Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments1 / Tags

On May 1, the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker, we celebrate Religious Brothers Day, a day established to recognize and honor the vocation of religious brothers. Brothers respond to a unique call from God, publ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

For many years, vocation directors have been utilizing the popular NRVC resource, the Busy Person’s Retreat booklet, to engage college students. While this has been a bestselling resource since its last revision in 2014, the new 2025 edition offers some new  improvements! This 24-page booklet

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Initiated by Saint Paul VI during the transformative Second Vatican Council in 1964, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is a call to action and prayer, inviting us to support all those who are discerning how to best respond to the needs of today in the vocation God calls them to be. Marking its 62nd anniversary and coinciding with Good She...

Author(s)Maureen Cetera, Director of Finance and Operations / Comments0 / Tags

Friends, as part of the 3-year Eucharistic Renewal, the Drexel Route pilgrimage from Indianapolis (5/18/2025) to Los Angeles (6/22/2025) is being supplemented by a grassroots pilgrimage opportunity that recently came across my radar. This additional pilgrimage, called

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

Have you ever experienced asking a question that elicits very different responses depending on a person’s culture? Learning to be culturally mindful when assessing applicants for admission requires a clear lens to see the giftedness of the cultural wealth in each discerner and acknowledgment of the impact socio-e...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags

Join us! There are four sessions left of our 2025 Talk it Up Tuesdays series. These gatherings allow participants to learn together, encourage each other, and share ideas. These one-hour sessions, whic are ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

NRVC just released two captivating 2024 Convocation video presentations on our NRVC YouTube Channel. To complement each video, we created insightful handouts featuring selected quotes from each presentation and thought-provoking reflection question...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags

The 2025 NRVC Summer Institute will be offered at the Marillac Center in Leavenworth, KS. The following three workshops are available for vocation ministers and all those entrusted with assessing discerners an...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

The annual Profession Class Report compiled by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University for the USCCB Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations reported there are 723 religious institutes, provinces, or monasteries in the United States.  The “

Author(s)Maureen Cetera, Director of Finance and Operations / Comments0 / Tags

The NRVC is searching for a Director of Communications to join our national office leadership team. We welcome qualified candidates to apply for this full-time position;  the job description is on our website, NRVC.net

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

We extend our deep appreciation to Brother Brian Poulin, fms, and Sister Nicole Trahan, FMI, for their years of service on the National Board. Both have written gracious letters of resignation that include gratitude for their time on the Board. Brother Brian began serving in 2020 and chaired the Finance Advisory Committee. Sister Nicole start...

Author(s)Sr. Kathleen Branham OSF, Director of Database Administration / Comments1 / Tags

As Pilgrims of Hope, we each have a role in promoting the 2025 Jubilee Year as a significant event in the Church’s history.  I encourage all vocation directors to print and display the attached flyer on bulletin boards in your Church entrances an...

Author(s)Phil Loftus, Director of Development / Comments0 / Tags

As we enter the Jubilee Year, I’d like to remind all of our NRVC members about the exclusive benefit their NRVC membership provides: the ability to apply for an educational debt grant via the National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations (NFCRV).  The NFCRV grant window is now open and we are currently accepting on-line ap...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

When the Jubilee doors of St. Peter's Basilica open on December 24, signifying the start of the Jubilee Year, how can vocation directors celebrate throughout 2025? Begin by looking closer at the logo above to notice the four figures symbolizing the four corners of the earth embracing each other, with the figure at the head holding onto the cr...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments2 / Tags

Over the Thanksgiving break, I visited a friend who had recently given birth to a baby girl, whom she and her husband named Juliet. Upon meeting Juliet and her family, I recalled the journey her mother shared with me that brought them all to this point. In every interaction I witnessed, I saw joy, love, and hope in the eyes of her parents and...

Author(s)Sr. Kathleen Branham OSF, Director of Database Administration / Comments2 / Tags

Holiday Hours Holiday Schedule-the national office will be closed December 24 through January 1. Please click the "read more" button to see our Merry Christmas message. 

Author(s)Maureen Cetera, Director of Finance and Operations / Comments3 / Tags

The way we use our money tells a story about who we love and what we care about. I grew up knowing that our checkbooks tell the story of our lives. Religious communities, too, are called to be good stewards of their financial resources. Whether funneled into the community, neighborhood, or broader world for ministry and mission, there may als...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments1 / Tags

Around this time of year, we are invited to deeply ponder the many gifts God has given us. Specifically, as you journey with others discerning God’s call for their lives, what have been the NRVC membership...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Nominations for the NRVC Board are open, and you are invited to prayerfully consider applying to serve by completing a self-recommendation. Or you can nominate another NRVC member to serve on the National Board...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags

