Five outstanding speakers will be sharing their insights at the November 1-5 NRVC convocation in Buffalo, New York. Each will speak on topics connected to the theme of "Walk With Me: Encounter, Accompaniment, and Invitation." Be sure to save the dates so you can join us for professional development, networking, support, and spiritual uplift.

 
Father Kevin M. DePrinzio, O.S.A., Ph.D. is an Augustinian friar of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova. He teaches at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania and is on the vocation and initial formation teams for his province. DePrinzio previously served in campus ministry, on the NRVC Board, and as a regional coordinator for NRVC. He will present on "The Vocation Encounter: Ministry at the Beautiful Gate."

Sister Xiomara Méndez Hernández, O.P. is an Adrian Dominican Sister and a hospital chaplain at Loyola University Health System in Chicago, with a special focus on cancer patients. Her ministerial experience includes preaching, catechesis, Spanish-English interpretation, liturgical dance, and teaching. She will speak on "The Invitation: Mutual Encounter - Mutual Accompaniment."

Mr. Hosffman Ospino, Ph.D. is an associate professor of theology and religious education at Boston College, where he is also the director of Graduate Programs in Hispanic Ministry. He has written extensively—including for HORIZON—on Hispanic ministry, Catholic education, evangelization, and catechesis. Ospino is currently conducting a national study on Latino vocations. He will present on "Called to Accompanying God’s People in a Time of Paradigm Changes."

Sister Mary Pellegrino, C.S.J. is a Sister of St. Joseph of Baden, Pennsylvania. She has served nearly 10 years as her community's congregational moderator and was the 2016 president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Pellegrino has ministered in youth, young adult, campus, vocation, and formation ministries. In 2004 she received an Outstanding Recognition Award from NRVC. She will speak on "Living No Longer for Ourselves: Communion as Vocation."

Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R. leads the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. Within his Redemptorist community, he has served in multiple leadership roles, including superior general. In addition he served for two years as secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Currently he chairs the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations. A speaker at NRVC's 2012 convocation, he will preside at the opening Mass of our 2018 convocation.

Further details about the 2018 convocation are at nrvc.net.

The NRVC Board met February 11-13 in Columbia, Illinois, where it:

• Reviewed finances and budgets for this year and next.
• Received reports from staff, committees, and contractors.
• Reviewed and revised the strategic plan in light of stakeholder feedback. More such feedback will be sought.
• Finalized revisions to the NRVC code of ethics for vocation ministers, which will be updated and distributed.
• Voted to encourage creative member area programming by allowing funding requests up until 30 days prior to an event instead of 90 days prior.

Members of NRVC can read the full board report here.

Following the latest board meeting, NRVC's executive director, Sister Sharon Dillon, S.S.J.-T.O.S.F., has provided a downloadable update, which includes her thoughts on the national context, strategic planning, development efforts, and more.

Please plan to be part of NRVC's 2019 VISION Vocation Guide. With the synod of bishops focusing this October on "Youth, Faith, and Vocational Discernment,"  this is a key moment to be present in the premier vocation guide found in every parish. Click here for more information. Or call 312-356-9900. 

National Catholic Sisters Week will take place March 8-14. Organizers are encouraging participants to:

♦ Share their plans and learn what others are doing at nationalcatholicsistersweek.org.

♦ Use #ncsw2018 with social media posts to encourage online sharing and commenting.

NRVC will be part of a prayer service celebrating sisters on March 13 at Catholic Theological Union. Collaborating in this event are Communicators for Women Religious, Religious Formation Conference, Giving Voice, and the Center for the Study of Consecrated Life.

Short videos featuring people from the above groups will be released on social media during the week, including one with NRVC's executive director, Sister Sharon Dillon, S.S.J.-T.O.S.F. Be sure catch the videos on NRVC's Facebook and Twitter pages (@NatRelVocConf).

NRVC member communities that wish to apply for help with paying the cost of student loans for new members must apply by midnight, March 13.

Learn more about how the National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations can help at nfcrv.org.

The NRVC Board is seeking nominations of people to serve on the board, as well as nominations of those who have made outstanding contributions to vocation ministry.

Nominate yourself or another to serve on the board

Nomination forms (for oneself or another) are due May 15 and should be accompanied by a letter of approval from the nominee's superior. The board will hold interviews and make selections by June 13. The term of service begins in the fall of 2018 and lasts three years, with an option to renew once.

Nominate someone to receive an award

Nominations are welcome for the Mustard Seed Award, which recognizes individuals or groups that have initiated a small, local vocations effort that has taken root and expanded. These nominees need not be vocation ministers or members of NRVC.

Nominations are also welcome for the NRVC Recognition Award. This award honors members of NRVC (for at least three years) who have made an outstanding contribution to vocation ministry.

The latest studies of U.S. religious institutes show that the number of people entering them rose slightly to 524 (from 502 last year) and the number of people making final vows, 208, dipped by eight over last year. Overall, both figures are among the highest since 2011. In addition, entrants are spread out among 182 communities, defying the myth that only a handful of orders is attracting new members.

The latest data comes from two studies released in February by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at the request of the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops.  They are: New Sisters and Brothers Professing Perpetual Vows in Religious Life: The Profession Class of 2017 and Women and Men Entering Religious Life: The Entrance Class of 2017

The number of final professions has waxed and waned since CARA began the "Profession Class" reports in 2011, but the last two years have shown the largest numbers to date, with 216 people making final vows in 2016 and 208 in 2017.  

Other trends in age, ethnicity, qualities that attract people, etc. have held fairly steady with only slight changes from year to year.

