Event Details

General Information

Serra International Convention • New Orleans • August 8-11, 2024 – A great convention with many great speeches by the guest speakers. The meeting was attended by our club President, Bertha Braddock, and past President, Elizabeth Scheuren. Click here to view the convention photos taken by Elizabeth. Click here for photos of St Louis Cathedral & WWII Museum by Elizabeth Scheuren. Click here for St Louis Cathedral web site. As as reported, New Orleans has rich Catholic heritage, with its awe-inspiring churches, historical landmarks, and deep spiritual roots. Click here for event main page, further information & videos of the various speeches.

Serra International Rally, Jan 18th – 21st, 2024, Miami, FL – The Serra International Rally was held in Miami, Florida was open to all Serrans.  The Rally was on January 18-21 2024.  Membership VP, Carolyn Yehl (as well as Trustee Tom Yehl), and Trustee Elizabeth Scheuren will be attending representing Serra Club Arlington.  The Rally was held at the Miami-Dadeland Marriott.  The event web page can be found at “serrainternational.org” – (click here).  Click here for photos. Click here for YouTube videos of the guest speakers.

Fr Guilloux’s “Bike for Babies” – Our June 2023 guest speaker, Fr Guilloux, will be biking over 600+ miles from July 9th thru 15th, as part of a group effort that raises awareness and funds for pregnancy resource centers nationwide to assist women and families experiencing crisis pregnancies (click here for the home page). The riders will be finishing on Saturday, July 15th at St. Charles Borromeo (Arlington, click here for directions) and following will be a “Celebration of Life” event from 4pm to 8pm (click here for event information). The Celebration of Life event will provide attendees a chance to hear from the missionaries and from a local Pregnancy Resource Center and one of their clients. You are invited to attend!! There is no cost, but they do ask that you register so that they can plan accordingly. Click here to read about Fr Guilloux’s 2020 ride in the Catholic Herald.

The New Serra Club Arlington Brochure (click here to download) – updated (Feb 2023) to incorporate custom photos from our Diocese. On these brochures, we added the link to our Serra Club website, and used the Serra Club email addresses for the President and Vice-President for Membership. This new brochure will expand our outreach to other parishes in the Diocese.  Please contact Club President, Elizabeth Scheuren (president@serraclubarlington.org) if you would like several copies for your parish

St. Therese Vocation Society — is a group of men and women who pray daily for vocations and for the individuals in formation as priests and religious in our diocese. These men and women who have responded to God’s call rely on these prayers from hundreds of their brothers and sisters in Christ. Members of the society receive a calendar in the mail twice a year that lists someone in formation to pray for each day. There are no dues or meetings; only the promise of your prayers and an annual Morning of Reflection each February to strengthen you as a prayer warrior. A sign up sheet will be passed if Serra members would like to have a bi-annual calendar sent to their home,  You may also go to the Arlington Diocese website (click here, which takes you directly — or (1) click on Vocations (2) Scroll down to Promote Support and Pray for Vocations (3) Click on the word Pray (4) Scroll down to the picture of St. Therese and click on Pray Daily for a Future Priest or Sister.  We need daily prayer warriors for the future of our Church!

”Serra Minute YouTube Channel – For those who are interested, Serra USA has a “You-Tube” Channel (Click here for the YouTube link). The channel features like “The Serra Minute” as well as reflections and interviews with clergy chaplains and special guests.  There is a wealth of information and past presentations available there from national and international conferences and meetings on this channel. This is a good resource for all members seeking to better understand the vocations we are supporting.

Event Information

November 2024

November 5th, 12:30pm (Social at noon) – Membership Meeting: Father Andrew Clark, Parochial Vicar at Blessed Sacrament, Alexandria, VA. Father Andrew Clark grew up in the Shenandoah Valley as the second of eight children and is a graduate of Christendom College. Three years after graduating he entered the seminary for the diocese of Arlington and attended St. Charles
Borromeo seminary in the archdiocese of Philadelphia. He was ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ in 2023 and is assigned to Blessed Sacrament parish in Alexandria Virginia. Read the full bio (click here). Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Bertha Braddock for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

October 2024

October 1st, 12:30pm (Social at noon) – Membership Meeting: Sister Marie Benedict Elliott, F.S.E. as guest speaker. Sister Elliott grew up at St. Mark Parish in Vienna, VA, and overseas, attended the University of Virginia, and worked in the DC area before entering the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist in 2011. She is now missioned to her Community in Falls Church and divides her time between theological studies at the Catholic University of America and serving as Director of Youth Ministry at St. Philip Parish.”

Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Bertha Braddock for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

September 2024

September 3rd, 12:30pm (Social at noon) – Membership Meeting: Father Richard Dyer, Pastor of St. Thomas a Becket Church in Reston. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame as an Air Force ROTC officer and returned to Notre Dame for an MBA. He entered Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in 2006 and was ordained early in 2011 so his dying father could attend.  His father passed the next day as Father Dyer was celebrating his first Mass. Read the full bio (click here).

Moira Leite will be giving a presentation on her to the Eucharistic Congress in July in Indianapolis. Click here for the photos from her trip. Click here for the Eucharistic Congress web site with videos and speeches, etc.

Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Bertha Braddock for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

August 2024 (to be updated)

July 2024 (to be updated)

June 2024

June 4th, 12:30pm (Social at noon) – Membership Meeting: Father Michael Nugent, Parochial Vicar at St Ambrose in Annandale, VA. Father Nugent was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 2023, attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, PA, and the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He currently is enrolled in a co-sponsorship with the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, Read the full bio (click here). Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Bertha Braddock for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

May 2024

May 10th (Friday), 12:30pm (Social at noon) – Membership Meeting: Father Richard Nichols SJ, Chaplain at Georgetown University Hospital as guest speaker. He is a former Navy Nuclear Submariner. After earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1998, Fr. Nichols was commissioned as an officer in the Navy and volunteered for submarine service. When the Navy sent him to do intelligence work in the D.C. area, he met priests from the Archdiocese of Washington. He served as athletics chaplain at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. Missioned next to the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, he earned a Licentiate in Sacred Theology before going on to serve as a deacon at St. Anthony’s Church in Oceanside, New York.(click here for additional bio). Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Bertha Braddock for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

April 2024

April 2nd, 12:30pm (Social at noon) – Membership Meeting: Fr. Peter St. George has been serving at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Alexandria, VA since his ordination to the priesthood on June 4, 2022. Prior to this he prepared for ordination at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. He is the fourth of seven children and enjoys being an uncle to his nieces and nephews (seven and counting). He grew up in Ashburn, VA and attended St. Theresa Catholic Grade School and Bishop O’Connell High School before studying Biology at the University of Notre Dame. Fr. Peter is commissioned in the U. S. Navy and looks forward to serving as a Naval Chaplain in the coming years (click here for additional bio). Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Bertha Braddock for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

March 2024

March 5th, 12:30pm (Social begins at 11:30am) – Membership Meeting:

Meeting recap: Click here for meeting photos. Click here for Sister Dede’s Video – The Veil Removed. Sister Dede’s mission – Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts (link broken, check back later).

Sister Deirdre Byrne – an active missionary sister and superior of her community in Washington, DC. She is double board-certified in family medicine and general surgery. A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Sister Deirdre (known to many as Sister DeDe) is one of eight siblings, attended Langley High School, and graduated from Virginia Tech.  After college, Sister DeDe followed in her thoracic surgeon father’s footsteps and entered medical school at Georgetown University, where she eventually completed a surgical residency. During that time she also joined the Army. After a life of medical and military service in far ranging areas, she was led to the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts community, whose charism involves sisters placing each and every person they care for between the Heart of Jesus and Mary (click here for bio and here for Wikipedia). Sister DeDe’s other charitable medical/surgical service includes hands-on ministry in the rubble of the twin towers following the terrorist attack on 9-11, caring for the sick during the earthquake in Haiti in 2011 and annual medical missions to Haiti and Iraq

Meeting will be held at Army Navy Country Club – Arlington (1700 Army Navy Dr, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 521- 6800). Contact Bertha Braddock for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

Mar 10, 5-8pm – Laetare Benefit – with Reception, Dinner and Auction supporting the Cloistered Nuns of St. Dominic’s Monastery in Linden, VA, Sunday, March 10, 2024, 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Westwood Country Club 800 Maple Avenue East, Vienna, VA. Cocktail Attire. Please RSVP by February 23rd. Purchase tickets online (click here) or using the flyer (click here for flyer/form).

