Years ago, when Judy Cozzens taught in the public school system, she knew she would retire early and work for the Church. When her son Andrew, “Drew” to the family, was preparing for his ordination to the priesthood, she called and asked him how he thought she should use her time. 

As Judy recounted, he replied, “Mom, hands down, you need to be a Serran and work for religious vocations. That is the best thing you can serve.” So that’s what she did. “I’ve been very involved and just love the ministry because we are working to keep people there to bring us the sacraments and share the faith with all the faithful,” she said.  

Judy Cozzens

With National Vocations Week Nov. 6-12, “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley interviewed Cozzens for an episode debuting 9 p.m. Nov. 4 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM. By the way, “Drew” is Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston, a former auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. While in seminary, Bishop Cozzens served as a chaplain for the Serra Club in St. Paul, and his mother attended one meeting with him. 

“It’s been a wonderful ministry because I’ve made faithful friends and we challenge each other to do more for our Church,” Cozzens said. 

Founded in 1935, Serra is named after Father Junipero Serra, who started missions in California and “worked so long and tirelessly to promote our faith,” Cozzens said. “So we, too, work to promote our faith.” A number of clubs serve the archdiocese, she said. 

During the interview, Conley asked how parents and grandparents can encourage children to consider vocations. Cozzens suggested teaching children a prayer about religious vocations, “and there’s a lot of good ones out there.”  

“And just, Lord, whatever you call me to be, if it be holy sacramental marriage or religious life or single life, please let me know my way,” Cozzens said.  

Cozzens also encourages young people to enter seminaries and convents “to discern.” “We will celebrate if they continue on,” she said. “We will celebrate if they come home because they took time to discern.” 

Serra clubs also provide lesson plans for religious education instructors in schools to encourage religious vocations, Cozzens said. Arranging school visits from seminarians and sisters can show children “a happy religious vocation in formation,” she said.  

In honor of Vocations Awareness Week, Cozzens suggested finding “a couple of happy stories on the internet about happy vocations and share them” with grandchildren or other family members who might “see people in marriage all the time.” 

To learn more about Serra, visit serraus.org. To hear the full interview, listen to this episode of the “Practicing Catholic” show, which repeats 1 p.m. Nov. 5 and 2 p.m. Nov. 6 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM. 

Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Jason Adkins, executive director and general counsel for the Minnesota Catholic Conference, who describes making informed decisions at the voting booth; and Christina Krutza, a Called & Gifted presenter for the Catherine of Siena Institute, who discusses discerning one’s God-given charisms. 

Listen to interviews after they have aired at PracticingCatholicShow.com or choose a streaming platform at anchor.fm/practicing-catholic-show.