July 2017 newsletter

July 2017 newsletter


VISION & HORIZON win awards

NRVC's publications commended

Once again VISION Vocation Guide and HORIZON, publications of the National Religious Vocation Conference, earned awards from the Catholic Press Association in a competition that includes both U.S. and Canadian publishing.

VISION
Second Place
Best Professional/Special Interest Magazine

Second Place
Article: "VISION Spotlight: Vocation takes cultivation"

Third Place
Best Columnist: Layperson
Alice Camille, "Questions Catholics Ask"  (VISION website column)
 

HORIZON
Honorable Mention
Best Professional and Special Interest Magazine

Congratulations to all our editors, designers, and writers who create and contribute, including: Patrice Tuohy, Jennifer Tomshack, Anne Marie O'Kelley, and Carol Schuck Scheiber.

Kudos also to the religious communities that contributed to "Vocation takes cultivation"—a photo and essay series based on congregational gardens.



Key workshop for new vocation directors

Orientation offered in July & October

NRVC is offering the Orientation Program for New Vocation Directors July 21-25 in Chicago and October 11-15 in Leavenworth, Kansas. 

Newly assigned vocation directors will not want to miss this key workshop. Presenters Sister Deborah Borneman, SS.CM. and Sister Sharon Dillon, S.S.J.-T.O.S.F. will cover the skills, context, theory, challenges, and practicalities of contemporary vocation ministry.

Topics will include:

  • theology of call
  • candidate issues
  • discernment, assessment, and the application process
  • role of membership and religious leadership
  • advertising and education
  • ethics and boundaries
  • self-care of the vocation director

Details about the workshop and registration are at nrvc.net for both the July workshop and the October workshop.



New VISION Vocation Guide coming soon!

Advertisers, discerners benefit online, in print

The 2018 edition of NRVC's main resource for those in discernment, VISION Vocation Guide, is now at the printer and will be in people's hands by late summer.

Print and online VISION advertisers enjoy benefits all year long, including:

  • monthly status reports
  • free online Events Calendar
  • discerners directed to their community websites 
  • quality resources for discerners, including VocationMatch.com
  • award-winning articles
  • contact information for people open to their specific charism

Learn how to be part of VISION Vocation Network. Details are online and can be discussed anytime throughout the year by calling or emailing VISION executive editor, Patrice Tuohy: 312-356-9900 or pjtuohy@truequestweb.com.



NRVC offering Fall Institute in Kansas

Register now!

Participants in Fall Institute 2015The National Religious Vocation Conference will host three workshops October 11-21 in Leavenworth, Kansas:

- Orientation Program for New Vocation Directors

- Behavioral Assessment I

- Behavioral Assessment II

Details and registration are at nrvc.net. 



27 Vocation Ambassadors complete training

Ready to spread good news of vocations

Participants in Vocation Ambassadors 2017
Participants in the 2017 Vocation Ambassadors program are ready to spread the word about religious life.

Twenty-seven people took part in this year's Vocation Ambassadors program, an effort to prepare teams to spread the good news about religious life vocations. Nine groups of three (young adult, communicator, and vocation director) took part in a four-day workshop held June 9-12 at Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Indiana. Each team developed a strategic plan for vocation communications.

In their evaluations, many participants noted that the workshop was inspiring. One of the young adults wrote:

It was inspiring to be around so many people who are passionate about religious life and vocations, and I feel that a lot of quality resources were provided.

The program was made possible thanks to a grant  from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. 



NRVC featured in video, online

Executive director interviewed

Sister Sharon Dillon

Sister Sharon Dillon, S.S.J.-T.O.S.F. appeared in two media outlets during in her first few weeks on the job. A Nun's Life Ministry created a "Nunday" video featuring her. And the website catholicprofile.org interviewed her about vocation trends.

Get the inside scoop on Sister Sharon's activities by following her on Twitter: @sister_sharon. And, as always, follow all the latest in religious vocations on NRVC social media. If you are not already connected to NRVC on each of these social media platforms, please take a moment to do so now.

NRVC on Facebook

NRVC on Twitter (@NatRelVocConf)

HORIZON on Facebook

HORIZON on Twitter (@HORIZONvocation)

VISION on Facebook

VISION on Twitter (@VisionVocation )

VISION on Instagram

VISION on Pinterest



Pray for our benefactors

Their latest intentions

praying handsFollowing are the latest prayer intentions of the benefactors of National Religious Vocation Conference. May we join them in prayer as we work together to make religious vocations known.

