Serra’s 80th International Convention held in Thailand

The 80th International of Serra, an organization of Catholic laypeople dedicated to promoting vocations to the ministerial priesthood and consecrated life, was held from June 22-25 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. 

The participants discussed the theme "Come and see" reflecting the current state of vocations in the church and offered suggestions for increasing vocations. 

More than 450 Catholic vocation animators, priests, religious men and women, and laypeople from various countries attended the convention.

Serra members are Catholic lay men and women who respond to the call to promote and support vocations to the ministerial priesthood and consecrated life in the Catholic Church. They work to ensure the future of the Church by creating a "culture of vocations." 

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, President of Federation of the Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), spoke in his keynote address about the challenge the Church is facing with vocations.  

"In the last decades of the last century, vocations increased in Asia, but with the new century, the trend changed," said Cardinal Bo. "  

Marc Armand Ouellet, prefect emeritus of the Dicastery for Bishops, talked about how "communion of vocations" can be a new way of evangelization and a strong incentive for vocations. 

"I am convinced that the "communion of vocations" is a new formula for our times and all cultures, including Asia. This is because individualism, indifference, and loneliness, common features of global culture, are taking hold everywhere, even in Christian environments, through the influence of the media and fashions," the prelate said. 

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, urged Catholics to embrace the mission and keep on sharing stories of vocations to inspire others to follow Christ.

"A Christian vocation is always a mission to share with others our experience of Jesus. It is up to us to continue the story of vocations through our mission. A vocation crisis is often rooted in a missionary crisis," said Tagle.

Bangkok’s Cardinal, Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit, who led the closing Eucharistic celebration, said in his homily that for Catholics to become effective vocation promoters, they must "empty themselves" and "listen attentively" to their difficulties, trials, needs, joys, and celebrations, "up to the point of sharing them" with others.

"Only then can witness become efficient, and the word can give reason to one’s evangelic way of acting. The explicit proclamation will be welcomed. Because it becomes perceived as an imposition," the cardinal said.

Serra International is the only lay organization affiliated with a primary pontifical activity, for Priestly Vocations, to promote and coordinate vocations to the sacred priesthood of the Catholic Church.

Since its founding in Seattle in 1935, over 1,100 Serra organizations have been chartered in 46 countries worldwide. Today, more than 20,000 members support Serra's worldwide laity vocations apostolate.- RVA Hmong News Service