NRVC members and staff helped deliver the message that religious life remains a lifegiving option to more than 20,000 Catholic teens and their chaperones who attended the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) November 21-23 in Indianapolis.

Nearly 80 NRVC members, representing 51 communities, participated in the event, primarily through their presence in Inspiration Nook, a vocation-themed space that allowed young people to converse informally with religious. 

In addition, NRVC members highlighted the vocation of brothers and helped lead a workshop. Brother Mark Motz, S.M. and Brother Luis Ramos, F.M.—both members of NRVC—led morning prayer for the full assembly on November 23. Former NRVC member John Mark Falkenhain, O.S.B. led the schola for the Liturgy of the Hours on the 23rd. And Gregory Darr, NRVC co-coordinator for the Upper Midwest member area, presented with Karen Estrada the NCYC workshop, "Hello, Goodbye: Lessons for Navigating Life's Transitions." 

Photos of NRVC's presence at NCYC are available on our Facebook page.

A second national symposium to elevate and discuss the vocation of brothers will take place April 4 in Boston. NRVC is a co-sponsor of the event, along with the Religious Brothers Conference, the Conference of the Major Superiors of Men, and the Religious Formation Conference.

The keynote speaker for the symposium will be Vatican astronomer Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J. He will speak on "The prophetic call of the brother in the church."  Two other brother-presenters will take up related themes, and small group sessions will allow for discussion. Cardinal Sean O'Malley will celebrate the closing Mass.

An optional bus tour of Spencer Abbey and brewery will take place on April 3, and participants are encouraged to stay on for an April 5 breakfast and guided discussion. Details and registration are here.

NRVC urges you to consider nominating  yourself or another member to serve a three-year term on the NRVC Board. Board service is an opportunity to network, grow, and develop while furthering our mission.

New board members will begin with an orientation meeting in August and then meet two to three times a year, in addition to other responsibilities. Details and forms for submitting a self-nomination or nomination of another are at nrvc.net. The nomination deadline is February 1. 

To further refine the team leadership model NRVC has been using for several months, in November the board approved the following staff title changes to better reflect each person's work. To help you connect with the correct staff person, we also explain areas of responsibility. Additional details are at nrvc.net.
 

Marge Argyelan, director of membership (formerly director of data analytics)

• 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 insure data integrity and safety. 
• Liaison to publications/website services.
   

Sister Deborah Borneman, SS.C.M., director of mission integration (formerly director of member relations and services)

• Acts as liaison to all major collaborators, USCCB-CCLV, member area coordinators, and serves as ex officio, non-voting member of the national board.
• Cultivates member engagement by planning and implementing professional workshops, programs, and resources.
• Provides consultation and presentations on assessment, promotion, and research to members, religious leadership, institutes, and organizations.
   

Maureen Cetera, director of finance and operations (formerly director of finance and human resources)

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

Phil Loftus, director of development for NRVC and executive director of National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations (no change in title)

• Develops and implements strategies to raise funds for the NRVC.
• Cultivates fruitful relationships with donors and collaborators for the advancement of the NRVC mission via grants, planned giving, and endowment monies.
• Implements all development strategies and functions, provides consultation for marketing of these efforts.
   

Publications services are provided to NRVC by TrueQuest Communications, and further details about responsibilities and personnel may be found at nrvc.net.

Don't miss a single edition of HORIZON—or any other member benefit. Please renew your membership promptly at nrvc.net/signup to ensure continuous benefits. 

If you have questions, don't hesitate to contact Marge Argyelan, director of membership, at 773-363-5454 or margyelan@nrvc.net.

Remember, in addition to receiving a subscription to HORIZON, members can sign up others for subscriptions at the deeply discounted rate of $50. Consider a subscription for every household in your community to keep members aware of and engaged in vocation ministry.

The NRVC offices will be closed from December 23 through January 1. We wish our members and collaborators a happy, holy Christmas and a New Year filled with blessings.

Image by Anuja Tilj on Pixabay.

"Discerning Your Vocation: Religious Life & Diocesan Priesthood," by NRVC member Sister Kathleen Bryant, R.S.C. is an excellent resource to keep on hand for those who are closely considering a church vocation. 

This 20-page booklet is written for people of all ages. It has been adapted with permission from Bryant's book Vocations Anonymous. The booklet explains prerequisites for admission to candidacy, suggests questions to ask vocation directors, and helps readers form questions about vowed communal life and diocesan priesthood.

