NRVC Staff

Board & staff

NRVC Staff

National leadership team

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The National Leadership Team

The NRVC utilizes a team model of leadership established in 2019. The pillars in this model are member-focused, mission-driven, accountable, and leaderful. The National Office postal address is 5416 S. Cornell Ave., Chicago, IL 60615. We work remotely and can all be reached at the email addresses below. You can also leave a phone message at the National office at 773.363.5454.

Sister Dina Bato, S.P.
Director of Membership

Develops strategies for NRVC membership appeals and renewals including follow-up with lapsed members.
Leads efforts in support of annual events such as Summer Institute, World Day for Consecrated Life, Catholic Sisters Week, World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Religious Brothers Day, and Vocation Awareness Week.
Liaison to the African American Vocation Committee and Incorporating Cultural Diversity Committee.

Sister Dina joined the NRVC team in August 2022. As a Sister of Providence of Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana, she made her perpetual profession in 2017. She holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Virginia Tech and a master's in pastoral theology from Saint Meinrad School of Theology. Sister Dina has supported congregational vocation promotion events, along with experience in parish and young adult ministry. Sister Dina is a member of Giving Voice. She enjoys writing, cooking, baking, music, walking, and time with friends and family.
Email: dinasp@nrvc.net

Sister Deborah Borneman, SS.C.M.
Director of Mission Integration

Liaison to all major collaborators, USCCB-CCLV, Member Area Coordinators, and ex officio, non-voting member of the National Board.
Cultivates member engagement by updating resources, implementing the Orientation Program for New Vocation Ministers, and directing Convocation.
Provides consultation and presentations on assessment, promotion, and research to members, religious leadership, institutes, and organizations.

Sister Debbie joined the NRVC team in August 2011. A Sister of Saints Cyril and Methodius, she has served in vocation ministry for over 20 years and has additional ministerial experience in pastoral care, youth ministry, college campus ministry, congregational leadership, and immigration advocacy. She regularly presents throughout the United States and Ireland. Sister Debbie holds a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies from the Loyola University of Chicago. She is a generous inviter who lives with abundant hope, boundless compassion, and radical availability.
E-mail: debbiesscm@nrvc.net

Sister Kathleen Branham, O.S.F.
Director of Database Administration

Oversees registrations, including membership, workshops, and events; and assists members with access to resources and benefits, including Misericordia grant applications.
Maintains the membership databases, creating protocols to ensure data integrity and safety.
Liaison to website services, publications, and Governance Committee.

Sr. Kathleen joined the NRVC team in May 2024. Born and raised in Indianapolis, IN, she professed her final vows in 2007 with the Sisters of Saint Francis, Oldenburg, IN. She began congregational vocation ministry in 2019 including serving as an NRVC Midwest Member Area Coordinator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in social justice from Marian University. She received a master’s certificate through the Center for Adoption Support and Education, and spiritual direction certification through the Benet Hill Spiritual Direction Program. She enjoys cooking, music, and creating beautiful cards.
Email: kathleenosf@nrvc.net

Maureen Cetera
Director of Finance and Operations

Safeguard and manages the assets of the NRVC.
Assists in developing and maintaining the structure and financial model needed to sustain and grow the organization.
Acts on behalf of the organization for financial and contractual purposes.

Maureen joined the NRVC team in August 2016. Her 30 years of experience with Church finance and accounting include positions with the Archdiocese of Chicago as Accounting Manager, Budget Manager, and Financial Analyst; Business Manager at Old Saint Patrick's Church; and Office Administrator for the NALM. Maureen’s degrees include an undergraduate degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an MBA from Saint Xavier University, and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from Catholic Theological Union. She serves the Archdiocese of Chicago as a lay ecclesial minister. Maureen and her husband, Tom, are parents to three young adults.
Email: mcetera@nrvc.net

Jesús Leyva
Director of Communications

Maintains high standards for the quality, accuracy, and consistency of the NRVC’s digital, video, and print communications.
Oversees the design and production of Focus on Vocation Ministry, the NRVC’s monthly digital newsletter, social media content, and other communications.
Plans and produces the quarterly, award-winning journal HORIZON, including editorial development, production, advertising sales and promotion, and subscriptions.

