Knights team up with Serrans to offer appreciation gifts to seminarians

The Mater Dei Knights of Columbus of Sioux City, Council 5660, have joined efforts with the St. Serra Club of Siouxland to extend appreciation gifts to the seminarians of the Diocese of Sioux City.

“The St. Serra Club of Siouxland has been sending appreciation packages for over 20 years,” said Don Stevens, a member of the Serra Club and the Mater Dei KCs, who added Serrans personally donated funds to ensure the project continued. “It seemed a perfect project to join forces as we have the same goal to support vocations.”

The idea for the Knights to work with the Serrans on this project came from Dan Werner, the vocations director for the Iowa Knights of Columbus, while they were attending the state convention. Stevens had inquired to the state vocations director about ways the Knights could support vocations. That’s when Werner told him about how the Des Moines KCs teamed up with the Serra Club to send appreciation gifts and he suggested the Sioux City Knights might want to give it a try.

Father Travis Crotty, vocations director of the diocese, gave his approval for the Knights taking part in this effort. At a Council 5660 meeting, the KCs put the project to a vote where it received unanimous approval.

“Council 5660 sent letters to all of the Knights of Columbus councils within the Diocese of Sioux City requesting consideration of a donation to support and show appreciation for the seminarians within the diocese,” said Stevens.

Out of the 43 councils in the diocese, 23 provided financial support for the project.
The money received from the Knights was given to the St. Serra Club of Siouxland for packages to be sent in time for fall semester tests. The care packages included gift cards, snacks and other items for each of the nine seminarians – including the two in Rome. In addition, Father Crotty as well as Father Shane Deman, diocesan director of seminarians, received packages.

“There was enough money raised that the Serra Club can use it to host the seminarians at a Christmas breakfast,” explained Stevens, who noted the seminarians meet with Father Crotty and Bishop Walker Nickless during the Christmas break. “The St. Serra Club of Siouxland hosts the seminarians at a Christmas breakfast prior to their meetings.”

With the care packages, an informational letter was included that listed all of the Knights councils, organizations and individuals who contributed.

“The Serra Club and Knights of Columbus joining together in this project ensures this most worthy project will continue to show support for these young men who will hopefully become our future priests,” he said.

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