Convocation

Convocation

Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2024 in Minneapolis


2024 Convocation

Walking humbly together

Registration begins in April.  Read more here.

 

 


2022 Convocation

Call Beyond Boards

For those who welcome details about our recent convocation in November 2022, that information is below. We will publish details about our 2024 Convocation later on this website. Stay tuned!

Join us for Convocation!

Registration is open for our biennial Convocation hosted by the Pacific Northwest Member Area, in Spokane, WA, November 3-6, 2022. 

Convocation brings together the NRVC membership with its trademark excellence in workshops, liturgies, keynote presentations, and networking. This large membership conference also includes the business meeting, awards banquet, and invitations to several organizational collaborators. It provides the opportunity to celebrate the mission and vision of the organization while engaging in professional development and ongoing formation.

The venue selected is the Davenport Grand Hotel, 333 W Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA. The NRVC has contracted a block of rooms for three days prior and 3 days after Convocation for a reduced rate of $122 per night plus 15% taxes/fees. While it may be cheaper for reservations elsewhere, the NRVC depends upon your reservations to keep the overall rate of the conference affordable. If we do not meet our contracted rooms, the NRVC will be penalized financially. Thank you for reserving your hotel room through NIX.

Check out the four Pre-Convocation workshop choices:

  1. Dynamic Communication Strategies,
  2. Inspirational Women in the Church
  3. Vocation Ministry: A Call to be Light and Enlightened,
  4. Vocation Promotion Insights.   

Convocation Registration in three easy steps

1. Register at the NRVC online store for the conference, and pre-convocation workshops. The late fee is already reflected into the total cost.

2. Reserve your room at the Davenport Grand Hotel directly with NIX here. Please do NOT call the hotel for reservations or use a third party option. If you are sharing a room, each person needs to register with NIX and list the roommate's name. This is to ensure dietary restrictions and accessibility needs. NIX will ensure that the roommates are matched up and only have one hotel room.  You will not be double charged. A credit card is needed to make your reservation but you will not be charged until you check in. Register through NIX here.

3. Book your round trip travel to Spokane Airport (GEG) through the airline of your choice:  Alaska Airlines, Allegiant AirAmerican AirlinesDelta Air LinesFrontier AirlinesSouthwest Airlines, or United Airlines.  Your ground transportation choices include taxi, Uber, Lyft, or car rental to/from the hotel which is just 10 miles from the airport. Hotel parking is free for overnight guests. For commuters, it is $22 per day. 

Call Marge at 773.490.6556 for assistance in registration. 


Download the Schedule

PreConvocation workshops, 9:00 a.m. -  4:30 p.m., November 3, 2022

First time attendee gathering, 4:45 p.m., November 3, 2022

Opening Reception begins at 6:00 p.m., November 3, 2022

Closing Banquet ends at 9:00 p.m., November 5, 2022

Optional bus trip to Idaho: November 6, 2022 - the bus is full.


Planning your budget

An opening reception on Thursday evening, lunch on Friday and Saturday, along with the closing awards banquet on Saturday, are all included in your registration fee. There are several restaurants within walking distance from the hotel. There is also a restaurant in the hotel and breakfast available.

NRVC member early registration rate: $500      

Non-member early registration rate: $750

Late registration fee after October 7: $100 more

Pre-Convocation Workshop member rate: $180, includes lunch & 2 workshops

Pre-Convocation Workshop non-member rate: $270, includes lunch & 2 workshops

Post Convocation Excursion to Idaho: $125 includes lunch

Hotel overnight rate is $122 plus 15% taxes/fees. This rate is available from October 31 through November 9, 2022. Parking is free for overnight guests; for commuters, it is $25 per day. 

All registration fees are non-refundable after October 1, 2022.

If  you need financial assistance, the NRVC Misericordia Fund is available to help with Convocation registration fees. For information and applications, please click here. 


Rewind the Future Roundtable Conversation

Ten years ago in 2012, the NRVC published the Keys to the Future video unpacking the 2009 NRVC/CARA Study on Recent Vocations to Religious Life. The NRVC has invited five Keys to the Future video participants to a roundtable conversation with Sr. Miriam Ukeritis, CSJ, one of the researchers from the Future of Religious Orders Study published 30 years ago in 1992. What changes have they experienced in religious life since 1992 and 2012? How do they keep moving forward in hope? This lively roundtable will include time for table conversation for all Convocation participants to ponder aloud what we percieve to be the keys to the future of religious life. Rewind the Future Roundtable presenters can be accessed here.

Keynote Presenters

Sister Barbara Reid, OP, will record her presentation and this will be available to all paid participants.

Sister Barbara E. Reid, O.P. is a Dominican Sister of Grand Rapids, Michigan and holds a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She is President of Catholic Theological Union and Carroll Stuhlmueller, CP, Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies. Sr. Barbara has taught at CTU since 1988 and served as Vice President and Academic Dean from 2009-2018. She has led may study tours and retreats in the Holy Lands. Sr. Barbara is author of twelve books and numerous articles, most recently the two-volume commentary on the Gospel of Luke that she co-authored with Prof. Shelly Matthews in the Wisdom Commentary series for which she is also General Editor. 

Friday Keynote Presentation: Vocation in the Age of Migration: 'Equipping the Saints' for Mission and Ministry by Father vănThanh Nguyễn, S.V.D.