National Vocation Awareness Week is scheduled for November 3-9, 2024. Providentially, it begins just as the 2024 Convocation concludes. Even after Convocation, the theme of Walking Humbly Together will still reverberate and beckon us to more intentionally dialogue with and accompan...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Recently, the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations (CCLV) invited the NRVC to recommend an application document checklist that bishops, vocation directors, and seminary personnel can reference when evaluating the application of a previously admitted and/or transferred candidate for priestly formation. The NRVC already pr...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

Convocation gathered 225 NRVC members and guests to elevate leadership skills, enhance ongoing formation, and enrich intercultural learning through presentations, breakouts, and prayer. Thank you to the NRVC Incorporating Cultural Diversity into Religious Life Committee and the NRVC African American Vocation Committee for re...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

The NRVC Mustard Seed Award is presented to a group who has made a significant impact on vocation ministry through local initiatives that have taken root and expanded to include the efforts and contributions of other individuals, groups, and organizations, thus growing a culture of vocations that raises awareness locally and even nationally.

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Does his name sound familiar to you? Wyatt is the youngest delegate to vote at the Synod on Synodality and asked Pope Francis to sign a...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags

By this time of year, many people may have embarked on new adventures, whether educationally or professionally, which bring new things to learn, ways to engage and grow, and many inspirational “light bulb” moments that can lead to transformation in the lives of the young and the young at heart. Along the way, questions about missi...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

The CARA Entrance Class of 2023 report is published and contains significant information about the 153 men and 126 women who entered religious life last year. Here are some interesting points to share with your community. The good news is that 99 religious institutes in the United States had at least one person enter initial formation...

Author(s)Phil Loftus, Director of Development / Comments0 / Tags

One often hears the statement; “Where did the time go?” Imagine my delight when I saw a recent RFC announcement on a program they were offering and it was filled with familiar faces and names! As I perused the photo and read more, I began to smile because I knew&nbs...

Author(s)Maureen Cetera, Director of Finance and Operations / Comments1 / Tags

From the moment Sr. Debbie picked me up Tuesday before the NEC, until she dropped me at home Sunday afternoon, and even now still, I have been infused with JOY and on fire with enthusiasm for our Catholic faith, particularly the theology of the Eucharist, and the vocation ministry which we live for and love so well. Dear Members, THANK YOU fo...

Author(s)Phil Loftus, Director of Development / Comments0 / Tags

Convocation is fast approaching, and we are excited to gather again to renew and share our NRVC spirit with each other.  Our 2024 Convocation theme:  Walking Humbly Together, recognizes the unity of our diversity as consecrated people of God. The Spirit beckons us to be fearless in following Christ through vowed ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

Join us in greeting our new Member Area Coordinators, who began their two-year term of NRVC leadership service on July 1: Sister Anita Quigley, S.H.C.J., in the Delaware Valley with Sister Michele Fisher, C.S.F.N. Sister Jenny Wilson, R.S.M....

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

The National Eucharistic Congress expects to draw 40,000+ Catholics from around the United States to Lucas Oil Stadium and Convention Center this week, July 17-21, 2024. Through the generous invitation of the U.S.A. Council of Serra-International...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

The National Office will be present at several upcoming conferences where your congregational leadership team gathers annually. These are great occasions for us to advocate for you, to showcase the diversity of religious charisms, and to share information about NRVC membership benefits. Our mission-driven, member-focused organization aims to ...

Author(s)Sr. Kathleen Branham OSF, Director of Database Administration / Comments0 / Tags

The 2024 Summer Institute is currently underway.  We ask for your prayers for all those attending the workshops, the presenters, and for safe travels.

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags

In the past four years, much has changed in how humans live, move, and work, and we’ve all had to adapt. In our adapting, two assessment dimensions need considerable intentionality in vocation ministry: 1) health issues that may impact one’s ability to engage in initial formation fully, and 2) whether one can live a celibate lifes...

Author(s)Sr. Kathleen Branham OSF, Director of Database Administration / Comments0 / Tags

As I learn more about the inner workings of the NRVC, I understand better how important it is to keep our database accurate. Please help me to help you! If there is a change in your congregation's membership with the NRVC, for example, a new vocation director, updated email or phone number, leadership changes, or any license changes, please l...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

The thrill of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is efficiency! My hesitancy with AI is that I value human intelligence and imagination. I actually love gathering information from a variety of sources to prepare presentations and vocation events. While growing up, I eagerly searched encyclopedias and library card catalogs, so I easily navigated to ...