• John E. in Pennsylvania for his family members, deceased and living, increased devotion to prayer life, and the well-being and intentions of clergy and religious.

• Edward L. in Pennsylvania for his family, Pope Francis, and health.

• Lawrence F. in New Jersey for his son Thomas, who suffers from autism, his daughter Alyssa, who suffers from cysts, and his cousin Anthony, who is sick with cancer.

• Edward L. in Ohio for his family, their faith life as well as health, and President Trump.

• Laurence F. in Illinois for the repose of the souls of family and friends.

• Vincente G. in Michigan for peace in his own family and the world, especially for his son Andrew and himself.

• Joshua C. in Indiana for his own peace, for Father Timothy, and Lisa.

• Mary W. in Wisconsin for her family.

• Donald S. in Michigan for his own healing as he recovers from cancer, help with his finances, direction and discernment, and that he find his cat.

• Joseph M. in Michigan for the health of Donna.

• Silma K. in Illinois for the repose of the soul of Lisa Therese Sasing Kuivinen, who passed away August 16, 2016.

• J. Galic in Illinois for vocations.



Resource of the month—free!

Tool to help your community engage

NRVC has two instruments for encouraging community discussion and action on internal vocation culture. Women's communities have the booklet "Vocation Culture: Reflection to Action." Men's communities have "Culture of Vocations: Assessment Tool."

These two resources are aimed at helping communities evaluate their internal vocation culture—and boost it if needed. Even the weariest of members can create ways to broaden outreach to potential inquirers through these tools.

Each instrument consists of a series of behavioral questions for community members. The questions were designed specifically for men's and women's institutes based on information gathered during the Moving Forward in Hope process of a few years ago. 

NRVC members can download the resource at no cost. Alternatively, anyone may order a colored printed copy for women or men for $6 for members or $9 for non-members.



Calendar

Upcoming events

 

NRVC Fall Institute 

October 11-21

NRVC at National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC)

November 16-18, 2017

2018 NRVC Convocation (Buffalo, NY)

November 1-5, 2018

World Day for Consecrated Life

February 2, 2018

National Catholic Sisters Week

March 8-14, 2018

Religious Brothers Day

May 1, 2018

NRVC Convocation 

November 1-5, 2018

 



Angie Giuffrè

I am NRVC

What roles do you play in your community?

I'm an associate and the Sisters of Mercy vocations promotions assistant. In that role I have presented at a member area meeting of NRVC on social media. 

How long have you been involved in vocation ministry?

As a Mercy Associate I have been involved in vocation ministry for over 20 years, but officially I've held my current position for 10 years. For many years prior to that, I was on a vocation team made up of sisters and myself, and we helped the vocation director in various ways. 

I became quite involved with the Internet in the early '90s and started a chat room with one of the vocation ministers. Social media became a tool I used to promote religious life and the Sisters of Mercy.

Then, 10 years ago,  the leadership team essentially created a position and hired me. It was not anything I could have ever imagined happening. My children were grown and my husband has always been very supportive, so the timing was perfect for a position that involves travel.

Do you currently work as part of a team?

I am blessed to be part of a team of four consisting of our incorporation minister, two vocation ministers, and me. We are also connected to all the incorporation and vocation ministers in the Sisters of Mercy. We have great support among us.

Has being a member of NRVC been helpful to you?

Being a member of NRVC has been wonderfully helpful. It is always good to share information and experiences among those in the ministry, and NRVC gives us the opportunity to hear from each other through publications, social media, member area meetings, and the convocation. NRVC offers great support and education. 

What ideas have you used lately that excite you?

We are always looking for ways to connect with young women. Lately we are taking "old" ideas, such as programs in our Mercy schools and universities, and updating and adapting them. Sometimes the old becomes new again!

Do you have any words of wisdom for people new to this ministry?

One of our foundress' statements that speaks to vocation ministry is, "You must "waste" time with people. A good beginning is of great importance."  

What do you find most challenging, and what is most rewarding?

It's always a challenge to do all that we would like to do if only time allowed. The most rewarding aspects of the ministry are getting to know so many people and getting to be part of the journey of those sensing a call to religious life. 

Contact her at mercymag@yahoo.com.



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