About 180 women of all ages (and some children) enjoyed a Mother’s Day Women’s Prayer Breakfast held at St. John Vianney Parish on May 3. Msgr. Carl Kemme, pastor, was the speaker at the breakfast, which was cooked, prepared and served by the parish Knights of Columbus.SHERMAN - Women of all ages celebrated Mother's Day a week early at St. John Vianney Parish in Sherman when the parish held its annual Mother's Day Women's Prayer Breakfast on May 3 in the parish activity center.St. John Vianney pastor, Msgr. Carl Kemme, said this was the fourth year that the breakfast has been held. "This is a wonderful way to honor the important role of women in our church," Msgr. Kemme said. "It is an event that grows in attendance every year. We have several generations of family members who attend together - daughters, mothers and grandmothers.
"Many of the women bring visitors from other places," he said. "We hold the breakfast following the 8:30 Mass. We had 180 who attended this year, which was the largest number we've ever had."
Msgr. Kemme was the featured speaker at the complimentary breakfast, which was prepared and served by members of the parish Knights of Columbus. He spoke on the importance of vocations.
Msgr. Kemme said that the topic fit in well with Bishop George Lucas' upcoming year of prayer for priestly vocations (which formally begins in Advent), and the Year of the Priest, proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. The year honoring priests will begin June 19 and also commemorates the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, patron of parish priests for whom the Sherman parish is named.
Mothers just naturally help their sons discern a vocation, Msgr. Kemme said. "Most priests will tell you that either their mother or grandmother had a lot to do with their vocation," Msgr. Kemme said. "Of course, fathers have an important job, too, and have to be aware of their influence and values."
Msgr. Kemme said the prayer breakfast has become an event that women of the parish really look forward to. "It is a nice day and the (Knights of Columbus) guys really knock themselves out preparing the breakfast," he said.
On June 14, the men of the parish will be honored with a similar breakfast prepared and served by the St. John Vianney Parish Ladies Society.