Participants in the 2014 convocation enjoy time together.

NRVC members and friends are warmly invited to attend the 2016 convocation in Overland Park, Kansas, October 27-31. With a theme of "Awakened by the Spirit: Called to Discipleship," this gathering will bring together hundreds of vocation directors, leaders, and others involved in inviting a new generation to religious life.

Vocation fair opportunity added

Attendees also have the opportunity to take part in a nearby vocation fair for young adults on October 26, from 5-8 p.m. at Ascension Parish, only four miles from the convocation. A free bus shuttle from the hotel will be available; registration is $20. The fair is sponsored by the NRVC Heartland Region, Serra Club, and the Archdiocese of Kansas City. For details or to sign up, contact Sister Vickie Lichtenauer, S.C.L. at vlichten@hotmail.com or 816-718-2660.

Convocation features

Among the many opportunities for enrichment will be:

Ms. Sherry Weddell

Father Kevin O'Brien, S.J.

Father Thomas Rosica, C.S.B.

•  Keynote addresses to deepen your understanding of discipleship by Ms. Sherry Weddell of the Catherine Siena Institute and Father Kevin O'Brien, S.J. of the Jesuit School of Theology, Santa Clara University.

•  Livestreamed panel of young discerners and religious hosted by Deacon Pedro Guevara-Mann of Salt + Light TV. The young people will discuss what they find energizing and exciting in religious life today.

•  Special presentation at a dessert social by Father Thomas Rosica, C.S.B. of Salt + Light TV and the Holy See Press Office on "The Ignatian qualities of the papacy of Pope Francis." Father Rosica will share lively, behind-the-scenes stories of Pope Francis.

•  Quality workshops ranging from intercultural competency to young adult outreach. Day-long pre-convocation workshops are also available.

•  Fantastic networking and friendship-building opportunities. Spend time with others who understand and support what you do.

•  Inspiring liturgies and prayer times.

•  Opportunity to interact with Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., who will return from his new ministry to attend this gathering.

Charity selected for closing Mass collection

NRVC's tradition is to donate a collection taken at the final Mass to a social justice or charity organization in the local area. Members of NRVC's Heartland Region have selected Veronica's Voice in Kansas City, which assists women trying to leave prostitution. Veronica's Voice helps women through housing, food, counseling, public education, courtroom advocacy, job and life-skills training, and more.

Register today and save money!

Register today to avoid higher fees that begin October 1. Find a convocation overview here.

The NRVC board has begun the search for a new executive director and announced plans for the interim period following September 16, the final day for outgoing executive director Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. Brother Paul is moving to Rome to serve as vicar general of the Congregation of Holy Cross.

The board has delegated responsibilities among board members and the NRVC staff. Board chair Brother Ronald Hingle, S.C. will be NRVC's spokesperson; Sister Deborah Borneman, SS.C.M., director of member relations and services, will oversee many day-to-day office operations.

Vowed religious are encouraged to apply for the executive director position by December 16. A job description is posted here; application requirements are posted here.

The tentative time frame for hiring is as follows:

"Brother Paul has brought a great deal of energy, creativity, wisdom, enthusiasm and interpersonal skills to his ministry as executive director of NRVC for the past 14 years. We will miss him greatly, but we know that the Lord has even greater plans to continue to use him and the NRVC to build the Kingdom," said NRVC board chair Brother Ronald Hingle, S.C.

Brother Paul receives the Paluch Family Foundation Vocation Award from Dolores Orzel (left), creative director of the Vocation Awareness Division of the J.S. Paluch Company, and from company owners Bill and Mary Lou Rafferty.

During the opening banquet of the J.S. Paluch Vocation Seminar—held in Chicago on August 22-24—Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. was given the Paluch Family Foundation Vocation Award in honor of his many years in vocation ministry, 14 of them as NRVC's executive director. He will complete his work with NRVC on September 16 to begin serving in leadership for the Congregation of the Holy Cross.

NRVC board and staff also took part in the Paluch Seminar, which featured the theme "The Year of Mercy: Leadership, Mission, and Vocations." Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was the keynote speaker.

Recipients of Misericordia Fund scholarships are able to take part in foundational vocation training, such as workshops led by Father Raymond P. Carey, Ph.D., pictured above.

NRVC is grateful to all who have contributed to the Misericordia Fund, which helps religious communities take part in NRVC activities. Since the establishment of this fund, NRVC has awarded 43 full or partial scholarships to 31 distinct religious institutes to underwrite membership or program fees.

The impact of these scholarships is significant. A recipient recently wrote: "I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to receive such generous assistance from the Misericordia Scholarship Fund to attend the Summer Institute workshops. Through these intensive and informative workshops, I have been equipped with essential skills. If not for the scholarship, our community would not have been able to participate."

We are currently receiving requests from financially challenged communities to attend the NRVC convocation in October. If you have not yet contributed to the Misericordia Fund, we ask that you please generously do so today. Click here for details. Donate here.