Author(s)Maureen Cetera, Director of Finance and Operations / Comments1 / Tags

The National Board of the NRVC met in St. Paul, MN April 25-27, 2024. At the meeting, Board members made the decision to increase membership fees for 2025 from $860 to $880 for individuals and increase from $1,450 to $1,485 for license members (up to five NRVC members from one community). We try to keep costs as low as possible, and this 2.5%...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments1 / Tags

When you first started in vocation ministry, what emotions and thoughts stirred within you as you learned of someone's interest in joining your community? Was there a mix of excitement, joy, fear, and relief, among other emotions? Regardless of your initial reaction, you probably recognized the profound significance of your role as a vocation...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

Have you ever found yourself scrolling through joyful Facebook posts of NRVC members and asking, “Why didn’t I know about this event? Did I miss a chance to promote vocations, build relationships with inquirers, and be among other vocation directors?” With help from NRVC members, I recently expanded the

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments1 / Tags

Each Spring I am amazed by renewal and change as once again we witness rebirth. Renewal and change are key to vocation ministry too. I have been a member of the leadership team at the national office of the NRVC for 6 years and during that time there has been change at the NRVC with new National Board members, new MAC’s, new s...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

The vocation of Brother is valued as a distinct call from God. Brothers are known for their leadership, dedication to living the vows faithfully, and Christlike service in the world. Within the NRVC organization, we experience interactions with Religious Brothers on the National Board, as Member Area Coordinators, presenters, and contributors...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments1 / Tags

On April 21st, we will joyfully celebrate World Day of Prayer for Vocations. This day, dedicated to exploring and deepening our vocations, is a time to reflect on the diverse ways God calls people to be fully alive and serve God and all of creation. Amid the noise of our fragmented world, however, how can we help inquirers and discerners piec...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Who inspires you, encourages you, and freely shares ideas and insights? Within the NRVC, there are plenty of outstanding members! Who can you count on to be collaborative, innovative, and creative? As we look forward to gathering together at our upcoming 

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

The NRVC recently accepted two unique invitations to participate in national movements: A Synodal Consultation and the National Eucharistic Congress. As we recognize our mission to be a catalyst for vocation discernment and the full flourishing of religious life, these events are occasions to collaborate with other organizations engaged in fu...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments1 / Tags

Ongoing professional development is critical to the longevity of vocation ministers, so we invite you to register for Summer Institute, which will be offered again at the Marillac Center in Leavenworth, KS. In addition to building your network of vocation ministry colleagues, these workshops help you take a deep dive into practicalities we al...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

Invite everyone who supports vocation ministry to join you in Minneapolis, MN, as the Upper Midwest Member Area hosts the NRVC Convocation from October 31 to November 4, 2024! Join us in welcoming three keynote presenters: On November 1, Ms. Ann M. Garrido, D.Min., will present an all-day workshop entitled, “Wal...

Author(s)Maureen Cetera, Director of Finance and Operations / Comments1 / Tags

Friends, for the past several weeks, I have been blessed to participate in Talk It Up Tuesdays with many of you. These sessions have been opportunities for me to learn and grow from your experience. So much has resonated with some of the struggles I am experiencing as a parent of young adults. Perhaps you can relate your vocation min...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

To date, 24 states have legalized recreational cannabis use and 38 states for medical use. Whether it is inhaled, ingested, or applied topically, this changing legal landscape is a timely reminder to check your admissions policies to include questions about 

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags

Talk It Up Tuesdays started this week with “Using Your Gifts for Vocation Ministry,” presented by Fr. Rodrigo Ulloa-Chavarry, M.M. These free Members-Only Zoom sessions offer opportunities to learn from each other and share ideas to keep motivated and inspired. Upcoming sessions include: Tuesday, Feb...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Pair up with a local Girl Scout troop and help them earn a religious patch during Catholic Sisters Week (CSW)! The Catholic religious recognition programs administered by the National Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire (NCCGSCF), under the auspices of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM), have created 18 p...

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments0 / Tags

It is a constant struggle to stay abreast of the changing landscape in which we live. Each generation faces new challenges in terms of understanding what they consider important and how they navigate the world. Surprisingly, I have found the business section of my newspaper a quick and easy entry point. Profiles on young professionals help me...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags

The 2024 NRVC Summer Institute will be offered again at the Marillac Center in Leavenworth, KS. The following five workshops are offered for vocation ministers and all those entrusted with assessing discerners and candidates....

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Ash Wednesday is just around the corner on February 14 and now is a good time to consider vocation promotion ideas for Lent! Considering only 39% of men and 48% of women are enrolled in college, what are your plans to interact with young adults not attending college this year? (Source: 

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

The USCCB is writing a pastoral document focused on persons with disabilities and the first stage of that process is attentive listening. You are invited to attend a listening session with the USCCB Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth in collaboration with the National Catholic Partnership on Disability to provide insights ...

Author(s)National Office / Comments1 / Tags

The NRVC continues to be inspired by the generosity and good works of all our members, their communities, the National Board, our collaborators, our donors and benefactors. As we approach the third week of Advent and the year draws to a close, we want to thank all of you for your commitment to helping others hear God's call. May the...

