This brief video, created by Sister Christine Still, O.S.F., shows vocation ministers praying together at the start of the National Catholic Youth Conference.

NRVC members and staff were very much present to some 25,000 youth and their chaperones attending the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis November 16-18. Involvement included:

• Sponsorship of Inspiration Nook, a gathering space to encourage encounters between religious and attendees.

• NRVC members representing 50 different communities volunteered or exhibited.

• Sister Deborah Borneman, SS.C.M. presented the workshop "How do I recognize God's voice?"

• NRVC members and staff hosted a Living Rosary, praying the mysteries for vocations and the intentions of parents, teens, and those in youth ministry.

• Sister Ana Gonzalez, a novice with Dominican Sisters of Peace and NRVC member, led a morning prayer. (Gonzalez is the recipient of an education-debt grant from the National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations.)

• NRVC member Brother John Mark Falkenhain, O.S.B. and monks from Saint Meinrad Archabbey led the stadium in compline on Friday night. 

For more photos of NCYC see the photo section of the NRVC Facebook page.

By taking a few moments to renew your membership today, you will ensure steady benefits for yourself (including the next issue of HORIZON), and you will make renewals easy on the NRVC staff.

As you know NRVC is a unique organization that provides crucial ministerial direction, training, support, and opportunities. Just a few things people say about belonging:

"Very positive experience for me and my community."
—Father Charlie Johnson, O.P.

"Staff are extremely helpful and supportive."
—Sister Janice Bemowski, r.c.

"I find [in NRVC] people who go through the same problems, circumstances, and joyful realities I go through."
—Father Leandro Fossá, C.S.

NRVC is seeking an experienced professional minister with a strong background in event planning and communications. This newly created, part-time position of program and communication coordinator will provide administrative and clerical support to the director of member relations and services, Sister Deborah Borneman, SS.C.M.

The coordinator will be responsible for promoting NRVC events, communicating timely information to participants, and organizing details for successful programs. The person who will thrive in this position will be a creative and mission-driven extrovert with excellent written and verbal skills; a proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously; the ability to build and sustain successful relationships and listen effectively.

This position will have a flexible work week of 20 hours at the national office in Chicago and on-site at events. Find a detailed position description here. Resumes should be sent to debbiesscm@nrvc.net by January 12, 2018. Please encourage qualified candidates to apply. 

Keep your community on board with your ministry and save money doing so by taking out extra HORIZON subscriptions  before the rates rise.

The member price for subscriptions is $40 now, but will rise to $50 in January. NRVC members automatically receive HORIZON, and they can sign up others in their community to receive the journal in order to spread vocation understanding.

The cost-of-living increase for HORIZON will break down as follows. 

NRVC invites you to attend the workshop, "Roots of racism," to take place February 18-21 in San Antonio at the Mexican American Catholic College (MACC). 

The workshop is aimed at exploring beliefs and mindsets about race and asking how we, as leaders, are called to even deeper conversion, reconciliation, and transformation. The workshop will look at implications for candidate assessment and integration into vowed communal life. The Mexican American Catholic College will provide a welcoming, safe space to engage in the often-difficult conversations about race and racism.  

Dr. Arturo Chavez, president of MACC,, and Dr. John Chitakure, associate professor of pastoral theology at MACC,  will lead the workshop. Details and registration are at nrvc.net.

Mark Teresi, who has led NRVC development efforts and directed the National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations since 2015, will be scaling back his hours to two days a week at the end of this year and will assist with a search for his replacement. He will be joining the development and planning efforts at Holy Name Cathedral Parish in Chicago on a part time basis.

"I am grateful for the many friends and colleagues I have been privileged to get to know and work with these past 3 plus years," noted Teresi. "Most especially I am humbled  and awed to have been part of an initiative that has supported 27 new vocations to the religious life to date."

NRVC extends its gratitude to Teresi as he begins this transition and wishes him well as he continues to serve the church.

The 20-page booklet "Discerning Your Vocation: Religious Life and Diocesan Priesthood" is written for discerners of all ages. It has been adapted with permission from the book Vocations Anonymous by NRVC member Sister Kathleen Bryant, R.S.C.

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's an excellent resource to give to those already in discernment or who attend Busy Persons Retreats or Come and See experiences.

$2 for members. $3 for non-members. Order your supply here.

Jobs with CMSWR

The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious is seeking to fill two positions: CMSWR communications director and founding executive director of the GIVEN Institute. GIVEN is a young women's leadership event initially sponsored by CMSWR that is now reincorporating as an independent organization. Learn more about both positions at cmswr.org.

Forum on study of international sisters

The Mexican American Catholic College is hosting a "Forum of the First-ever Study of International Sisters" on its San Antonio campus January 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The co-authors of a recent study of international sisters living in the U.S. will give a presentation, followed by a discussion. They will discuss why sisters come to the U.S., contributions they make, and challenges they face. They will conclude with recommendations based on an analysis of their survey and interview data. The study was conducted by Trinity Washington University and the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate.

The event will be free and open to the public, with lunch provided and simultaneous translation available. Registration is required. Click here for bilingual information with full details.

Registration open for conference on intercultural competencies 

Join national experts in human formation and intercultural competency to address opportunities and challenges in evaluating and forming international priests and religious for ministry in the United States. "Intercultural Competencies for Human Formation" will be held April 15-18, 2018, at Saint Meinrad Archabbey and Seminary in Indiana. The conference is co-sponsored by Saint Luke Institute and Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Learn more and register at sliconnect.org/conferences or contact Beth Davis at sliconnect@sli.org or 502-632-2471.

Canadian vocation conference

The National Association of Vocation and Formation Directors in Canada invites U.S. vocation directors to attend its conference April 22-25, 2018 in Hamilton, Ontario. Find details here.

Sister Maryanne Tracey, S.C. is the director of vocation and formation for the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. It's her second time around in this ministry, having served from 1993 to 2003, including a stint on the NRVC Board. She dove back into vocation ministry in 2014 and is a co-coordinator for the Hudson Valley member area of NRVC.

Do you work with a team?

I have a Vocation Advisory Board, which is very helpful, a part-time staff member who works with social media, and many times I have an intern as well. In addition I have very good support from leadership.

Has being a member of NRVC been helpful?

NRVC has been extremely helpful. Their workshops and orientation programs for new members are very professional and of the highest quality. The same is true of the convocation, which is always relevant to what is happening in the world of vocations.

Most recently, I took part in the Vocation Ambassadors Program and found it exceptionally helpful to my staff and intern who attended it with me. The information, skills, professionalism, and interaction was invaluable. In addition, I always find the staff of NRVC helpful and personable. 

What have you tried lately that you have been excited about?

As a result of the Vocation Ambassadors Program we have been able to upgrade our Facebook page with a new and attractive look.

We also host a program for college women that we call “Supper and Story.” We invite college women to the motherhouse for pizza and make-your-own sundaes, and a sister tells her vocation story. It is always well-received.

Last year we published a series of podcasts internally for our sisters, and this year we hope to make them public. Lastly, we recently started a "ministry of presence" at the College of Saint Elizabeth. Students come in groups of 10-15, and we hope to have five sisters sit with them to share conversation.

What do you find most rewarding and most challenging in vocation work?

The most rewarding for me is the privilege and honor to talk about my congregation, our history, our wonderful sisters, and the ministries we have been involved in for almost 160 years. Most recently I have been able to work with young interns, and it is always a joy when they are pleasantly surprised to learn something new about sisters.

The challenge is that it takes a lot of energy and creativity. I am always trying to think of new ways to repackage our charism so it is attractive and appealing to diverse groups.