NRVC extends a warm welcome to Maureen Cetera, who joined the staff as director of finance and human resources on August 29. Her background in church finance and accounting includes previous employment with the Archdiocese of Chicago, Old Saint Patrick Parish in Chicago, and the National Association for Lay Ministry. Maureen holds a master's in business administration from Saint Xavier University and a master of pastoral studies from the Catholic Theological Union. She is a lay ecclesial minister for the Archdiocese of Chicago, serving as a pastoral associate at her home parish, St. George, in Tinley Park, Illinois. Contact her at mcetera@nrvc.net

Three vocation ambassadors launched an online game that connects college students and sisters face-to-face.

NRVC's Vocation Ambassadors Program garnered positive media coverage and saw the launch of an innovative game for connecting college students and sisters.

Global Sisters Report published a detailed feature about the program in its "Trends" section on August 16.

In August three newly trained vocation ambassadors with the Adorers of the Blood of Christ launched a game intended to get college students at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas interacting in person with sisters. The game, loosely modeled on Pokemon Go, is called "Collect the Deck." Players collect cards by attending events and visiting sisters and other notable personalities at the university. Each card profiles a sister or university person. Whoever collects the most of the 52 cards wins a $200 prize in February.

The 2017 issue of VISION Vocation Guide is now circulating. Featuring a new Spanish-language section, the latest edition is packed with informative articles for discerners of all types and ages.

Copies are available to anyone; shipping is free for advertisers. Visit vocationnetwork.org/orders.

Also, remember to publicize any public event of your religious community on the VISION calendar. Events do not have to be specifically vocation related; they can include retreats, prayer services, online events, volunteering, presentations, and other opportunities for contact with your members. Visit vocationnetwork.org/events/begin.

All NRVC members are welcome to take part in a workshop on social media for vocation directors on September 17 at the Ridgley Center of Brother Martin High School in New Orleans. 

Sponsored by the Deep South NRVC region, the gathering will combine a 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. regional meeting with a 12:45 to 5 p.m. presentation by Father Larry Rice, C.S.P. on "Decoding social media." Click here for details.

Those who have contributed to NRVC in recent months have submitted the following prayer requests. Thank you to NRVC members and friends for remembering these intentions your prayers.

• Laurence F. of Illinois  for the recovery of Mike S., repose of the soul of Rita F., for unification of his family, for people to return to church, and for the end of abortion.
• Aurura P. of California, for her health (especially her migraines) and her family (especially her daughter).
• James F. of Illinois, for his son who died in 2013 of a heroin overdose.

For a full list of all prayer intentions, click here.

NRVC staff and members extend their prayers and sympathy to the community, family, and friends of Brother Charles Kitson, F.S.C., who died March 11.

An NRVC member who belonged to the De La Salle Brothers of the Christian Schools, Brother Charlie had been vocation director for his community from 1977 to 1983. His community reports that he had been attending a meeting of the Regional Conference of Christian Brothers in Napa, California when he passed away peacefully in his sleep during the morning hours of March 11, 2016.

May God grant Brother Charlie eternal rest and let perpetual light shine upon him.

This 30-minute DVD features eight high-energy young religious talking about their vocations. It is an ideal resource for use with high school and college students, Parent Teacher Organizations, and parish groups.

Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. introduces the film, which is divided into six chapters, with a reflection question at the end of each. An accompanying discussion booklet contains additional questions. One suggestion is to show a single chapter at a time, sharing your own insights afterward.

$8 members; $12 non-members. Click here for details and to order.

Communicators for Women Religious conference

The Communicators for Women Religious will hold its annual conference in Indianapolis October 4-7. The theme will be "Advance Your Mission! Turbocharge Your Communications." Attendees have the option to attend only a single day, October 5 or 6.

Saint Luke Institute offers initial human formation online, free trial

Saint Luke Institute is launching a new program for initial human formation through its SLIconnect education website. "Foundations" includes more than 30 on-demand, online courses to help those in initial formation cultivate the emotional, psychological, and spiritual skills needed to thrive in ministry. While designed for seminaries, the content easily can be used with other initial formation programs. Visit sliconnect.org/seminaries for details and to sign up for a free trial. Direct questions to Beth Davis, director of education, at sliconnect@sli.org or 502-632-2471.

RFC seeks staffer, hosts series of contemplative conversations,

The Religious Formation Conference is seeking a program director to design and implement formation programs for both new and seasoned religious.

In addition the organization is sponsoring a series of workshops to encourage contemplation and conversation. Details are at relforcon.org.

On November 18-19 at Rancho Palos Verdes, California, Brother Donald Bisson, F.M.S. will present on “Acting on the Journey of Transformation.”

On December 2-3 in Cincinnati, Father Daniel Horan, O.F.M. will present on “Crossing the Borders of Human Exceptionalism: Community, Colonizations, and Care for Creation in the Age of Laudato Si.”