Feb 2024

Feb 6th, 12:30pm (Social at noon) – Membership Meeting: Father Thomas Nguyen completed his seminary formation at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in the Archdiocese of Denver, and was ordained a priest for the diocese of Bui Chu, Vietnam. Following his ordination, his bishop sent him to the Catholic University of America for further study in philosophy while being in residence at St. Agnes parish in Arlington. Upon completion of the Master/Licentiate in philosophy and with the permission of his ordinary, Fr. Thomas Nguyen was assigned to St. Leo the Great in Fairfax where he has been serving as a parochial vicar from February 2020 until today (click here for full bio). Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Bertha Braddock for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

Jan 2024

Jan 2nd, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge. Bishop of Arlington at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More. Bishop Burbidge was ordained to the priesthood in 1984. In 1992, he was named as administrative secretary to the Archbishop of Philadelphia and appointed Rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1999.  In 2002, he was ordained an auxiliary bishop in his hometown of Philadelphia, where he oversaw the Office of the Vicar for Clergy and the Office of Communications. Prior to being appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington in 2016 by Pope Francis, he was the Bishop of Raleigh for a decade. Click here for full bio. Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Bertha Braddock for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

Dec 2023

Dec 5th, 12:30pm (Social at noon) – Membership Meeting: Sister Ann Dominic Mahowald O.P., M.Ed. (click here for bio). Sister Mahowald entered The Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia in Nashville, TN.  Sister has taught French and Religion, grades 7-12 and currently serves as the Assistant Principal of Student Life at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Potomac Shores, Virginia. Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Bertha Braddock for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

Serra Vocations Advent Devotions – (click here for Devotions PDF) The devotions focus on each week of advent and the need for vocations to be “born” into the Church so that Christ’s life can continue through his followers.

Nov 2023

Nov 7th, 12:30pm (Social at noon) – Membership Meeting: Reverend Michael C. Isenberg is a native of Buffalo, NY, and moved to the Arlington Diocese when he was a young child and attended Our Lady of Angels in Woodbridge, VA.  In 2006, he entered seminary formation for the Diocese of Arlington, attending both Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, and the Pontifical North American College in Rome.  Father Isenberg served as Parochial Vicar at St. Veronica Parish, Chantilly, VA and in June 2018, was appointed as the Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Arlington. (click here for full bio). Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Bertha Braddock for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

Oct 2023

Oct 3rd, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Jim Tomey as guest speaker (click here for full bio). Jim Towey was a trusted advisor and personal friend of Mother Teresa of Calcutta for twelve years and did the first reading at her Mass of Canonization in Saint Peter’s Square in 2016. He previously headed the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives under George W. Bush for four years and served on his senior staff.  His career includes the presidency of two Catholic colleges for thirteen years, a seven-year stint as a US Senate staffer, and the leadership of Florida’s 40,000-employee health and human services agency. Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Bertha Braddock for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

Sept 2023

Sept 4th, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Fr. David Dufresne as guest speaker (click here for full bio). Fr David has served as parochial vicar at St. Leo the Great in Fairfax (2014-2018), and the Basilica of St Mary in Alexandria (2018-2022). He is currently the parochial vicar at St. Charles Borromeo in Arlington. Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Bertha Braddock for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

June 2023

June 7th, WEDNESDAY, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: (note: meeting was moved to Wednesday from Tuesday due to scheduling conflicts). Father Edouard Guilloux as guest speaker. Click here for meeting photos. Meeting also served as installation of 2023-24 Officers as well as opportunity to present Serra Club membership certificates to new members. Fr Guilloux’s bio summary: The third of six children, was born in Fontainebleau, France. The family moved back to the United States and eventually settled in Stafford, VA and are members of St. William of York Catholic Church. He graduated with his bachelor’s and master’s in philosophy from the Theological College at Catholic University in 2015; that same year he was sent to the Pontifical North American College (NAC). Father Guilloux was ordained at St. Thomas More Cathedral in 2019 along with Fathers Blank, Nyce, and Koehr. He is currently the Parochial Vicar at St. John the Apostle in Leesburg. Click here for Fr. Edouard Guilloux’s bio. The meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

May 2023

May 2nd, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Sister Gioan Linh Nguyen, Daughters of St. Paul as guest speaker (click here for full bio). Click here for photos. In summary: She was nine years old when her family left Vietnam on April 30, 1977. They were the first “refugees” accepted in Japan. She made her First Communion before being sponsored to the United States by her uncles who settled in New Orleans since 1975. Entered the Daughters of St Paul on July 10, 1984. She went back to Boston to receive her B.A in Psychology and History at Emmanuel College in 1996. Sr Gioan also received a Master Certificate in Media Literacy from Los Angeles. Right after college, she went to Rome to study Italian and spent the next six months preparing herself for perpetual profession of vows.   On the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul (January 25, 1997), Sr Gioan Linh professed her Perpetual Vows. As a religious sister, she has served as a Pauline evangelizer, PBM manager, Local and Regional Vocationist in Boston, Charleston, SC, Chicago, Alexandria, VA, New York/New Jersey, Hawaii, California, New Orleans! She strives to grow closer to the Spirit of the Living God and encourages others to discover his or her gifts! The meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