It is ideal for those already in discernment or who attend Busy Persons Retreats, Come and See experiences, the Focus conference SLS20, or the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress.

Purchase "Discerning Your Vocation" for $3; $2 for members.

Ave Maria Press new books

Two new titles you may want to read are: ChurchMoney: Rebuilding the Way We Fund Our Mission, by Michael White and Tom Corcoran and You Shall Be a Blessing: Twelve Letters on the Priesthood, by Cardinal Gerhard Müller. 

Mexican American Catholic College

Participate in a transformative experience and be part of a diverse community rooted in faith. Among the offerings at MACC are Intensive Pastoral Spanish and the Sisters' Intercultural Studies Program. Learn more at maccsa.org.

"The Life" & vocation lesson plans by Global Sisters Report

Don't miss the "The Life," the popular series by Global Sisters Report featuring reflections by a diverse panel of sisters from around the world: GlobalSistersReport.org/Series/Life. Global Sisters Report has also produced a series of high school vocation lesson plans available here.

Jackson Psychological Services

Assessments of candidates to religious institutes are offered by a skilled, experienced religious, psychologist, and NRVC member, workshop presenter, and HORIZON writer: Sister Cindy Kaye, R.S.M., Ph.D. 

Institute of Religious Formation & Hesburgh Sabbatical 

The Institute of Religious Formation and Hesburgh Sabbatical Programs at Catholic Theological Union offer programs for personal and professional development. For more information, see ctu.edu/academics/special-programs.

St. John Vianney Center

The Saint John Vianney Center specializes in psychological and formational assessments for individuals seeking to enter religious life and comprehensive evaluations to identify community and ministry difficulties.

Prepare the Word

Prepare the Word is a resource to help preachers prepare homilies that hit home. It also offers material to help nourish and strengthen the faith of parishioners. 

Redemptorist Renewal Center

The peaceful Sonoran Desert is the stunning setting for this retreat center. It offers programs year-round, including its Contemplative Study and Sabbatical Program and the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction. Learn more at desertrenewal.org. 

Thank you HORIZON advertisers!

HORIZON reaches a premier niche of highly educated religious men and women and lay ministers. Readers hold leadership positions in their communities and influence community decisions. Contact editor Carol Schuck Scheiber for more information: cscheiber@nrvc.net or 567-288-2255. Download the current rate card.

News of our collaborators

Canadian vocation conference in April

Anyone passionate about creating a culture of vocation is invited to attend the "Calling to New Horizons," a conference of the National Association of Vocation and Formation Directors (NAVFD) from April 29 to May 2, 2020 in beautiful St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. For details visit navfd.info or email navfdco@gmail.com.  

Pastores Dabo Vobis Workshop June 1-4

Seminary formators and their partners in priestly formation are invited to take part in the workshop "Pastores Dabo Vobis"  to take place June 1-4 at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, Texas. The workshop is offered  by the U.S. Sulpicians; details are on a downloadable flyer.

How long have you been involved in vocation ministry?

Twenty years ago I attended the Orientation Program in Atchinson, Kansas with three new vocation directors from the Augustinians.  

Are you part of a vocation team? 

I am a full-time vocation director covering Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Northern California. I have an associate who takes care of vocations in Los Angeles and San Diego. For 20 years, I've been writing the province newsletter, which is sent to every inquirer to tell what the Augustinians are doing today.

Has being a member of NRVC been helpful? 

Everything I learned about being a vocation director I have learned from NRVC workshops and publications. I have taken every workshop by Father Ray Carey, as well as many others, including this fall's "The Art of Accompaniment and Discernment." Workshops are great for learning; they are refreshing and helpful for motivation.

I've also attended every convocation since I have been a vocation director. In addition, I'm involved in the West Coast member area, especially the northern area. It is very helpful that we often we use Skype for meetings.

What programs, ideas, or approaches have you used in vocation ministry lately that you have been excited about?

I am not a very excitable person, but I like our discernment weekends, including the fact that I don't have to put them together. Those in formation coordinate it. All I have to do is invite men who are discerning. I interview them first before they come to the discernment weekend. 

Would you like share any fun facts about yourself?

I have been studying Spanish for about 18 years. I love music; I am a piano player who doesn't practice anymore. And I volunteer weekly at a Saint Anthony's Dining Room, which serves free meals to 2,000-3,000 people daily in San Francisco. 

Contact Father Tom Whelan, O.S.A. at vocations@calaugustine.org.