OMAHA — The 2009 Serra’s 67th International Convention will be held Aug. 27-30 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. The theme of the convention is “Pastores Dabo Vobis — The Role of Christ’s Lay Faithful,” according to a press release.
Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss will celebrate the opening Mass at St. Cecilia Cathedral on Aug. 27. Following the liturgy, a welcome reception will be held at the Qwest Center.
Registration, tours, meetings, lectures, workshops, panel discussions and celebrations of the liturgy will be held throughout the convention at the Qwest Center. A theme night is scheduled at the Durham Museum featuring the Western heritage of the region.
Day trips and tours also are planned for spouses and children to the popular Father Flanagan’s Boys Town, Holy Family Shrine and the Strategic Air and Space Museum.
Among the featured speakers at the convention are Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, the current episcopal adviser for Serra International; Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City, S.D., and current episcopal adviser of the USA Council of Serra International; Archbishop Emilio Berlié of Yucatán, Mexico, a dynamic speaker and respected leader of his diocese; and Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., director of theological formation at the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha, who is a prolific author with numerous published books by various publishers.
Serra International was founded in 1935 in Seattle, Wash., with a mission to foster and affirm vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Serra International is composed of more than 700 clubs in the United States and in more than 40 countries.
Serra’s patron is Blessed Junipero Serra, the legendary Franciscan missionary who founded a number of California missions and converted thousand of Native Americans to the Catholic faith.
For details about the conference visit www.serraus.org.