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New priests and bishop honored at Serra Club dinner
archived from: 2009-09-08
by: William Cone

Good Shepherd Award accepted by Bishop Zubik “for all of our priests”

Nineteen diocesan seminarians were on hand Aug. 25 as the Serra Club of Pittsburgh honored the four priests ordained this year and presented the Good Shepherd Award to Bishop David Zubik.

About 200 guests were in attendance at the 60th annual Ordinati dinner to applaud the new priests: Father Daniel Langa, parochial vicar at St. Louise de Marillac in Upper St. Clair; Father John Naugle, parochial vicar at St. Sebastian in Ross Township; Father Nicholas Vaskov, parochial vicar pro-tem at St. Charles Lwanga in Pittsburgh’s East End, soon returning to Rome to complete his fifth year of studies; and Father Michael Zavage, parochial vicar at St. Anne in Castle Shannon.

In recognizing “the four men who were courageous enough to say yes to God’s call to become priests,” Bishop Zubik thanked the Serra Club members.

“For years and years and years, you have so generously supported vocations to the priesthood. And your presence here tonight and the generosity of hosting 200 people for dinner is just a speck of the dedication that you have for the church,” he said.

Each of the seminarians, who were seated with guests throughout the room, stood and introduced themselves.

“These guys, I can tell you, are not only increasing the numbers but the virtue that is in them, and the example that they give is truly outstanding,” Bishop Zubik said.

He pointed out that another 15 seminarians couldn’t attend the dinner because they are studying at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Theological College in Washington, D.C., or North American College in Rome.

Robert Deasy, a former Serra district governor and past president of the club, explained that the Good Shepherd Award was established about 15 years ago to recognize a priest who did God’s work in a special way. The award is symbolized by a small statue of Father Junipero Serra, for whom the club is named, and an engraved plaque identifying the recipient and the year it was awarded.

In presenting the award to Bishop Zubik, Deasy spoke of the bishop’s constant contact with people, be they in a local restaurant, parish, prison or hospital. The bishop is there to offer a hand in love, he said.

“With those thoughts in mind, we believe there is not a more deserving recipient of the Serra Club’s annual Good Shepherd Award,” Deasy said.

Bishop Zubik accepted the award, but not for just himself. “Several weeks ago, the request came to the office that I had been chosen to receive this award, and rather than fight it I said that I would accept it, but I accept this tonight not in my own name but for all the priests of our wonderful diocese,” he said.

“Certainly the qualities that have been spoken tonight about all of our priests, the new priests and hopefully the priests to be, are qualities that I dare say are present in every one of the priests of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. For four years it was my privilege to be able to serve the people of the Church of Green Bay, but I did so with all that I learned in the Church of Pittsburgh, and especially from my brother priests to whom I owe so much.

“I hope that every single day you will remember our priests, pray to God in thanksgiving for them, and tell them how much you love them. For all of our priests, and for the honor that you bestow on them tonight in this award, thank you and God bless you."

During the evening, John Warwick, club president, presented a check to the bishop that increased Serra’s scholarship endowment fund to $400,000.

“Serrans over the past 30 years have generously donated to this fund, where annually the income is used for tuition and vocation programs at the seminary,” Warwick said.

The Serra Club of Pittsburgh meets the third Friday of every month at noon at Rico’s Restaurant, near McKnight Road at Babcock Boulevard in the North Hills. The scheduled speaker at the Sept. 18 meeting is Bishop William Winter. The Oct. 16 meeting is set to feature Father Matt McClain, director of vocations. For information, call 412-486-1341 or 412-562-9117.

 

 

 

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