Author(s)Maureen Cetera, Director of Finance and Operations / Comments0 / Tags

Our Director of Database Administration, Marge Argyelan, is planning to retire June 30, 2024. We will MISS Marge! That’s the bad news. The good news is that our National Board approved a new job description  for a...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments0 / Tags

A Blessed Advent Season to All. As we look to the Feast of Christmas and 2024,I want to remind all NRVC members about the exclusive gift their NRVC membership provides: the ability to apply for an education debt grant via the National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations. The NFCRV will begin accepting on-line applications on...

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments0 / Tags

We recognize the value of our professional journal HORIZON and know many communities have multiple subscriptions to HORIZON to send to their members who are not NRVC members. In order to better serve these communities, we are now offering a multiple subscription discount rate. This discount will be given to Institutes that pur...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration and Sr. Nicole Trahan F.M.I., NRVC Board Chair / Comments1 / Tags

Nominations for the National Board are now open, and you are invited to prayerfully consider applying to serve by completing a self-nomination form or by nominating another NRVC member to serve on the National Board beginning in the Fall of 2024. Each NRVC member may submit one nomination for the Board. At its spring meeting, the Nati...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags

National Vocation Awareness Week is just around the corner, and the NRVC is here to help you to promote vocations. In paragraph 289 of Christus Vivit, Pope Francis reminds us:

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments1 / Tags

The Member Area Coordinators voted to select the logo design for 2024 Convocation, at their annual gathering last month!     We are excited to be heading out to Minneapolis-St. Paul for our Convocation October 31- November 4, 2024. Brother Larry Schatz, F.S.C., and Sr. Carmy Luke, O.S.B., along with Mr. Greg Dar...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

There’s a lot happening with young Catholics that you can be a part of with your community, vocation team, and Member Area. Whether you speak on college campuses, at parish youth ministry events, in Catholic schools, or during faith formation retreats, here are a few more ideas to consider: The

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

NRVC Member Area Coordinators (MAC) met at the Carmelite Spiritual Center this week to hear updates, share ideas, and learn together with members of the National Board, staff, and key partners. They also celebrated the 35th anniversary of the National Religious Vocation Conference, commemorating the ratification of the NRVC Constit...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags

It’s a new year to learn. Register for the 2023 Fall Institute today! As the 2023-2024 academic year commences, let’s remember our need for continuing professional development. Now is a terrific time to register for the 2023 Fall/Winter Institute. Our renowned presenters will engage you in areas to help you become the best...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags

Help us enhance your story, and together we can cultivate what is possible. National Vocation Awareness Week, November 5-11, 2023, will arrive before you know it. Together we can get ahead of the game as we celebrate vocations by helping you to share your story. Please review the 

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags storymap, 2020 study of recent vocations, ghr

The National Religious Vocation Conference is pleased to introduce Bold and Faithful: Meet Today’s Religious, our newest storymap designed to amplify the results of the NRVC/CARA 2020 Study on Recent Vocations to Religious L. This GHR Found...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags cara, newer entrants

The CARA Entrance Class of 2022 report is published and contains significant information about the 129 men and 124 women who entered religious life last year. Ninety-five religious institutes ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags future of religious life, convocation

The 2022 Convocation Roundtable Conversation 60-minute video, Rewind the Future, has been uploaded to our NRVC YouTube Channel. This video features six religious sharing their lived experiences and insights since the recording of the 2012 NRVC Keys to the Future vide...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments1 / Tags

The 2023 Summer Institute workshops are in full swing in Leavenworth, KS. We are blessed to have participants from every Member Area, including the US, Canada, Guam, and Mexico, engage in professional development, network, and support each other. We are cultivating what is possible and fostering a future full of hope! If you could not...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

Join us in greeting our new Member Area Coordinators who began their two-year term of service on July 1: Sister Gloria Ardenio Agnes, M.M. will serve in the Hudson Valley with Sister Maria Amador, P.C.M. Sister C...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags green cards, religious worker permanent residency program

Recently the Resource Center for Religious Institutes (RCRI) partnered with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) to provide a 60-minute webinar on recent updates to the Religious Worker Permanent Residen...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments1 / Tags

The third 2022 Convocation video has been uploaded to our NRVC YouTube Channel. This month, we feature the presentation, Here I am: Responding to the Call to Go Beyond, by Sister Barbara E. Reid, O.P. Additionally, t...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments1 / Tags

The 2023 Summer Institute in Leavenworth, KS, is less than a month away! It is an excellent opportunity to learn essential skills and areas to be mindful of as you accompany others discerning God’s call. Our renowned speakers will engage you in ways that make the material come alive. For instance, do you know what FDIC means? No, we&rsq...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

The second 2022 Convocation video has been published on our NRVC YouTube Channel. This month, we feature the presentation, Vocation in the Age of Migration: Equipping the Saints for Mission and Ministry by Father văn...