Father vănThanh Nguyễn, S.V.D., is a missionary priest of the Society of the Divine Word and has served on the Catholic Theological Union faculty since 2005. He is Professor of New Testament Studies and the holder of the Francis X. Ford, M.M., Chair of Catholic Missiology at CTU in Chicago, IL. He is an associate editor of the Journal of the International Association for Mission Studies (2013-present), and the managing editor of the Journal of Association of Asian/North American Theological Educators (2013-present). He has authored several books and numerous articles including, “Acts” in The Jerome Biblical Commentary for the 21st Century, and “What Does the Bible Say About Strangers, Migrants, and Refugees?”

Saturday Keynote Presentation: Borders, Boundaries and Catholic Identity: Three Approaches to Vocation Ministry by Father Ricky Manalo, CSP


Father Ricky Manalo, CSP, is a Paulist priest, composer, theologian, and author. He is the 2018 Pastoral Musician of the Year Award by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. He studied composition and piano at the Manhattan School of Music; theology at the Washington Theological Union; and liturgy, culture, and sociology at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA. He has written articles and books on liturgy, culture, music, and the intersection of sociology and religious practices. Fr. Ricky is a theological consultor for the USCCB and a co-author of numerous statements, including the national pastoral plan for U.S. Asian Pacific Catholics, Encountering Christ in Harmony. Fr. Manalo presents lectures, keynotes, and pastoral workshops, preaches, presides, and gives concerts.


Donation Custom

It is the custom of the Host Area to select a local non-profit organization for the collection taken at the closing Mass at Convocation. The Pacific Northwest Member Area has selected Transitions. This organization works to end poverty and homelessness for women and children in Spokane. Catholic Sisters from the Sinsinawa Dominicans, Sisters of the Holy Names, Sisters of Providence and the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia came together in 1995 and combined these services, founding Transitions.  At Convocation 2020, 169 NRVC members donated $5200 to the National Black Sisters Conference. 


Liturgy

Communal and personal prayer are important values of the NRVC. Each day, Mass will be celebrated along with opportunities for Communal Prayer. A prayer room will be located in the hotel for those who seek a quieter, contemplative space. 


Sponsors

Many levels of Sponsorship are available and we welcome  your support.  Please contact Director of Development, Mr. Phil Loftus at  ploftus@nrvc.net if you would like to become a sponsor. Click here to learn more about Convocation 2022 sponsorship opportunities.  

SPONSOR LIST
 


Travel excursion--the bus is full.
If you want to be on the waiting list debbiesscm@nrvc.net

Join us for an extra day on Sunday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on a chartered bus trip to visit the Historic Silver Valley in Idaho: beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene, Old Mission State Park, Cataldo Mission, Sacred Encounters (a world class exhibit, telling the story of the Jesuits and Coeur d’Alene Tribe), Lunch at the Snake Pit built in 1880 for fur traders and miners, and the Crystal Gold Mine with unusual crystal formations. We'll be home in plenty of time to enjoy a free evening to relax in downtown Spokane!

This excursion requires some walking, the tour company states: "You walk into the side of the mountain, the ground is flat and it is fine for seniors.  All participants in activities and use of facilities contracted for shall be undertaken by each individual at his or her own risk.  Group Coordinators shall not be liable for any claims, demands, injuries, damages, actions, or causes of actions whatsoever to person or property arising out of or connected with the use of any services or facilities arranged for or the premise where the same are located, or arising out of acts of active or passive negligence on Group Coordinators, its owners, servants, agents or employees."  

Cost: $125 which includes bus transportation, meal, entrance fees, and driver tip. This trip is sold out. If you want to be on the waiting list, please email debbiesscm@nrvc.net

COVID Protocols

The NRVC will follow any CDC protocols to provide for the wellbeing of each participant. All participants are asked to take an at-home rapid test the day you are leaving to travel to Convocation to be sure you are negative for COVID-19. Because this is a large group event gathering participants from many areas, please bring the following with you to Convocation:

  • Proof of COVID vaccination. Please note that all attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination at registration. Proof of vaccination can be your vaccination card or an electronic version (a photo is acceptable) 
  • For any participant who cannot show a vaccination record for any reason, we will offer the option to present the results of a COVID-19 viral test (PCR) taken no more than 24 hours before traveling to Convocation. You must show your negative test result at registration to pick up your name tag.
  • Masks – We encourage all participants to wear N-95 or KN-95 masks in all indoor settings at Convocation.
  • COVID self-tests in case you begin to have symptoms.

 Convocation Logo

This vivid artwork embodies the 2022 Convocation theme: Call beyond Borders, recognizing God’s endless call to holiness. The swirling waters, gusty wind, and airborne dove speak of the vibrant symbols of the Holy Spirit moving freely beyond borders. The Spirit beckons us to be fearless in following Christ through vowed religious life in community, prayer, and ministry; living interculturally and intergenerationally, across multiple frontiers. 

The Convocation Logo was designed by Sister of Providence, Joni Luna, S.P. who integrated her Native American heritage to create this beautiful, colorful Convocation logo. Sister Joni entered her congregation in 2012 and made her perpetual profession in 2021. At Sister Joni’s thirty-day retreat before profession, an Ojibwe elder gave to her the Native American Spirit name, Gidagaamegwandookwe, which translates to spotted feathered woman. Sister Joni is an NRVC member, currently serving as vocation director for her congregation. She participated in the 2021 Summer Institute.

Terms and conditions

Please read our NRVC terms and conditions for all events and programs.



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