Are you prepared to screen and assess candidates whose culture or ethnicity is different from yours? If you can use help, consider taking our July 20-21 workshop "Developing Intercultural Competencies in Screening and Assessment," to take place in Chicago.

Father Gerard McGlone, S.J., Ph.D. will be the presenter. This practical workshop will cover how best to understand and welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds. The "normal" protocols of vocation personnel and psychologists  may not be appropriate for these candidates. This workshop will explore what techniques and tools might be better and, more important, how to become more interculturally competent vocation personnel and communities.  

Details and registration are here.

Following are March and April meetings and events  sponsored by member areas of NRVC. Members may attend events in any area.

Mid-Atlantic, March 1
Washington, DC
Contact the member area coordinators below for details.
Sister Mindy Welding, I.H.M., 610-547-9715, sismindy@gmail.com
Sister Diane Roche, R.S.C.J., 504-388-8026, droche@rscj.org

Lake Erie/Ohio River, March 5-7
Notre Dame, IN
"Cultures of Formation: Young People, Faith, and Vocational Discernment." Presenters: Bishop Robert Barron, Nicholas Carr, Katherine Angulo, and Joe Campo. 
Flyer with details
Coordinators:
Sister Monica Seaton, O.S.U., 270-229-4103, ext. 218, monica.seaton@maplemount.org
Sister Mary Teresita Richards, S.N.D., 419-277-5184, trichards@toledosnd.org

Hudson Valley, March 11
Maryknoll, NY
Lenten Spiritual Retreat
Flyer with details
Coordinators:
Sister Anna Maria Lionetti, R.S.H.M., 914-631-8872 ext.215, annamarialion@gmail.com
Sister Marie Mackey, S.S.J., 718-791-7911, csjmack@gmail.com

Heartland, April 9-11
Leavenworth, KS
Coordinators:
Ms. Lori Benge, 314-203-1678, bengel@adorers.org
Len Uhal, 563-580-5413, luhal@dwci.edu

New England, April 21
Mont Marie Center, Holyoke, MA
Sister Natalie Cain, S.S.J., 413-536-0853, ncain@ssjspringfield.com
Father Rocco Puopolo, S.X., 508-429-2144, frrocco@xaviermissionaries.org

Midwest, April 23-25
Donaldson, IN
"Rest Stops for the Soul," presented by Father Joseph Nassal, C.P.P.S.
Coordinators:
Sister Maria Brizuela, O.S.F., 815-325-4183, fsshvocations@aol.com
Sister Connie Bach, P.H.J.C., 574-340-6409, connie.ss@att.net

Delaware Valley, April 30
Caldwell, NJ
Coordinators:
Sister Celeste Mokrzycki, S.S.J., 215-248-7200, cmokrzycki@ssjphila.org
Sister Maryanne Tracey, S.C., 973-290-5325, mtracey@scnj.org

NRVC asks its members to please pray for the following intentions, sent to us by our donors. Click here for a full list of all benefactor intentions.

• Tony N. in Georgia – that his children find Jesus.
• Mary R. in South Carolina – for her husband’s recovery and for world peace.
• Mary Ann R. in New York – for living and deceased family members, for Linda who is suffering from cancer, for Gene and James.
• Dan M. in Ohio – for family, friends, and pets. 
• Laurence F. in Illinois – for the repose of the souls of Nick, Rita, Michael, and Uncle Bart,
• Sister Antonia in New Jersey – for her special intentions.
• Dan M. in Ohio – for the security of his family.
• Stanley D. in Texas – for all those trying to discern God’s call.
• John E. in Pennsylvania – for his daughter’s pregnancy and the health of friends and family.
• Alfred D. in California – for the health and happiness of friends and family and in thanksgiving.
• Lucille in Illinois – for all those suffering from Parkinson’s disease and for their families.

Those taking part in campus Busy Person's Retreats can use this colorful booklet with 17 themes. Each theme has scripture selections and reflection questions that can be used throughout the retreat.

What makes this resource ideal is that these booklets can be used annually due to the bountiful selection of themes, which include: All About Mary; Balancing Sports & Fitness with Faith and Studies; Caring for God's Creation; Christian Leadership on Campus; Eradicating Global Poverty; Following the Voice of the Spirit; Growing through Failure; Inviting God into Decision Making; Praying in Times of Stress; Praying with Music; Promoting Global Peacemaking; Relationships; Time Management; Transitions; Seeking Solitude; Vocation Discernment; and Women in Scripture.

More than 3,000 copies of this resource have been sold since it became available in 2015.

Purchase one per student: $1 each for members. $1.50 each for non-members.

Refer young discerners to Catholics on Call 

Consider referring discerners ages 18-35 to the Catholics on Call Summer Conference to take place July 25-28 in Chicago. Participants will have the opportunity to connect and pray with other like-minded young people, hear nationally known speakers, discuss how to listen to God’s call, and learn skills for discerning all types of vocations.

Register or learn more at catholicsoncall.org/apply or call 773-371-5432.

Part-time job with Passionist men's vocation office in Louisville

The Passionist Fathers and Brothers are seeking a part-time, bilingual (in Spanish) coordinator for a vocation office in Louisville, Kentucky.  Details are on this flyer.

Conference on intercultural competencies April 15-18

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, 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 April 22-25

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

Communicator conference October 2-5

Communicators for Women Religious announces its 24th annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas October 2-5. The theme is "FORTify your Mission: The Path WORTH Taking." The conference will take place at the Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown. For more information, visit c4wr.org.