West Des Moines Marriott Hotel & Convention Center
Welcome to the 2015 Serra Region 9 Convention Web Page!
Serra is an international Catholic Lay organization dedicated to fostering and supporting Priesthood and Religious Vocations.
Information on the Convention will be constantly updated on this site between now and the date of the Convention, Sept 18-20, 2015
WHAT: The 2015 Serra Region 9 Convention, West Des Moines, Iowa
THEME: The Family as Foundation for Vocations
WHEN: Sept. 18 to Sept. 20, 2015 (Friday evening until Sunday morning)
WHERE: West Des Moines Marriott Hotel & Convention Center
1250 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa, 50266. 515-267-1500. The Marriott is located immediately off of Interstate 80 at Exit 121. (It is a 5 minute drive to Jordan Creek Mall—the largest shopping mall in Iowa)
Website: www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dsmwd-west-des-moines-marriott/
Room rate for convention (two queen beds): $ 99 + taxes
Free Parking on-site. Room rate available until August 28.
WHO: Serrans from Region 9 (Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri) as well as Serrans from states surrounding Region 9 are encouraged to attend. Catholics who are not Serrans but have an interest in fostering and supporting religious vocations are also invited to attend.
REGISTRATION FEE: Entire weekend - $140 per person (includes all meals—Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner and Sunday breakfast—as well as coffee and snacks at program breaks). Saturday only - $90 per person (includes all Saturday meals).
REGISTRATION FORM: Click here to download a registration form. Registrations are due by September 10.
HOST: Serra Club of Des Moines and the Diocese of Des Moines and Southwest Iowa
CONTACT FOR INFORMATION: Mike Downey, mike.downey@downey.com, 515-321-3976 or Susie Flood, sflood72@gmail.com, 515-669-5228.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:
For more information about our speakers please click here.
SCHEDULE (Tentative):
Friday, Sept. 18:
1:00-5:00 pm Registration (Room Check-In available at 3:00 pm)
5:00-5:30 pm Transportation (provided free) to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
5:30-6:30 pm Mass at St. Francis of Assisi celebrated by Bishop Pates
6:30-7:00 pm Transportation back to Marriott
7:00-7:30 pm Cocktail Reception at Marriott
7:30-8:30 pm Dinner at Marriott, Welcome by Bishop Pates
9:00 pm - ? Hospitality Suite open
Saturday, Sept. 19:
7:00-8:00 am Mass at Marriott celebrated by Father Dan Kirby
8:00-8:45 am Breakfast at Marriott
9:00-9:30 am Father John Acrea, “The Importance of PRAYING for Vocations”
9:30-10:00 am Adam Storey, “The Family as Foundation for Vocations”
10:00-10:15 am Break with refreshments
10:15-11:00 am Fathers Zach Kautzky & Ross Parker “The Openness of Our Youth to Vocations Calling”
11:00-11:45 am Father Fabian Moncada and panel, “The Challenge of Fostering Hispanic Vocations”
11:45-Noon Break
Noon-12:30 pm Lunch at Marriott
12:45-1:45 pm Sister Joseph Andrew, “The Holy Spirit; Fostering Religious Vocations for Women”
1:45-2:00 pm Break
2:00-2:45 pm Judy Cozzens, “Passing our Catholic Values on to our Children and Grandchildren”
2:45-3:00 pm Break with refreshments
3:00-3:45 pm Greg Schwietz, “Following the Footsteps of Blessed Junipero Serra”
3:45-4:00 pm Break
4:00-4:30 pm John Liston and Tim O’Neill, “What Serra International is Accomplishing to Further Serra’s Mission”
3:45-5:45 pm Eucharist Adoration (at Marriott)
3:45-5:30 pm Confessions (at Marriott)
4:30-6:00 pm Break
6:00-6:30 pm Transportation (provided) to Des Moines Golf & Country Club
6:30-7:00 pm Cocktail Reception, Des Moines Golf & Country Club
7:00-8:00 pm Dinner, Des Moines Golf & Country Club
7:45-8:30 pm Keynote Talk by Msgr. James Shea, “The Calling of Joyful Missionary Disciples in a Secular Society”
8:30-9:00 pm Transportation (provided) to Marriott
9:00 pm - ? Hospitality Suite
Sunday, Sept. 20:
8:00-9:00 am Mass at Marriott celebrated by Father Joe Pins
9:00-9:45 am Breakfast at Marriott
9:45-10:15 am Closing comments and information about next year’s convention
Serra is an international Catholic Lay organization dedicated to fostering and supporting Priesthood and Religious Vocations.
Information on the Convention will be constantly updated on this site between now and the date of the Convention, Sept 18-20, 2015
WHAT: The 2015 Serra Region 9 Convention, West Des Moines, Iowa
THEME: The Family as Foundation for Vocations
WHEN: Sept. 18 to Sept. 20, 2015 (Friday evening until Sunday morning)
WHERE: West Des Moines Marriott Hotel & Convention Center
1250 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa, 50266. 515-267-1500. The Marriott is located immediately off of Interstate 80 at Exit 121. (It is a 5 minute drive to Jordan Creek Mall—the largest shopping mall in Iowa)
Website: www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dsmwd-west-des-moines-marriott/
Room rate for convention (two queen beds): $ 99 + taxes
Free Parking on-site. Room rate available until August 28.
