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Car magnets urge prayers for priestly vocations
By Sylvia L. White, The Catholic Sun
December 20, 2007
MESA — While most see rush hour traffic as a waste of time, one Catholic group is encouraging drivers to see it as an occasion for prayer.
Cars throughout the Valley will promote vocations through “Pray for Our Priests” car magnets sold by the East Valley Serra Club.
“It is such a good idea, really a no-brainer,” said Fr. Kilian McCaffrey, the East Valley Serra Club’s chaplain and parochial vicar at Queen of Peace Parish. “It’s got prayer. It’s got awareness.”
The club developed the magnets, shaped like a black ribbon with a Roman collar, for other organizations’ fundraising efforts. They began selling them Nov. 26.
Fr. McCaffrey got the idea for the magnets from a Serra Club in Colorado.
Tom Castellanos, president of the East Valley Serra Club and member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Tempe, said the project will be a catalyst for “bringing visibility of what parishioners should be doing anyway.”
“Priests need to be prayed for,” he said. “The car magnets are an interesting novelty to elevate vocations.”
Serra Club’s focus is to foster and promote vocations to the priesthood and vowed religious life through prayer, awareness, affirmation and support. Members pray every day for new vocations and the preservation of existing vocations.
Serra International began in 1934 in Seattle when four Catholic friends decided to encourage vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
They chose Padre Junípero Serra, the noted Spanish missionary, as their patron. The small group has grown into Serra International, which is still dedicated to spiritual growth, continuing adult education, warm fellowship and encouraging vocations.
The East Valley Serra Club was formed about six years ago.
“I’m involved in a lot of things in the community and by far, Serra is my favorite,” said Teresa Ornelas, vice president for vocations for the East Valley Serra Club and member of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Chandler.
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