During the assembly, students were encouraged to spend time reflecting on the call of religious life and were able to meet men and women from a variety of religious communities.

Father Chris Comerford, pastor of St. Elizabeth in Granite City, gave the keynote address to the student body, faculty and guests. Father Comerford spoke about the importance of young people listening to what God is calling them as they enter adulthood.

Following the keynote, students were sent to different classrooms to meet with the 17 priests, brothers, novices and religious sisters who came to lead the small group sessions. Small group leaders included diocesan priests, Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Oblates of the Virgin Mary, Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, Ursuline Sisters, Dominican Sisters of Springfield and Maryknoll Fathers. Each of the small group leaders shared their experience of discerning a religious vocation and answered questions from the students. Members of the Serra Club served as escorts for the small group leaders.

After the small group sessions, students returned to the gymnasium where, since it was the Feast of St. Blaise, the priests offered the blessing of the throats to the entire assembly.

The Serra Club is an international organization founded in 1935 to promote vocations in the Catholic Church. The Serra Club works to support the work of the ordained and religious and has some 20,000 Catholic members. For more information about the event or about the Serra Vocations Club of Madison County, contact Emert Wyss at (618) 401-8888.