HENDERSON, Ky. -- In 1998 Bishop John McRaith asked Fr. Ed Bradley to help form a new Serra Club in our Diocese. Representatives from Holy Name were asked to attend the Owensboro Serra Club functions, to learn more about the club, and start a Serra Club in Henderson.

In the first part of 1999, a group of parishioners consisting of: Herman Alles, Anne Boyd, Marcia Cave, Mike Farina, Roy and Carolyn McWilliams, Pat and Mary Emma Mellen, Danny and Lisa O’Nan, Donna Sauer, Jim and Sherri Shelton, Charles and Rosie Shade, Cecil and Mary Ann Thrasher, and Andre and Louise Trawick became the original founders of the new Serra Club at The Holy Name of Jesus Church.

On October 23, 2001, history was made at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Henderson, Kentucky. The members and guests of the Serra Club celebrated the chartering into the Serra Club International. We are officially now titled, The Serra Club of the Central Deanery of the Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky.

The evening celebration began with a Mass concelebrated by our Bishop McRaith, Fr. Joe Mills, Fr. Ed Bradley, Fr. Greg Trawick, and Fr. John Speaks. We continued the celebration in the Parish Hall with a delicious meal prepared by the Holy Name of Jesus Men’s Club and members of the Serra Club.

Our Bishop spoke about the need for dedicated Serrans to continually support priestly and religious vocations. He thanked all people present for the accomplishments made by the Owensboro and the Henderson Serrans. The next speaker was Al Graves, the District Governor of Kentucky of the Serra Club International. Al presented to our Serra club a charter certificate and a statue of Junipero Serra.

History was made at Holy Name of Jesus Church on October 23, 2001. May we always follow the message from Pope John Paul II, "Serrans have wished to keep two outstanding characteristics of Fr. Junipero Serra: love for priestly and religious vocations, and the constant testimony of Christian faith in the environment in which your activity takes place."