Public Invited To Enjoy Day With Priests, Sisters

Published: September 4, 2003

ATLANTA—All are invited to a day to thank priests and sisters for their service to the church called “A Swing and a Prayer Golf & Tennis Classic.”

The event, held on Thursday, Sept. 25, “is a day of recreation for all of the priests and sisters in the area,” said Bill Spalding of Holy Spirit Church, Atlanta, a trustee of the Metro Atlanta Serra Club. “It is a day of appreciation for their work.”

The day includes golf and/or tennis, a social hour and dinner at the Fort McPherson Army Post’s 18-hole championship golf and tennis complex.

While this is sponsored by the Serra Clubs of Atlanta annually, it is open to all and is an opportunity for people to sponsor a priest or sister, or to come in support of the vocations efforts of the Serra Clubs, a lay organization of men and women who pray for, promote and affirm vocations to the priesthood and Religious life.

The day is free for priests and sisters, and through the participation of the public it is also a fund-raiser for Serrans’ vocations work.

“It is a full day of activities and the sisters and priests can choose what they want to attend,” Spalding said. “This is also a major event for us to raise funds for all the activities we have all year. It is a great day. People in the community should know it is coming up.”

Last year about 60 priests took part in the sold-out event. This year there is space for 120 golfers.

“New parishes and new people are welcomed. This is open to all. We encourage people to come,” Spalding said.

There will also be a special tribute this year to Archbishop John F. Donoghue.

For the public, fees are $125 for a round of golf, hat, shirt, lunch, social hour and dinner; or $45 for the round-robin tennis competition, hat, lunch, social hour and dinner; or $35 for the social hour and dinner only. A portion is tax-deductible.

The event begins with registration at 11:30 a.m., lunch at 12:30 p.m., shotgun golf start at 1 p.m., tennis competition at 3 p.m., social hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.

All skill levels are welcome. Appropriate golf attire is required, and for security reasons all participants must register with the Serra Clubs one week prior to the event.

Throughout the year, the Serrans also host a dinner to honor the archbishop and clergy of the archdiocese and a luncheon for all women Religious. They also support the Elijah Cup vocations prayer outreach and the work of Father Brian Higgins, archdiocesan vocations director.

For more information or to sponsor a priest or sister, call Bill Spalding at (404) 255-3331 or Mike Walsh at (404) 841-3667. Information can also be obtained at www.serraatlanta.org.