Author(s)National Office / Comments1 / Tags

At its spring meeting, the National Board elected Sr. Nicole Trahan, F.M.I., as the new Board Chair, along with Mr. Len Uhal as the Vice Chair of Finance and Development. The National Board re-elected Sr. Belinda Monahan, O.S.B. to serve as the Vice Chair of Membership and Data until her Board term ends in December 2023. Sr. Nicole re...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments1 / Tags

May is a wonderful month in the life of the Church and in our World! We celebrate Religious Brothers Day, World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Mother’s Day, First Holy Communions, May Crowning and the Feast of Pentecost. Every month the NRVC continues to serve members and the wider church by feeding a spirit which beckons ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

Over the next few months, the NRVC will release the 2022 Convocation video presentations on our NRVC YouTube Channel. To complement each video, we have created a handout featuring selected quotes and reflection questions from each presentation. The handouts are available for mem...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments1 / Tags

It is our honor and privilege to celebrate Religious Brothers Day on May 1. This day is also the Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker. We are grateful for religious brothers and the good work they do as they model themse...

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments1 / Tags

In addition to research, professional development and networking opportunities, the NRVC per our Constitution continues to … speak as an official voice in initiating and responding to issues in the area of Church vocatio...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments1 / Tags

Talk It Up Tuesdays is in full swing. The first three sessions involved learning from peers about relevant vocation ministry topics, engaging in meaningful conversations, and fostering networking relationships. Don’t miss out on this great (and free) opportunity to meet with other NRVC members! You can register one time 

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments1 / Tags world day of prayer for vocations

On April 30th, we will celebrate World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Undoubtedly, prayer is fundamental in our lives, no matter our calling. But we face many distractions that vie for our attention. When we pray for v...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags resources,, reflection guides, handouts, downloads, prayer cards

Have you ever lost time trying to find a favorite NRVC resource that you need immediately for a presentation or a project you are working on? Have you missed helpful tools like the Abundant Hope prayer card translated recently into French and Spanish? The NRVC features resources in the Catalyst in conjunction with vocation awareness days, and...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

The USCCB Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, in partnership with the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), published their

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments2 / Tags

Catholic Sisters Week (CSW), March 8-14, is right around the corner! To celebrate, the NRVC and A Nun’s Life Ministry are partnering to offer Let’s Talk About It: Asking the Questions, Living the Answers, a ...

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments1 / Tags

The NRVC search field, housed at the very top of the NRVC website page next to the login button, is rather small and unassuming, but it provides access to a powerhouse of an engine. The NRVC’s web design and programming partner, ideaPort, recently completed the installation of elastic search technology on the NRVC website. The i...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments2 / Tags

As we welcome February, all of us at NRVC continue to be filled with encouragement and hope. The year began with “Good News” as we announced two grants to the NRVC. We are grateful for the support from both the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the GHR Foundation. Now the work begins in earnest to accomplish our goals with t...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments1 / Tags

The NRVC office will be closed on January 16, 2023, as the United States honors the birth, life, and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929. On August 28, 1963, he brought together more than 200,000 people for the March on Washington, D.C., where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream&...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

When the NRVC Member Area Coordinators (MACs) gathered for their annual meeting in September, 2022, they visited the Gateway Arch and the

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments1 / Tags

The 2023 NRVC Summer Institute will be offered in person this year at the Marillac Center in Leavenworth, KS. Four workshops are offered for vocation ministers and all those entrusted with the assessment of discerners an...

Author(s)National Office / Comments0 / Tags

Over the past year, it has been our honor to journey with you as we strive to set the world ablaze with the fire of God’s love through the prophetic, joyful witness of religious sisters, brothers, and priests as radical disciples of Jesus. We, the National Office team, wish you strength in drawing upon the talents you will need ...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments1 / Tags

As you look back over the past year, what are you most thankful for? More specifically, what keeps your heart burning for vocation ministry? Professional development gatherings and workshops, such as the biennial Convocation? Resources such as t...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

Nominations for the National Board are now open. We invite you to prayerfully consider completing a nomination form to serve on the Board beginning in the Fall of 2023 until Fall of 2026. You are welcome to nomin...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

The National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) is committed to providing its members with educational opportunities, resources, and supportive services that strengthen and enhance the professional ministerial skills of those serving in vocation ministry. To assist vocation ministers, the NRVC Curriculum for Vocation Ministers prov...

