Serra Club of Hamilton: Annual Vocation Recognition Dinner

Date posted on May 8, 2023

The Serra Club of Hamilton celebrated its annual Vocation Recognition Dinner on Tuesday, May 3, 2023, at Liuna Station in Hamilton, Ontario.

Serrans gathered to honour and express appreciation to the Jubilarians who have served the Diocese of Hamilton for 25, 40, 50 and 60+ years, as well as all Diocesan Priests, Religious Sisters and Brothers, Sisters in Consecrated Life, and Permanent Deacons of the Diocese of Hamilton, as well as Seminarians and the Candidates for Religious Life and the Permanent Diaconate.

Among the many honourees, His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins celebrated his 50th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Hamilton. His Eminence was ordained on May 5, 1973, at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Hamilton by the Most Reverend Paul Reding.

Sister Kathleen O’Neill, S.J., who also celebrates her 50th Anniversary as a Sister of St. Joseph this year, shared the richness, challenges, and blessings of her vocation story with everyone in attendance.

Rev. Mark Morley, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Hamilton, introduced the four men to be ordained to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Hamilton this year. Rev. Mr. Carlos Diaz, Rev. Mr. John Ha, Rev. Mr. Paul Niesiobedzki, and Rev. Mr. Jonathan Reitzel, were welcomed into the Ministerial Priesthood of Jesus Christ by His Excellency, Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI, Bishop of Hamilton on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King.

Everyone in attendance was invited to share in a Spiritual Bouquet for our Bishop Emeritus, Anthony Tonnos, on the 40th Anniversary of his Episcopal Ordination.

The Vocation Recognition Dinner is a Vocation awareness activity of the Serra Club of Hamilton. The Serra Club, which is a member of Serra International, is a voluntary association of Catholic laymen and women who dedicate themselves to the fostering and promotion of vocations to the Ministerial Priesthood and Consecrated life.

Photos Courtesy of: Mike Perron