By Gretchen Keiser

The memory of the late Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, and the late Monsignor John F. McDonough were recalled at the annual dinner sponsored for the priests of the archdiocese by the two Serra Clubs.

Held at St. Ann’s parish in Marietta, The Shepherd’s Night dinner included a program of music played by Alan Brown and sung by tenor Sam Hagen as a tribute. Some of the selections were taken from the “Lead Me, Guide Me” hymnal. Others were traditional favorites, including “Danny Boy” and the “Man of LaMancha” hit, “The Impossible Dream.”

Several hundred people enjoyed a catered dinner. The two presidents of the Serra Clubs, Mike Walsh and Jim Barr, co-chaired the annual event. Father Robert Susann, MS, was the host pastor and gave the invocation.

Keynote speaker Monsignor Edward Dillon, archdiocesan administrator, noted that the Serrans meet, in part, a need that priests have to receive “support and affirmation…friendship and encouragement.”

“On behalf of the priests of the archdiocese, I want to thank you, the members of Serra, and your spouses, for what you do for us in that regard,” the administrator said.

Recalling the “two good friends we lost since the last Shepherd’s Night,” he noted that Monsignor McDonough, once spiritual moderator of the Metro Serra Club, was “an inspiration to generations of young priests as they came to serve in the archdiocese. We will continue to miss him.”

Archbishop Lyke gave “enthusiastic support for our vocations recruitment efforts which, during his administration, began to pay handsome dividends,” Monsignor Dillon said. He also joked that “Serra was the only organization that was ever able to get (the archbishop) to set foot on a golf course!”

Monsignor Dillon also noted the dedication of Father Don Kenny, archdiocesan vocations director, who is now shepherding 50 seminarians in study for the archdiocese. “Perhaps an even greater testament to the diligence and care he brings to his task is the quality of the young men who are studying for the archdiocese,” Monsignor Dillon said. “As you get to know them over the years, I think you will be truly impressed. Our future needs are being assured in a careful fashion.”

The Serra Clubs, which also host an appreciation dinner each winter for women Religious serving the archdiocese, foster priestly and Religious vocations through prayer, support, service and special works under the direction of the vocations office.