SERRA was formed in 1935 when a small group of lay people in Seattle, Washington decided to form an organization to promote and foster vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life. As a result, they chose Father Junipero Serra, the great missionary, as their patron and named the organization SERRA Club of Seattle.

Today, there are more than 500 Serra Clubs around the world in 30 countries, comprised of thousands of lay Catholics. They are men and women of all ages and from all walks of life. Members range from lawyers, doctors, and business people, to nurses, clerks, stay-at-home workers, and retirees. All have two things in common: they love their Catholic faith and are dedicated to promoting and fostering vocations.

Objectives

The objectives of Serra are:

• 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;
• Also, to encourage and affirm vocations to consecrated religious life in the Catholic Church;
• Finally, to assist members to recognize and respond in their own lives, to God’s call to holiness in Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit.

What do Serra Clubs do?

Serra Clubs work with their Bishops, Dioceses and Vocation Directors to encourage and support vocations to the Priesthood and to Religious Life.

Serra activities include attending meetings with speakers focusing on topics of importance for Catholics and on vocations. In addition to participating in many group activities, Serra members do noteworthy work on their own time, affirming seminarians, priests and religious. 

In summary, Serrans are dedicated Catholics who pray for the increase and perseverance of vocations to the Priesthood and the Religious Life. Serrans also encourage others to pray for vocations during various parish or diocesan activities. Example of these events include the “31 Prayer Clubs,” attending an extra Mass each month for vocations, or praying for vocations on a daily basis.

Whatever the need to support Priests and Religious, members of Serra are ready to move ahead and follow the words of St. Junipero Serra. His motto was “Always forward, never back.”