April 2023

April 4th – Membership Meeting – Cancelled: Chrism Mass has been moved from Holy Thursday April 6 to Tuesday April 4.  With many of members normally attending the Chrism Mass, Serra officers decided the best alternative is to cancel our April 4th meeting this year. Click here for info on the Chrism Mass. The guest speaker will rescheduled for another meeting in fall 2023. Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

March 2023

Mar 7th, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Fr. Puigbó as guest speaker (click here for full bio). Fr Puigbó is currently the Pastor at St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax, VA. He is the founding director of the Vocare Foundation with services for marriages and families and the Fiat Lux Society, a private association of clergy and laity, and founding member of the Mater Dei Homeschool Program. He is also a member of the Theological and Liturgical Commissions of the Diocese of Arlington. Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

Mar 14, 7am-9am – National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, Washington – The NCPB was held at the Marriot Marquis by the DC Convention Center. Many great guest speakers. Many Serrans in attendance ….along with many familiar faces. Click here for photos. Click here for web site. From memory, ETWN will replay the event on Saturday, March 18th at 10am (click here).

Mar 19, 5-8pm – Laetare Benefit – with Reception, Dinner and Auction supporting the Cloistered Nuns of St. Dominic’s Monastery in Linden, VA, Sunday, March 19, 2023, 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Westwood Country Club 800 Maple Avenue East, Vienna, VA. Cocktail Attire. Please RSVP by March 1. Purchase tickets online or using the form below (click here for flyer/form).

Support St. Dominic’s Monastery and the Nuns through the Laetare Benefit Angel Auction by clicking here. Then click on the “Shop Now” button to view the auction items.

Mar 24th, 7:30pm – Vespers and Holy Hour for Vocations, Basilica of Saint Marys – In anticipation of the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, the events were well attended by members of our club. Click here for the program booklet and click here for the photos. The Parishioners were encouraged to pray Solemn Sung Vespers and a Rosary for Vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life on Friday 24 March, 7:30 pm at the Basilica of Saint Mary (310 South Royal Street, Alexandria, VA (click here for directions)).  Rev. Father Edward C. Hathaway, Rector of the Basilica of Saint Mary, led the Vespers and Holy Hour — which also included a Rosary for vocations — both which followed the 7:00 pm Stations of the Cross. (click here for detailed event flyer). The parish offered Lenten Soup Supper at 6:00 pm in the Lyceum (313 Duke Street, Second Floor) followed by Stations of the Cross at 7:00 pm in the church. Our Vespers were chanted by the Basilica Schola as they were last year. 

February 2023

Feb 7th, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: The guest speaker was Bishop Joseph L. Coffey of the Archdiocese for Military Services (click here). An outstanding individual and talk (click here for photos). Meeting was held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

January 2023

Jan 3rd, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge. Bishop of Arlington at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More. Bishop Burbidge was ordained to the priesthood in 1984. In 1992, he was named as administrative secretary to the Archbishop of Philadelphia and appointed Rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1999.  In 2002, he was ordained an auxiliary bishop in his hometown of Philadelphia, where he oversaw the Office of the Vicar for Clergy and the Office of Communications. Prior to being appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington in 2016 by Pope Francis, he was the Bishop of Raleigh for a decade. Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

Jan 21, 9am – Morning of Reflection: Morning of Reflection was led by Father Rippy on Saturday, Jan 21 at Blessed Sacrament Church, Alexandria. The morning began with Mass celebrated by Father Rippy at 9AM in the Chapel followed by light refreshments and talks in Quinn Hall. The morning concluded with Adoration in the Chapel. Lunch was at Aldo’s Italian Kitchen as owner, Emanuele, a long time parishioner of the Cathedral is opening the restaurant for lunch just for our group. He said “Anything for Father Rippy!” Aldo’s is located at 2850 Eisenhower Avenue. Click here for photo link. Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

December 2022

Dec 6th, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Fr. Robert Cilinski, Serves as Episcopal Vicar For Charitable Works ,  Catholic Charities Board Member , Chairman of the Diocesan Peace and Justice Commission, and Pastor of Nativity Catholic Church, Burke VA (click here). Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

December Advent Period – Diocese of Arlington – Advent Lecture Series —Prepare the Way (click here). For each of the four weeks of Advent, find encouragement on your journey and know that you don’t walk alone. Be fed by inspiring videos each week, accompanied by tools like reflection questions, digital wallpapers and more.