Author(s)National Office / Comments1 / Tags

And the BIG WINNERS ARE . . . Sister Michael Francine Duncan, S.S.M.O. and Sister Gloria Ardenio Agnes, M.M.! The two took part in a raffle at Convocation 2022 by completing a reader-survey about the NRVC’s VISION magazine and HORIZON journal. Sr. Michael Francine won a minibanner ad on VISION’s

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Congratulations to the following NRVC members who were selected by the National Board to each receive the Outstanding Member Recognition Award at the Convocation banquet on November 5 Sister Donna Del Santo, S.S.J. Sister Michele Fisher, C.S.F.N. Brother Chris Patino, F.S.C. Father Rocco Puopolo, s...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments0 / Tags

We are happy to share the NRVC 2021 Annual Report  with all of you. This report captures so much good work that the National Religious Vocation Conference was able to continue to provide, and thus our theme Agile Respons...

Author(s)Sr. Dina Bato S.P., Director of Membership / Comments1 / Tags

Greetings, everyone! It’s hard to believe that Labor Day was just a little over a week ago! For many in the United States, the day after Labor Day ushers in a new school year filled with new possibilities to learn and grow. I don’t know about you, but I find the “unofficial end of Summer” a doorway to change ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags vocation promotion

Promoting vocations is more than a single program or advertisement. Religious institutes that make vocation ministry a priority and believe in their role in creating a future for their congregations will attract and retain new members. As a matter of fact, the NRVC/CARA studies from entrants since 1993 indicate the example of members is more ...

Author(s)Maureen Cetera, Director of Finance and Operations / Comments0 / Tags

Friends, before you know it, we will be gathering in lovely Spokane, Washington, for our 2022 Convocation. One of the highlights of Convocation is the NRVC Business Meeting. I hope you are looking forward to an update from our Board Chair and Vice Chairs on the many areas in which the National Board has been busy since our last Convocation (v...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

Over the past three years, the National Board Handbook, Member Area Coordinator Manual, and Operations Manual have been updated to build upon the framework of the NRVC team model of leadership established in 2019. The newest step is the creation of a Member...

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments1 / Tags

Orientation Program was a swirl of canon law, statistics on newer entrants, and research on

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Imagine looking 10 years ahead - what are your hopes for the future of religious life? The 2020 NRVC/CARA Study on Recent Vocations to Religious Life captured a snapshot of religious life today and provided a g...

Author(s)Maureen Cetera, Director of Finance and Operations / Comments0 / Tags

To help you budget for the coming year, the NRVC is announcing our 2023 membership renewal rates. Single membership will be $840.00. A license that accommodates up to five members to partake in the privileges of membership will be $1,415.00. Membership renewal letters will be mailed in October, 2022. You will have an o...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments0 / Tags

Convocation is fast approaching and this year there is a wonderful feeling of anticipation as we once more look to gather in person and share our NRVC spirit with each other. Our 2022 Convocation theme, Call be...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

The NRVC Director of Mission Integration, Sister Deborah Borneman, SS.C.M., was among 75 participants at the U.S. and Latin America Convening of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, at Long Beach, CA., in May. The objectives were to: reaffirm the vision of the Initiative, Hilton’s Strategy 25 Goals, and the critical role of g...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

The 2021 CARA Entrance Class Report was released, and its findings demonstrate consistency in the responses from the 2020 NRVC/CARA Report on Recent Vocations to Religious Life. Take some time to read the report in ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Recently the NRVC Code of Ethics for Vocation Ministry was updated, and it contains a gem of wisdom for you to share with members of your institute. This important document reinforces the value that vocation ministry is ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Several pages on the NRVC website were recently updated to assist you in your ministry. Take a few minutes by using these links to quickly access this newer information: Collaborator News and Events (includes link...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

This USCCB/CARA annual report presents findings from a national survey of seminarians scheduled for ordination to the priesthood in 2022. It is a helpful resource to understand the patterns of behavior of male discerners prior to entering seminary. For instance, the average age a man first considers a vocation to the priesthood is 16 years of...

Author(s)Carol Schuck Scheiber / Comments0 / Tags

Not long ago, HORIZON reader Sister Stephanie Spandl, SSND told the NRVC how her community used two concepts presented in HORIZON to energize and broaden members’ commitment to vocation ministry. We report on her efforts here to encourage you to mine HORIZON for ideas and inspiration in your ministry. The SSND vocation team...

Author(s)National Office / Comments0 / Tags

The NRVC is searching for a dynamic, highly motivated, and tech-savvy leader to join our team to focus on our members as our new Director of Membership. A successful candidate for this full-time Chicago-based position will intentionally engage NRVC members on a wide variety of levels, as well as participate in our mission ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags world day of prayer for vocations

Here’s a new twist using the theme, Called by Name (Isaiah 43:1-7) with an intercultural lens. Share the video clips followed by reflection questions to stir conversation.  Video:  

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags nrvc convocation

As we look forward to gathering together at our upcoming Convocation in November, we ask for your prayerful consideration to recommend candidates for the

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments1 / Tags

I just learned from my teammate, Phil Loftus, the term “claustrophobia of abundance” which is something you might feel when looking at the NRVC website. So many resources and where to start? I’d like to suggest the 2014 convocation presentation by ...

