http://catholicipod.stblogs.com/

http://www.catholic-church.org/serra-beth/serra-4.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsDL2y9e59I&feature=related

http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/01/0125.htm

http://cara.georgetown.edu/bulletin/index.htm

http://www.priestsunday.org/

Stories of Interest Gathered While Traveling

Nun Completes Holy Journey With Profession Of Final Vows

By: Maki Becker

The Buffalo News STAFF REPORTER

Sunday June 1, 2008

Deepening Her Walk of Faith

She looked radiant as she walked down the aisle, her

eyes sparkling and wearing a garland of white

roses and baby's breath "It's like her wedding day,"

Mary Ponce Gallagher, her sister, said.

Saturday, Sister Agnes Marie of the Eternal High

Priest professed her final vows, marking the completion

of her journey to becoming a discalced

Carmelite nun.The Carmelite Sisters of Buffalo is

one of just two cloistered orders in the city.

They live almost exclusively behind the walls of

their monastery on Carmel Road in North Buffalo

and have next to no contact with the outside world.

Even during Mass, they remain hidden from public view behind a grate. Only the sweet sound of

their singing voices signals their presence.

Most of their day is devoted to prayer — the rest to labor, mostly upkeep of the monastery.

They are vegetarians who try to live off what they grow in their garden.

They wear the same brown wool habit that their foundress, St. Teresa of Avila, wore in 1562,

along with rope sandals, a white toque and a black veil.

"Their total focus is to be wedded to the Lord and to prayer," said the Rev. David H. LiPuma,

who is the Carmelite's chaplain and Bishop Edward U. Kmiec's secretary. "It's a very joy-filled

life.

"

With the addition of Sister Agnes, there are now 15 members of the Carmelite Sisters of Buffalo.

Sister Agnes, 32, originally from Potomac, Md., has lived with the Carmelites for the past 81/2

years. She will hold a unique position — one of two extern nuns, which means she will have

some interaction with outsiders. They speak with members of the public requesting prayers, deal

with deliveries and other business matters for the cloister and accompany ill nuns to doctor's

appointments.

And because she will be an extern, Sister Agnes's final profession was done in full view of the

chapel — a rarity for the Carmelites.

Sister Agnes' family and friends, who traveled from all over North America to witness her

special day, were able to watch as she lay prostrate on the floor before the altar and professed her

vows.

"Sister, in Baptism you have already died to sin and have been set aside for God's services. Are

you now resolved to unite yourself more closely to God by the bond of Perpetual Profession,"

Bishop Kmiec, who officiated the ceremony, asked her.

"I am," she said in a firm, strong voice.

She smiled throughout the Mass, although she teared up when her father, William Gallagher, did

a reading.