This article updated July 15, 2020.

All who support a vibrant future for religious life are encouraged to attend the 2020 NRVC Vitual Convocation this fall with the theme is “2020 Vision: Focus on Hope.” Schedule, featured speakers, and dates to be determined

2020 Virtual Convocation Registration coming soon.

NRVC is seeking a part-time database administrator to work in its office in Chicago. Details about this position are available here.

Catholic Sisters Week will take place March 8-14, and a number of resources are available for commemorating it. Find a tool kit and background information at CatholicSistersWeek.org.

List  your event or get ideas from what others are doing by visiting this page. Even more ideas are available here.

NRVC members in the Chicago area are invited to celebrate at Catholic Theological Union March 11, 6-7 p.m. The theme will be "Stories of Hope and Heart: Conversations with Catholic Sisters." This free event will include a panel discussion, small groups, and pizza. It is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Consecrated Life, Communicators for Women Religious, Giving Voice, Institute for Religious Formation, National Religious Vocation Conference, and Religious Formation Conference.

NRVC's respected publication and website for those in discernment is now accepting advertising reservations. For more than 30 years, VISION has provided religious communities with a proven way to reach those who are considering religious life. Being part of VISION is a foundational part of vocation communications.

Contact Patrice Tuohy, publisher, at: 312-356-9900 or pjtuohy@truequestweb.com. Learn more by clicking here.

A Religious Brothers Symposium will take place at Boston College on April 4 with a theme of "The Prophetic Call of the Brother in the Church."

The event is co-sponsored by NRVC, the Religious Brothers Conference, Conference of Major Superiors of Men, and Religious Formation Conference.

Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J., director of the Vatican Observatory, will be the keynote speaker. Cardinal Sean O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap. will preside at Mass, and optional trips will be organized to Spencer Abbey and downtown Boston.

Watch for updates at religiousbrothers.org.

A subscription to HORIZON delivers critical insights, theology, inspiration, and ideas about vocations to religious life. If you'd like your membership to continue to be informed and engaged on issues related to new members, sign them up to receive HORIZON. 

Our next edition, which will mail this month, delves into the key topic of accompaniment.

NRVC members receive a 60 percent discount on subscriptions. Click here to sign up or call 773-363-5454.

From now through April 15, the National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations is accepting new applications for education-debt assistance. Please click the links to review NFCRV Grant Guidelines and the 2020 Application or contact executive director Phil Loftus at ploftus@nrvc.net or 773-363-5454.

Join us July 8-23 in Chicago for professional development and networking at Summer Institute. Take one or several of the following workshops. (Click on the workshop name for details and to register.)

Orientation Program for New Vocation Directors     
July 8-12            

Ethical Issues in Vocation and Formation Ministry
July 13-14

Behavioral Assessment 1   
July 16-18                                         

Is it Generational, Cultural, Personality or Pathology?     
July 16-18                           

Understanding, Assessing, and Fostering Psycho-Sexual Integration   
July 20-23

Upcoming member area meetings include the following. Details about these and other meetings will be posted here as they become available.    

February 25 Delaware Valley, Philadelphia

March 2 Mid-Atlantic, Baltimore

March 12, West Coast (meeting by ZOOM)

Sold as two distinct resources, the Director's Manual contains behavioral assessment questions based upon 14 themes. This resource is for vocation ministers who have attended NRVC's Behavioral Assessment workshop, to be used with discerners who are serious about meeting regularly. This spiral-bound resource includes director's notes and all information in the Vocation Discernment Journal. The Director's Manual is available in English for a member price of $15; non-members $23. A Spanish Director's Manual is available to members for $5; non-members for $8. 

The Discernment Journal contains 14 themes with scripture reflections, quotes from Vatican II and church documents, as well as reflection questions. This resource is intended for use by inquirers who want in-depth conversation and assessment in discernment. Available in English. Member price: $7. Non-member price: $10.50.  

These products can also be ordered by calling the NRVC office at 773-363-5454.

​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. 

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.

Redemptorist Renewal Center

The Redemptorist Renewal Center runs three sabbatical programs annually—spring, summer, and fall. The spring and fall programs each last 10 weeks, while the summer is only five weeks. For more information on the RRC program, see desertrenewal.org/sabbatical/ or contact office@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 in beautiful St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. For details visit navfd.info or email navfdco@gmail.com.