Francis Woerner, a member of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Glasgow who is also a secular Franciscan, has been elected president of the Diocesan Vocations Guild.
The Guild also announced in a May 29 release that Mary Gaworski of Holy Spirit Parish in New Castle is its new vice president. Stephen Oldiges of St. John the Beloved in Wilmington, a member of the Knights of Columbus, was elected secretary.
Bob Krebs, a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Hockessin, who is diocesan chancellor and also director of the Office of Public Relations and Media for the Diocese of Wilmington, was elected treasurer.
Father David Kelley, director of the Office for Priestly and Religious Vocations will continue in his appointed role as spiritual director of the Guild.
“I am both pleased and humbled to serve as president of the Diocesan Vocations Guild,” Woerner said. “It’s important to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life, and equally important to pray that those the Lord has chosen be granted the graces to grow in holiness, especially in this Year of Consecrated Life as proclaimed by our Holy Father, Pope Francis. Our salvation depends on it.”
The Diocesan Vocations Guild was formed in 2011 with the merger of The Diocesan Vocations Prayer Guild, formerly known as the Diocese ofWilmington Mothers’ Guild, and the Diocese of Wilmington Serra Club In- formation.
The Guild is open to Catholics from within or with ties to the diocese who pray for, encourage and support the bishop, priests, religious, deacons and seminarians of the diocese. The objectives of the Guild are achieved through prayer, service and the affirmation of the importance of the priesthood, diaconate and the religious life to the mission of the diocese.
The group meets in Wilmington on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. from September through June. Most meetings are held in the diocesan office building, 1626 North Union Street, Wilmington, Delaware.
There are two types of membership: active and auxiliary. Active members are involved in many aspects of the Guild’s work. Auxiliary members support the Guild’s mission through prayer and other ways they are able. Yearly dues are $20 for individuals or married couples.
For more information, or to be put on the mailing list for notification of meetings and other events, contact Bob Krebs at 302-573-3116 or rkrebs@cdow.org or Mary Ann Peirson at 302-573-3113 or mpeirson@cdow.org.