Jesús Leyva joined the NRVC team in May 2025. Jesús is an energetic, experienced, and bilingual (Spanish) writer and editor. He grew up on the surreal streets of East Los Angeles. Jesús completed a Bachelor's degree in Studio Art and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside. Most recently, Jesús worked as a copy editor with the National Catholic Reporter and content editor with Global Sisters Report. He and his wife, Marimar, are active participants at Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios in Durango, Mexico, where they serve on the liturgical team. Jesús is grateful to offer his wealth of experience in support of vocation ministry.
Email: jleyva@nrvc.net

Key partners

ideaPort

ideaPort LLC is contracted for web services for NRVC.net. ideaPort LLC is a multifaceted web design and programming company focusing on creating/improving the online presence of small to mid-sized companies and organizations. Curtis Long and his staff have managed and developed websites for NRVC since 2001. Services include programming, maintenance, development, page design, security, data management, and troubleshooting. ideaPort also provides technical suppport and training for the NRVC leadership team.

National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations

In 2014, the National Religious Vocation Conference established the National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations (NFCRV.org). The mission of the NFCRV is to provide financial assistance to NRVC member institutes by assisting in removing, in whole or in part, the significant educational debt of candidates pursuing vocations as religious sisters, brothers, or priests. The NRVC and the NFCRV are separate and distinct 501(c)(3) entities with unique Boards of Governance working in cooperation to solicit, manage and distribute funds in support of religious vocations. Phil Loftus can be reached at ploftus@nfcrv.org

TrueQuest Communications

TrueQuest Communications is a publishing services provider specializing in Catholic content and a global Catholic market. On behalf of the NRVC, TrueQuest publishes the NRVC's annual VISION Vocation Guide and VocationNetwork.org. Patrice Tuohy and her staff oversee editorial, advertising, marketing, and promotion of VISION Vocation Network. They solicit article and advertising inquiries for VISION.

Patrice Tuohy, publisher | executive editor, VISION Vocation Guide
Emails: mail@truequestweb.com; mail@vocationnetwork.org

Past NRVC Staff

View the tribute video to Carol by our National Board and Staff.

With deep gratitude for their commitment to the NRVC mission since 1988:

Ms. Marge Argyelan (director of database administration), Brother Paul Bednarczyk, CSC (executive director); Sister Cathy Bertrand, SSND (executive director); Sister Cecilia Bianchio, PHJC (secretarial assistant); Ms. Cecilia Blue (finance coordinator); Ms. Judy Burnell (finance coordinator); Sister Sharon Dillon, SSJ-TOSF (executive director); Sister Charlene Diorka, SSJ (associate director); Andrew Grcevic (office assistant); Sr. Charlene Herinckx, SSMO (director of membership); Mr. Charlie Holden Corbett (program and communication coordinator); Mr. David Hotek (managing editor); Mr. Justin Hurtado (director of finance and operations); Ms. Maureen Kern (bookkeeper); Sister Mary Ann Hamer, OSF (administrative assistant); Sister Patricia Knopp, SNDdeN (director of publications); Mr. Phil Loftus (director of development); Sister Alice Montavon, BVM (secretarial assistant); Ms. Maureen O’Meara (office assistant); Ms. Julie Durkin Montague (executive assistant); Mr. Wayne Montague (finance coordinator); Miss Debbie Prieto (administrative assistant); Ms. Maureen Reiff (secretarial assistant); Brother Joseph Samson, FSC (executive director); Mr. Al Spenadel (finance coordinator); Sister Deborah Suddarth, OSF (associate director); Mr. James Sullivan (finance coordinator), and Mr. Mark Teresi (director of development).