November 2022

Nov 1st, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Sister Lucia Treanor, FSE teaches in the English Department of The Catholic University of America. A member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. Here presentation to us about her most recent book, Elwood: The Story of a Catholic World War II Hero (click here for Catholic Herald article). Click here for the PowerPoint presentation. Meeting was held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

Nov 26th, Visit to Holy Cross Abbey – This year on November 26, a small group of Serrans organized the first visit to Berryville,Virginia. This increased our range of prayers for vocations to the contemplative orders in the diocese. The Trappist monks at Holy Cross Abbey, greatly diminished in numbers from 100 in 1950 to now 7, greatly appreciated our new interest and spiritual support. Pictured are (l-r) Anna Maria, Debbie, Elizabeth, Fritz, Olga and Reina

October 2022

Oct 4th, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Father Philip Dabney, C.Ss.R., as guest speaker. A Redemptorist priest now in residence at the Baltimore Provincial House in Washington, D.C., (click here). He spoke on Our Lady of Perpetual Help and drawing closer to Mary. Click here and here for bio and background. Click here for talk and click here for concurrent PowerPoint. Bishop Loverde was honored guest. Meeting was held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org).

September 2022

Sept 6th, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Kevin Wells was guest speaker. He is the best-selling author of “The Priests We Need to Save the Church”, a written plea for holy priests to live like the paragons, martyrs, and great saints before them. His talk centered around the book “Priest and Beggar” – the heroic life of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz. Click here for bio and all book information. Key agenda item was installation 2022-24 Officers. Meeting was held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org). NOTE: there was no Serra Club Arlington business meetings for the months of July and August.

Priest Appreciation Day, Saturday, Sept 24th, 6pm, Basilica of St Mary – We honored our priests with a special celebration on Saturday September 24, after the 5pm Mass. Please see flyer for details (click here). Many in the Catholic community joined us and helped with hosting plus set up and clean up as well.  Special Spanish dishes were main food items. Contact Mary Petrino or Anna Maria Kaczmarski for further details, or to help in future events.

August 2022

Aug 4th, Thursday, 7pm – Holy Hour for Vocations. Thank you to all the Serrans that attended the Holy Hour. There were about 80 total in attendance. The venue was the Queen of Apostles Catholic Church (click here) located at 4401 Sano Street, Alexandria (click here for directions).

August 13th, Saturday, 10:30am – Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders, St Elizabeth Ann Seton, Lake Ridge, VA – A Mass was held for six that were admitted to Candidacy for Holy Orders and an additional 12 who were accepted to seminaries. The six that were admitted to Candidacy are James Harbour, Donghan Lee, Sean Mazary, Eric McDade, Alexander Solsma and Nicholas Young. They are now committed to move forward in their studies for the priesthood, having finished their philosophical studies, and will now focus on theological studies. The Mass is the church’s formal reception of the men as candidates for ordination. Bishop Burbidge as Celebrant. Click here for member photos. Click here for Arlington Catholic photo page. Click here for the Arlington Catholic Herald article for more details.

August Meeting – No business meeting scheduled

July 2022

July 1st, Friday, Breakfast at BSM to Celebrate Saint Junipero Serra, post 8am Mass – The Serra Club of Arlington hosted a breakfast in the Basilica of St Mary’s courtyard after the 8 a.m. Mass on Friday, July 1, in celebration of the Feast of Saint Junipero Serra [click here for photos]. A taste of Spanish cuisine was enjoyed and conversation re Serra International’s mission to promote and support vocations to the ministerial priesthood and consecrated life in the Catholic Church was the topic. All were invited to this free event (click here for directions). For additional information, please contact Elizabeth Scheuren, the Serra Club of Arlington’s President at president@serraclubarlintong.org

July 1st, Friday, Mass in Honor of Saint Junipero Serra – At 3pm EWTN will broadcast live a New Mass celebrated by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone at Mission Dolores in honor of Saint Junipero Serra. There is also a new EWTN documentary celebrating the heroic virtues of Saint Serra.  Please click here for the link and details and broadcast schedule.

