Serra Club of Lafayette, Indiana
Who We Are
The Global Lay Apostolate for Vocations in the Catholic Church
Founded in 1935 in Seattle, Washington, the apostolate contains 14,940 members in 500 clubs, 46 countries on 6 continents. In 1951, Pope Pius XII recognized Serra as, "The Lay Vocations Arm of the Church." We are united with members around the world towards common objectives and purpose.
Our Mission
To foster and promote vocations to the ministerial priesthood in the Catholic Church as a particular vocation to service and to support priests in their sacred ministry.
To encourage and affirm vocations to the consecrated and religious life in the Catholic Church.
To encourage and affirm vocations to the ministry of the permanent diaconate in the Catholic Church.
To assist its members to recognize and respond in their own lives to God's call to holiness in Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit.
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Our Patron
The Saint for whom we are named, St. Junipero Serra, was a Franciscan Priest in the 1700’s. He was a renowned professor of Philosophy and Theology at the University of Lullian, Spain. At age 35, he heard the call to become a missionary to the New World, serving initially in the missions in Mexico. At age 56, he set off on the journey to establish the missions in California, the work for which he is most famous. He died at age 70 in California. In answering the call to missionary work at age 35, he freely chose a humble and dangerous life. He suffered constant physical pain while in the New World. On the way to Mexico City, he was bitten by a serpent or an insect, and his leg became terribly infected. He suffered from this wound his entire life, but he never let it stop him, even though it brought him close to death twice. He believed in the power of persistent prayer to overcome obstacles, and it always worked. He was a tremendous advocate for the indigenous people. Serrans have a tremendous advocate for our mission in heaven.