Serra Vocations Mass and Dinner
6:30pm
Thursday, 23 July 2026
Sacred Heart Church
2 Richard Porter Way Pymble
Serrans are Catholic lay women and men who respond to the call to promote and support vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life in the Catholic Church. In 1935, four Catholic lay people established the first Serra club in Seattle. Serra is named after Father ("Fray") Junípero Serra, noted Spanish Franciscan missionary, who played a leading part in early missionary work in Mexico and California between 1749 and 1784. Fr Junipero was beatified in 1988 and canonised in September 2015. His Feast Day is celebrated on 1 July.
Serrans accept as their responsibility the promotion of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. They possess a deep appreciation of the ministerial priesthood as being essential to the Church. Serrans have been generous in offering their support to those who hear the call to serve Christ in the priesthood.
St John Paul II 1985
The evening will begin with Mass followed by a light meal with our guest and a short meeting. Mass will be celebrated by Fr Gerard Woo Ling, who serves as the Parish Administrator for the parishes of St Thomas Becket in Lewisham and St Patrick's in Summer Hill. Terry Scanlan will speak about the origins, objectives, activities, and plans for Serra and supporting Serra membership. After dinner, Fr Woo Ling will speak to the meeting on the priesthood and service.
After many years working in finance, Fr Woo Ling followed a deeper calling-to move from "accounting in the world of finance" to "accounting in the world of souls", sharing in Christ's priesthood through His role as Priest, Prophet and King.
Born in Trinidad and Tobago, one of eight children, Fr Woo Ling worked in the life insurance industry for 16 years before moving to Sydney in 2005. After a further four years in the workforce, he commenced his priestly formation at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Homebush in 2010. On 24 August 2017, the Feast of St Bartholomew, Fr Woo Ling was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Anthony Fisher at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney. He has since served in a number of parishes including Regina Coeli, Beverly Hills, and the Catholic Community of City South. He was later appointed Assistant Priest at St Mary's Cathedral before taking up his current role in 2022.
He believes that the most rewarding aspect of his priesthood is being a bridge between Christ and the faithful:
Undoubtedly, bringing the presence of Christ through the Sacraments is the most rewarding ... in the Mass, where the faithful encounter Christ in Word and in the Eucharist.
If you would like to know more about vocation activities in Broken Bay and how you may be able to play a part in supporting our existing vocations and encouraging new vocations please join us.
Everyone is welcome. Please "come and see".
Please remember to pray every day for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, the consecrated life, ecclesial women, all seminarians and novices, and for the perseverance of existing vocations.
For further information or to attend, please contact Terry Scanlan at 0438 887 295 or via the Parish office.
www.scanzspac.org
The Serran Magazine from Serra International