July 14th – 17th; Serra’s 79th International Convention – Toronto Ontario Canada. The theme of the convention is “WOW!” – Witnesses of the Word: Serrans Called to Action.  Toronto Serrans are ready to welcome you to an unforgettable convention – Register by April 30th, 2022!  Thomas Cardinal Collins of Toronto and Gerald Cyrien Cardinal LaCroix of Quebec are the keynote speakers.  Check out the Quebec holy sites pilgrimage and sight-seeing options before the convention!  For more information, please go to the USA Council of Serra International website (Serraus.org — or — click here). Contact Moira Leite for further details or questions (vocations@serraclubarlington.org)

July Meeting – No business meeting scheduled

June 2022

June 4th, 11:00am – Priesthood Ordination: St Thomas More, Arlington VA (click here for details). Please contact Elizabeth Scheuren (president@serraclubarlington.org) for further details, questions and to RSVP for reserved for seats for Serrans. RSVP deadline is May 20th.

June 7th, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Guest speaker, Very Reverend Father Robert Rippy, Chancellor of the Diocese of Arlington, VA [Note: Father Philip Dabney – a former vicar of the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Boston and a lifetime of spiritual and missionary outreach to the sick and the poor (click here for background) was originally scheduled but contracted Covid). Installation of Serra Club 2022-23 Officers was postponed until September 2022. Meeting was held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org)

May 2022

May 3rd, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Guest speaker will be Carmen Briceno, Consecrated Virgin (click here). Key agenda item will be Officer’s slate for the upcoming fiscal year and review of activities/events from April. Meeting will be held at Portofino Restaurant (526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202; (703) 979-8200). Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org)

May 14th, 11am Central:  Informational Talk – Abbott Jeremy Driscoll (click here for background), Mt. Angel Abbey and Seminary, Mt. Angel, Oregon “The Seven Rich Ways Monastic Life plays into Seminary  Formation (click here for Zoom link; passcode -853558) (“Serra Meets” – click here)

May 21st, Saturday, 9:30am – Brother Paul Marich, OP was ordained to the Holy Priesthood of Our Lord Jesus Christ at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (click here). Brother Paul (click here for background) is a familiar face at the Basilica of St Mary as he was assigned to the Basilica during 2019 – 2020.

May 22nd, Sunday, 1pm Mass – Father Paul Marich offered his First Mass of Thanksgiving at the Basilica of Saint Mary, 310 South Royal Street, Alexandria, VA (click here). The Serra Club, in conjunction with Catholic Daughters and Knights of Columbus, hosted a simple reception in the Lyceum after the Mass.  There was about 200+ in attendance and all had the opportunity to obtain a blessing from Father Paul (click here for photos). Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details (president@serraclubarlington.org).

April 2022

April 5th, 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Guest speaker was Father Celso Acabado Tabalanza, Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM, link) . Speaker highlights included his choice and path as a missionary and tenure in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Key agenda item was Officer’s proposed slate for the upcoming fiscal year and review of activities/events from April. Meeting was held at Portofino Restaurant. Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org)

March 2022

March 1st – 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Guest speaker was Reverend Father Guillermo Jose Gonzalez Cordova, Parochial Vicar, Blessed Sacrament, Alexandria, VA. Speaker highlights included his choice and path on becoming a priest and reflection on Ash Wednesday and Lent. Key agenda items where “Sunday at the Seminary” on April 3rd; Tour and lunch with Daughters of St Paul on March 5th; and, Holy hour and Solemn Vespers on March 24th and Annual Laetare Benefit on March 27th. Meeting was held at Portofino Restaurant. Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org)

February 2022

February 1st – 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: Guest speaker was Reverend Father Joseph Bergida, Parochial Vicar, St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Annandale VA. Speaker highlights included his path on becoming a priest and World Day for Consecrated Life will be celebrated on the feast which commemorates the presentation which Mary and Joseph made of Jesus in the temple. Key agenda items where “Sunday at the Seminary” on April 3rd; Tour and lunch with Daughters of St Paul on March 5th; and, Holy hour and Solemn Vespers on March 24th. Meeting was held at Portofino Restaurant. Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org)

June 2021 thru January 2022 – 12:30pm – Membership Meeting: (to be updated) Meetings were held at Portofino Restaurant. Contact Elizabeth Scheuren for further details or questions (president@serraclubarlington.org)