Author(s)National Office / Comments9 / Tags

The NRVC extends appreciation to Sr. Charlene Herinckx, S.S.M.O. for her work in the national office.   She will be returning to her Motherhouse to serve as vocation director for her community. Sr. Charlene’s last day with the NRVC will be Friday, March 18, 2022. We are grateful that she will...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags religious brothers day

It’s not too early to think of ways to recognize Religious Brothers Day, which is held annually on May 1, the feast of Saint Josep...

Author(s)Sr. Sister Gayle Lwanga Crumbley, R.G.S., NRVC African American Vocation Committee / Comments1 / Tags black catholics

I would like to thank the NRVC for inviting me, as a member of the African American Vocation Committee, to write some thoughts for the February edition of the Catalyst.  I looked forward to writing about historic African American r...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags national catholic sisters week

Catholic Sisters Week (CSW) is coming soon! This celebration of Catholic Sisters is held annually March 8-14. Do you know the

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments2 / Tags cara study, profession class reports

Since 2010, the USCCB Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations in partnership with the Center for Applied Research in the Apostola...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments1 / Tags generosity

Each New Year many individuals in the secular world make resolutions related to their financial health with the top 3 goals being:   Save more, pay down debt and spend less.  For the many religious who take a vow of poverty, this may be foreign. These are good goals for many to resolve and achieve, but might ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags consecrated life

At our recent Member Area Coordinators (MAC) gathering, we went on a vocation pilgrimage to Mission San Xavier and St...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags events, workshops

The 2022 NRVC Summer Institute will be offered via Zoom again this year due in part to the global pandemic, and in part to the popularity of the virtual format. This year, the NRVC is offering four workshops intended for vocation mini...

Author(s)Sr. Charlene Herinckx, SSMO, Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags reflection

Blessings in the New Year!  Perhaps you are among those of us who thought that the restrictions of the pandemic would be over by this time. Instead, we keep adjusting our hopes and expectations – with trust and faith. Many people have the ability to share insight and advice concisely. Recently this message came on m...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments0 / Tags nfcrv

The National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations will accept on-line applications from NRVC members from January 3, 2022 through April 22, 2022. Since its inception, nearly 50 candidates have received educational debt grants. Read the Grant Guidelines at nfcrv.org. For more informati...

Author(s)National Office / Comments0 / Tags

Just a reminder that the National Office will be closed from December 23 through...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

As an NRVC member, you already receive an annual subscription to our professional journal, HORIZON. Why not consider a gift subscription to those who support you throughout the year? An annual subscription to HORIZON focuses on hope and faith in the future of religious life. You already know that consecrated life unleashes a tremendous amount...

Author(s)Sr. Charlene Herinckx, SSMO, Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags

Renewal of your NRVC Membership for 2022 (which includes a subscription to the HORIZON journal) will continue to provide you with valuable resources for your important ministry. While you won't be the first to renew membership, we encourage you not to be the LAST! We ask that we receive your

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

Sister Barbara E. Reid, O.P. is a Dominican Sister of Grand Rapids, Michigan and holds a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She is President of Catholic Theological Union and Carroll Stuhlmueller, CP, Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies. Sr. Barbara has taught at CTU since 1988 a...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

This vivid artwork embodies the 2022 Convocation theme: Call beyond Borders, recognizing God’s endless call to holiness. The swirling waters, gusty wind, and airborne dove speak of the vibrant symbols of the Holy Spirit moving freely beyond borde...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments0 / Tags

Despite some of the challenges in 2020, the National Religious Vocation Conference continued to thrive by serving members and providing opportunities for connections throughout the year. We encourage you to review our accomplishments in the 2020 ...

Author(s)National Office / Comments0 / Tags

As we prepare to celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week, November 7-13, we thank our Episcopal Moderator, Archbishop Charles Thompson, for his message of encouragement, gratitude, and hope to the NRVC and its members in this video message.

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

The National Religious Vocation Conference and other national organizations are partnering with Ministry Training Source in new research on youth and young adult ministry leaders in the United States. Dr. Charlotte McCorquodale will lead this research in two phases begi...

Author(s)Maureen Cetera, Director of Finance and Operations / Comments1 / Tags

Please click on the arrow in the photo above to learn more! Did you ever stop to think about your superpower? Maybe you have a special superpower like my husband – he can shoot flies from across the room with a rubber band. He rarely misses! He also has a superpower singing voice, similar to that of his famous cousin, Peter Cetera, of t...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Due to the global pandemic and the uncertainty of how the virus continues to spread and affect our lives, our biennial Fall Institute will be offered through the Zoom platform. It’s not too late to register for a workshop to learn, network, and enhance your skills in vocation ministry. Consider inviting a member of your community to joi...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

The National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) is a biennial three-day experience to encounter Christ, experience Church, and be empowered for discipleship, sponsored by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). Over 10,000 high school teens, parents, and youth ministers from across the country will gather November 18-2...

