by Kara Hansen
OVERLAND PARK — Forty years of service deserves a little celebration.
Or so decided planners of an anniversary Mass for the Serra Club of Kansas City, Kan., which was held Feb. 10 at Queen of the Holy Rosary Church in Overland Park, with a dinner and reception following at Milburn Country Club.
Historically, the organization has worked to support vocations in the archdiocese by offering prayer and emotional and financial support to seminarians, religious, and priests for the past 40 years. The club was first instituted under Archbishop Ignatius J. Strecker in 1970 and has served as a model for the Johnson County and Lawrence chapters of the Serra Club, which were founded later.
The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, and concelebrated by Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher; Abbot Barnabas Senecal of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison: Msgr. Michael Mullen, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kan.; Father Don Cullen, pastor of Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish; and Father Mitchel Zimmerman, archdiocesan vocation director. Msgr. Gary Applegate was the master of ceremonies.
At the anniversary dinner, special recognition was given to the charter members in attendance: Dr. Charles Podrebarac, Ed Sayers, Leonard McKinzie, Jim Owens, Bernie Derks, and Tony Skabialka. District governor John Jurcyk, as well as all the past presidents in attendance, were also recognized.
The dinner and meeting closed with chapter president Bob Vohs presenting Archbishop Naumann with a painting of St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, in recognition of the Year of the Priest.
