Serra Club of Evansville
Fostering and promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life in the Diocese of Evansville
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Vocations Awareness Prog.
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Vocations Awareness Program
What is the program about?

The Vocation Awareness Program is an extracurricular activity designed to help 8th-grade students discern the vocation to which God is calling them. 
Who participates?


This program is conducted in Catholic schools and parish religious education programs of the Princeton, Newburgh, and Evansville East and West Deaneries of the Diocese of Evansville.  In 2009-2010, twenty-one (21) parishes participated in the program. 


The Serra Club of Evansville asks teachers, principals, Directors of Religious Education and Pastoral staff to encourage participation in the program.

What is a vocation?


For the purpose of this program the Serra Club of Evansville recognizes three vocations:

  • Holy Orders (bishop, priest, deacon)
  • Holy Matrimony
  • Vowed or consecrated single life
Occupations, such as doctors, lawyers, pilots, investment brokers, laborers, etc., are not considered vocations, as such, for this program.  Rather, this program's intent is to encourage students to demonstrate their understanding of how God calls his baptized children to give their lives in service through holy orders, consecrated/vowed single life, or marriage.
What kinds of projects are students encouraged to do?

Students are encouraged to select the medium that allows them to best express their understanding of vocations.  Posters and artwork should be accompanied by a written explanation of its application to vocations.

The following are merely suggestions and are not intended to be limiting:
  • A research paper on any of the religious orders or congregations serving within the diocese
  • An essay expressing the student's understanding of vocations 
  • An audio/video presentation, e.g., an interview of a priest, deacon, vowed religious or married couple. 
  • A play or skit about vocations
What are the benefits of participating?

Every student who participates in the program receives, minimally, a certificate of participation.

Those students whose projects are selected by the parish or school to be their representatives will be recognized at the annual Vocations Awareness Program luncheon in the Catholic Center gymnasium on Friday, January 28, 2011.  Their names and projects will be announced at the luncheon and the students will receive a framed certificate recognizing their achievement.  A priest or other representative gives a presentation at the luncheon.

The names of parish representatives will be published in The Message and on this Serra Club of Evansville Web site.
Who attends the luncheon?

Each parish is limited to two (2) student representatives from the parish school and one (1) representative from the parish's religious education program.  Two (2) students from the parish's religious education program may be selected as representatives if the parish doesn't operate a school.

In order to qualify to attend the luncheon students must participate in the program and be selected by their parish/school as its representatives.

The students' parents (or other family members if the parents are unable to attend - limit of 2) and three (3) parish staff members may attend as guests of the Serra Club of Evansville.  Additional guests will be charged $7 each to cover the cost of lunch.  Checks should be made payable to "Serra Club of Evansville."

Reservation and payment for additional guests (if applicable) must be made by January 14, 2011.

The luncheon is held on Friday, January 28, 2011 beginning at 11:30 AM in the Catholic Center gymnasium, 4200 N. Kentucky Ave. in Evansville.  The luncheon lasts around 75 minutes.
What is required of the parish or school?

Once the program is announced in the fall (by letter and e-mail), present the program and its requirements to the 8th-grade students.

Should you desire, Serra Club members are available to speak to the students about vocations and the program in October or November 2010.  To schedule a speaker, contact Deacon Richard Preske, Chaplain for the Serra Club of Evansville, at (812) 423-4323 or by e-mail.

Set your project submission deadline for your 8th-grade participants.  The deadline for submitting names of representatives to the Serra Club of Evansville is January 14, 2011.  Keep in mind when setting your own parish/school deadline that you will need time to review the projects in order to select your representatives.

Select your parish or school's representatives based on their projects.

Prepare the following for submission by Friday, January 14, 2011:
  • Names of all from your parish/school who participated in the program.  All program participants receive a certificate of participation.
  • Names and addresses of students chosen to represent school/parish.
  • Names (and additional payment of $7 per person, if applicable) of all attending from your parish/school, including students' parents, parish/school representatives, and others.  See the section "Who attends the luncheon?" above for payment information.
Where do I submit the information?

By January 14, 2011 submit the information outlined in the previous section to:

Theresa Forster
420 Herndon Drive
Evansville, IN 47711

Or by phone - (812) 422-1987

Or by e-mail