Serra Clubs Celebrate Archbishop Naumann’s Dedication

 SHAWNEE   -   The Serra Clubs of Topeka, Atchison, Johnson County and Kansas City in Kansas honored Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann for his leadership, commitment, and spiritual direction to the organizations during a noon luncheon at Saint Joseph Catholic Church on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.  Over 100 members attended and presented him with a letter of commendation and contributions to the Heart-to-Heart Scholarship Fund.  The Heart-to-Heart Scholarship Fund, which began under Archbishop Naumann’s shared vison, helps offset the financial burden for a young man or woman answering their vocational call to the priesthood or consecrated life.

     Fr. Dan Morris, Archdiocesan Vocations Director, presented a brief overview of the progress of our twenty-five Seminarians at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis and St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver.  He praised Archbishop Naumann for his personal support for the Office of Vocations and his close relationship with each seminarian.  Fr. Morris described Archbishop Naumann’s rare gifts of servant leadership and friendship, presence and availability, and being a spiritual fatherly figure for men discerning the priesthood.  He said, “You remain a steadfast fatherly figure in seminarian lives to keep their ships sailing in the right direction.”

     In Addition to the Heart-to-Heart Scholarship fund, Fr. Morris went on to describe the many programs started by Archbishop Nauman supporting seminarians, like the annual seminarian pilgrimage, seminarian attendance at World Youth Day, and enhancing the annual Quo Vadis Retreat where young men can begin discerning their vocation calling.

     Archbishop Naumann addressed the attendees and stated, “One of the most important roles is to ordain priests and by next spring, God willing, I will have ordained 54 priests in the archdiocese.”  He went on to discuss the significance of the National Eucharistic Congress held in Indianapolis last summer attended by 65,000 people.  This was a major significant event and will be repeated in five years.

     Archbishop Naumann’s top three priorities have always been to grow the culture of evangelization, strengthen marriage and family, and encounter Jesus in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.  During his tenure, accomplishments in these areas have strengthened parishes and families in the archdiocese.

     After Archbishop Naumann’s successor is announced and he helps with the transition, he is prayerfully planning to reside near the Community of the Lamb in Kansas City, Kansas. 

     The presidents of the four Serra Clubs represented at the luncheon, on behalf of over 260 Serrans in the Archdiocese, presented Archbishop Naumann with his commendation letter and a check for $13,370.00 in contributions to the Heart-to-Heart Fund, which has now grown to over $14,000.00.

     Serra is an International Organization with the mission to ensure the future of the Church by promoting vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.