Immigration and International Issues

Immigration and International Issues

Immigration and International Issues

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How importing foreign-born members is affecting vocation ministry and the U.S. church

By David B. Couturier O.F.M., Cap.

Foreign-born religious bring many gifts to the U.S. church. However, at the same time, the practice of importing members holds multiple perils for religious communities. Read more...

Nigeria: plentiful candidates bring blessings and challenges

By Rita Schwartzenberger OP

Many young Nigerians seek religious life. Yet cultural factors, poverty and overtaxed vocation and formation ministers are a few of the challenges. Read more...

Obstacles and successes in British vocation ministry

By Cath Lloyd R.S.C.J. and Paul Smyth C.M.F.

British religious congregations are aging, and new members are few. Yet a new optimism and desire for collaboration are taking hold in vocation ministry. Read more...

Great rivers of grace: Vocation ministry in the Amazon region of Brazil

By Nancy Schramm O.S.F.

Religious life can be a hard sell in Brazil’s Amazon region, but base Christian communities and martyrs for the faith are inspiring a new generation to consider church vocations. Read more...

Vocation ministry in Canada today

Canadian vocation efforts face challenges of vast geography and language divisions, among others. Yet new vocation promotion projects continue to emerge. Read more...

Challenges and successes of vocation ministry in Australia

By Mary Ryan R.S.J.

Seven years ago this author described the state of vocation ministry in Australia. She can point to dramatic inroads since then in establishing a pervasive vocation culture. Read more...

A brief overview of vocation ministry in Japan

By Ward Biddle CP

Japan sorely needs vocation outreach. While some programs are reaching out to young adults, much more remains to be done. Read more...

Vocation realities for one religious order in Ivory Coast

By Joseph Tanga-Koti

Many young men are knocking on this congregation’s door in Ivory Coast. They bring great vitality, but at the same time, they face numerous challenges during discernment and formation. Read more...

An international conference to encourage vocations

Through a five-day international conference, two connected congregations of brothers stirred enthusiasm for inviting new members and began forming strategic plans for promoting vocations. Read more...

Vocation ministry in Ireland today

By Andrew and Andrew O’Connell

Irish church vocations have diminished dramatically in recent decades, but the Presentation Brothers are making strides within a new social and church context. Read more...

Preparing new members for an intercultural world

By Fr. Paolo Martinelli O.F.M., Cap.

Many religious communities are deeply affected—both in ministry and membership—by the intermingling of cultures in a globalized world. The new reality has challenges and blessings, especially for new members. Read more...

UK vocation ministry: new ventures and growth

By Judith Eydmann

In England and Wales religious communities are moving forward to promote religious life and help individuals of a new generation to discern their calling. Read more...

Basic U.S. Immigration Information for Vocation Directors

Naturalized Citizen Read more...

CLINIC Common Immigration Terms

Click here to see a pdf of "CLINIC Common Immigration Terms." Read more...

CLINIC Processes and Eligibility Requirements

Click here to see a pdf of "CLINIC Processes and Eligibility Requirements ." Read more...

Called to accompany during paradigm change

Called to accompany during paradigm change

By Hosffman Ospino

The church is changing. Now is the time to accompany all of our brothers and sisters who seek to follow God’s call. Read more...

The invitation: mutual encounter, mutual accompaniment

The invitation: mutual encounter, mutual accompaniment

By Sister Xiomara Méndez Hernández

The invitation to religious life today is a call, not only to change one’s way of living, praying, ministering and relating, but an invitation to be transformed. And due to the cultural and racial diversity of those called to religious life today, the transformation within the invitation needs to be mutual. Read more...

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NRVC Member Areas

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Upper Midwest Member Area Meeting

May 14,

10 - 11:30 a.m. via Zoom

Lake Erie/Ohio River Member Area Meeting

May 20, 2025,

via Zoom

Heartland Member Area Gathering

May 30, 2025,

via Zoom

Candidate Assessment through the Lens of Inteculturality

June 13, 2025,

Huntingdon Valley, PA

Orientation Program for New Vocation Directors

July 9-13, 2025,

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Behavorial Assessment 1 Workshop

July 15-17, 2025,

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Vocation Promotion Workshop

July 19-20, 2025,

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National Board Meeting

Sept. 8-12, 2025,

Chicago, IL

Member Area Coordinators Gathering

Sept. 16-18, 2025,

Chicago, IL

National Vocation Awareness Week

November 2-8, 2025,

VISION Discerner Guide

HORIZON Journal

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Friar Emanuel Vasconcelos, O.F.M.Conv.

Friar Emanuel Vasconcelos, O.F.M.Conv.

Being connected to others doing similar ministry is a big reason that Friar Emanuel Vasconcelos, O.F.M.Conv. is part of the NRVC. He is vocation director for the Franciscan Friars Conventual, Our Lady of the Angels province. He is also a Mid-Atlantic Member Area Coordinator, along with Sister Jean Rhoades, D.C. Read more...

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