By Michael Motes

What begins as one couple’s plan to promote religious vocations in the Archdiocese of Atlanta has gained considerable momentum over the past months and resulted in the formal organization of the Society to Encourage Religious Vocations, known by the acronym SERV.

SERV was the brainstorm of Russ and Marie Powell, parishioners of Saint Jude’s and active Marriage Encounter participants. Contacting others involved in Marriage Encounter, the Powells discovered that quite a few people shared their desire to do something to promote an increase in religious vocations.

“Our first effort was to try to answer the question, ‘What can we do,’” says Russ. “From there we researched current statistics and sociological explanations for the decrease in religious vocations.”

Early co-workers with the Powells were John and Donna Brach of All Saints Parish, who helped in obtaining the statistical data needed by SERV.

Their research revealed an impressive growth of the number of Catholics in North Georgia. But a discouraging aspect was a decline in the number of seminarians studying for the Archdiocese.

Armed with statistics and sociological data on religious vocations compiled by Michael and Cabeth Hartman, SERV representatives went to work with archdiocesan vocations director, Father Richard Lopez.

“The SERV group is an answer to prayer,” Father Lopez happily reveals. “I am honored and humbled by the dedication of these couples, and every priest, nun and brother in the archdiocese can take new strength and encouragement from the esteem and love the SERV group has had and is willing to share on religious vocations.

“Pope John Paul I, of happy memory, reminded the Church that vocations are born and developed at home. At a time when it is said that 50 percent of American Catholic parents would not be pleased if their son or daughter chose the religious life, it is obvious that vocational work must begin at home.

“As a group of dedicated parents themselves, the SERV workers challenge other parents to their duty to foster vocations at home,” Father Lopez added.

In order to reach a maximum number of potential religious vocations “recruits,” Father Lopez, the Powells, the Brachs and others, have visited parishes throughout the area explaining the purpose of SERV and will continue to work in this matter.

A sample program was explained by the Brachs, based on a presentation they recently made.

“First of all, the easiest and perhaps the most effective step we can all take is to pray for new vocations in the Church,” the Brachs explain.

According to the Brachs, there are three major goals for the SERV movement: alerting the people to the problem; developing new attitudes towards vocations, and reaching out and influencing religious vocation candidates.

“We feel that the best way to alert people is to have Father Lopez and concerned Catholics give talks in as many parishes as possible,” says Donna Brach. “We are also promoting SERV through printed material and announcements in parish bulletins. We are especially interested in reaching CYO groups since these are the young men and women who are starting to think about the future and what they want to do with their lives.”

In trying to develop new attitudes towards religious vocations, SERV members have spent time studying the Sacrament of Holy Orders in order that they might understand it better. A way for others to understand religious vocations is explained:

“We would like to see more interacting between priests and families. If children can get to know their parish priest on a more personal level, perhaps they may find it to be an appealing profession.

“When priests are interviewed as to why they chose a religious vocation, it repeatedly comes out that as a child or young adult they were very close or looked up to a certain priest whom they wanted to pattern their life after. Children need to be exposed to the idea of being priests or nuns at early ages in CCD and at home. There are books on Nurse Nancy, Dr. Dan and Mailman Roger. Why not Father Joe and Sister Ann,” SERV members ask.

They feel that the goal of reaching and influencing candidates is the most difficult.

“We don’t know for sure how to reach candidates, much less how to influence them, but we do have some ideas,” the Brachs say.

In addition to the talks from the pulpit, they would like to have the work of SERV highlighted through church and school bulletin board displays; have a priest or nun discuss religious vocations during school “Career Day” programs, and eventually see the establishment of an “apprentice program” allowing interested youth to closely work with priests in such areas as visiting the sick.

SERV members would welcome an invitation from any parish to appear at Sunday Masses or to individual parish organizations.