Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the San Fernando Valley Chapter of Serra International, a group of Serran members, clergy --- including San Fernando Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Wilkerson --- and well-wishers gathered in Granada Hills June 23 just days after the "Year of the Priest" was announced by the Vatican.

"I have a lot of groups I belong to, but this is my priority," said Ann Meyers, San Fernando Serra Chapter president and longtime parishioner from St. Francis de Sales, Sherman Oaks. "I'm amazed the members of the Serrans are as faithful as they are. They really are a great group," said Meyers, who chairs twice-monthly meetings for 20 "very active" members and associates at the Sportsmen's Hotel in Studio City.

Founding member George Esseff, 79, a parishioner at St. Jude in Westlake Village who became a Serran in Virginia 59 years ago, told The Tidings he feels "very privileged" to have joined the new San Fernando Valley Serra Chapter when he moved into St. Elizabeth parish in Van Nuys over a half-century ago.

"From when I first got involved, it was to create an atmosphere for vocations to flourish," said Esseff. He acknowledged it's hard to measure the effect Serrans have had on vocations to the priesthood, but added he has personally known a few men supported by Serrans who became priests.

A member of the board of directors for the Institute for Priestly formation in Omaha, Esseff has helped send 11 seminarians from St. John's Seminary to the Institute's 10-week course, focusing on spiritual direction.

"The feedback we get from priests and seminarians is very, very positive," said Jim Sullivan, 71, president of the San Buenaventura Serra Club formed 28 years ago under sponsorship by the San Fernando Valley Chapter. As "District 82" governor of Serra International who oversees the San Buenaventura, Santa Barbara and San Fernando Valley chapters, Sullivan says the mission of Serra is to pray and work for vocations.

His chapter meets at St. John's Seminary twice a month during the school year when the seminarians are there "so we get direct contact with them," said Sullivan. He said the Serra meetings' focus on spirituality has helped him personally and helps the church collectively in efforts toward inspiring vocations.

"I know the need for [priests] and so I like to do whatever I can," said Sullivan, who added that Serra chapters in his native Nebraska have as many as 60-70 members. "It's just spreading and progressing" in the Midwest, he noted.

Joseph Karout, 21, a parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes in Northridge and first-time Serra attendee, said he appreciated meeting the Serrans as he discerns whether becoming a seminarian "is the right path for me to take."

"That's one of the reasons why I'm here at this event, so I can talk to more priests and more people and get their input and see what they say," said Karout. Seated next to fellow OLL parishioners Dan and Lali Revetto, whom he had never met before, Karout called their introduction a fortuitous coincidence.

Raising his glass in a champagne toast before the anniversary cake was cut, Larry Maloney, who hosted the evening in his home along with his wife Sylvia, voiced the collective sentiment of the Serrans to the clergy in attendance. "We want to thank you all for your vocations and saying 'yes' when you were called," said Maloney.