WHO: Serrans from Region 9 (Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri) as well as Serrans from states surrounding Region 9 are encouraged to attend. Catholics who are not Serrans but have an interest in fostering and supporting religious vocations are also invited to attend.
REGISTRATION FEE: Entire weekend - $140 per person (includes all meals—Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner and Sunday breakfast—as well as coffee and snacks at program breaks). Saturday only - $90 per person (includes all Saturday meals).
REGISTRATION FORM: Click here to download a registration form. Registrations are due by September 10.
HOST: Serra Club of Des Moines and the Diocese of Des Moines and Southwest Iowa
CONTACT FOR INFORMATION: Mike Downey, mike.downey@downey.com, 515-321-3976 or Susie Flood, sflood72@gmail.com, 515-669-5228.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:
- Three Masses (Friday evening, Saturday morning and Sunday morning) as well as an opportunity for confessions and Eucharistic Adoration.
- Keynote Speaker (Saturday evening): Msgr. James Shea, President of the University of Mary, Bismarck, ND.
- Sister Joseph Andrew, Vocations Director of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist (Ann Arbor, MI). This order is one of the fastest growing orders for religious vocations for women.
- Judy Cozzens, V.P. for Vocations for Serra US and mother of Bishop Andrew Cozzens, the new Episcopal Advisor for the US Serra Council, talking on Passing our Catholic Values on to our Children and Grandchildren
- A presentation on the life, mission and accomplishments of Blessed Junipero Serra by Greg Schwietz, member of the Serra International Board
- John Liston, Executive Director of Serra International, and Tim O’Neill, President of Serra International, talking on what Serra International is Accomplishing related to Serra’s Mission.
- Outstanding local speakers who are passionate about vocations: Bishop Richard Pates, Bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines and Southwest Iowa; Father John Acrea; Adam Storey; Fathers Zach Kautzky and Ross Parker; and Father Fabian Moncada heading a panel on Hispanic Vocations.
For more information about our speakers please click here.
SCHEDULE (Tentative):
Friday, Sept. 18:
1:00-5:00 pm Registration (Room Check-In available at 3:00 pm)
5:00-5:30 pm Transportation (provided free) to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
5:30-6:30 pm Mass at St. Francis of Assisi celebrated by Bishop Pates
6:30-7:00 pm Transportation back to Marriott
7:00-7:30 pm Cocktail Reception at Marriott
7:30-8:30 pm Dinner at Marriott, Welcome by Bishop Pates
9:00 pm - ? Hospitality Suite open
Saturday, Sept. 19:
7:00-8:00 am Mass at Marriott celebrated by Father Dan Kirby
8:00-8:45 am Breakfast at Marriott
9:00-9:30 am Father John Acrea, “The Importance of PRAYING for Vocations”
9:30-10:00 am Adam Storey, “The Family as Foundation for Vocations”
10:00-10:15 am Break with refreshments
10:15-11:00 am Fathers Zach Kautzky & Ross Parker “The Openness of Our Youth to Vocations Calling”
11:00-11:45 am Father Fabian Moncada and panel, “The Challenge of Fostering Hispanic Vocations”
11:45-Noon Break
Noon-12:30 pm Lunch at Marriott
12:45-1:45 pm Sister Joseph Andrew, “The Holy Spirit; Fostering Religious Vocations for Women”
1:45-2:00 pm Break
2:00-2:45 pm Judy Cozzens, “Passing our Catholic Values on to our Children and Grandchildren”
2:45-3:00 pm Break with refreshments
3:00-3:45 pm Greg Schwietz, “Following the Footsteps of Blessed Junipero Serra”
3:45-4:00 pm Break
4:00-4:30 pm John Liston and Tim O’Neill, “What Serra International is Accomplishing to Further Serra’s Mission”
3:45-5:45 pm Eucharist Adoration (at Marriott)
3:45-5:30 pm Confessions (at Marriott)
4:30-6:00 pm Break
6:00-6:30 pm Transportation (provided) to Des Moines Golf & Country Club
6:30-7:00 pm Cocktail Reception, Des Moines Golf & Country Club
7:00-8:00 pm Dinner, Des Moines Golf & Country Club
7:45-8:30 pm Keynote Talk by Msgr. James Shea, “The Calling of Joyful Missionary Disciples in a Secular Society”
8:30-9:00 pm Transportation (provided) to Marriott
9:00 pm - ? Hospitality Suite
Sunday, Sept. 20:
8:00-9:00 am Mass at Marriott celebrated by Father Joe Pins
9:00-9:45 am Breakfast at Marriott
9:45-10:15 am Closing comments and information about next year’s convention