Author(s)Sr. Charlene Herinckx, SSMO, Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags

We are excited to invite you to a webinar for discerners entitled “Fundamentals from Call to Charism to Community Living”. It will be the first in a six-part series of free hour-long webinars intended for a varying audience that will provide follow-up to the 2020 NRVC Study on Recent Vocations.

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments2 / Tags

On October 19, 2021, the NRVC is offering a free workshop

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments0 / Tags

Once again, Summer Institute has come to a close, and I am reminded how grateful I am to be part of the NRVC team which serves you, our members.  I learned so much.  Not only did I learn the Olympic sports in which our workshop attendees would choose to compete and the reading material on their nightstand, but I was plunged int...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments1 / Tags

For many NRVC members, July is filled with numerous memories of Summer Institute, a major event to form significant relationships with colleagues in vocation ministry. This year is no exception with 174 registrations from across congregations, generations, and cultures. Our participants are zooming from Canada, China, Ireland, Italy, Ken...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

One of the values of the NRVC is to foster a culture of vocations in a spirit of collaboration, joy, and hope. Some of our major collaborators extended invitations to participate in their upcoming conferences and workshops. This is an opportunity to share the NRVC mission and values. Religious Brothers Conference 50th

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments0 / Tags

This summer GRAB your earbuds and PLUG IN to the NRVC! Whether you are enjoying a day at the ocean or planning a road trip to visit discerners, you can take the NRVC along with you.  If you are looking for some short clips, listen to the NRVC

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments0 / Tags

HORIZON and VISION continue to win awards for excellence from the Catholic Media Association and it is you, our members as writers, who help make this possible. Awardees were announced today and our congratulations go out to Sr. Ana Cecilia Montalvo F.Sp.S., who received third place best writing in-depth for her 2020 HORIZON article:&...

Author(s)Sr. Charlene Herinckx, SSMO, Director of Membership / Comments0 / Tags

Recently I came across a quotation from Fr. Joe Nassal, C.PP.S. that reminded me of the unique role of religious communities around the world.  “Like a shooting star against the dark sky of injustice and ignorance, founders of religious communities lit up the landscape with a burst of hope.”  I have long been int...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

Our biennial Fall Institute will offer three onsite workshops (OP, BA1, and BA2) at the Mercy Conference and Retreat Center in Saint  Louis, MO, October 5-17, 2021. Choose to attend one or several workshops....

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments0 / Tags member directory

How to access the NRVC Member Directory was mentioned in the Talk It Up Tuesday evaluations.  Below is a short video which explains where to find the directory on the website and tips on using the directory. If you have any questions, or need to update your profile, please feel free to contact me at 773-490-6556 o...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments0 / Tags

My wife and I were fortunate to be able to attend in person Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ on Good Friday and then celebrate the Resurrection on Easter Sunday at St. Mary of the Woods our local parish. The combined music and readings of Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ were a wonderful reminder of the final ...

Author(s)Maureen Cetera, Director of Finance and Operations / Comments0 / Tags

We are pleased to announce that the National Board has decided to freeze NRVC membership fees! NRVC membership fees will remain the same in 2022 as for 2021:  single membership for 2022 will be $820, and license membership for up to five members will be $1,380. We will send you a membership renewal notice in Augu...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Help us to celebrate World Day of Prayer for Vocations by emailing a photo of a member of your community praying for vocations! The NRVC will share these photos on Facebook and in other publications. The photo can be in any setting.  Let’s showcase the varied ways we pray as religious. Email photos to

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Join us to celebrate the vocation of Brothers! The NRVC is grateful for the 78 Brothers who are NRVC members. The NRVC is partnering with the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, the Religious Formation Conference, and the Religious Brothers Conference for a virtual gathering on May 1st, 12:30-1:30 p.m. CT. For more information and to regist...

Author(s)Maureen Cetera, Director of Finance and Operations / Comments6 / Tags

Dear Members, Last night I was reading the Convocation 2020 survey responses – and was completely humbled by the gratitude and compliments for our NRVC leadership team and National Board. A clear message that came through was your sincere JOY in your ministry. Vocation ministry is not easy, and you do it anyway. You are my heroe...

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments0 / Tags

The National Office team gathered to discuss two chapters from Ted Dunn’s Graced Crossroads; Pathways to Deep Change & Transformation. He has practiced as a clinical psychologist and guide to religious communities for over thirty years. Each of us shared a significant word or phrase which ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

The NRVC invites you to join us for one hour of learning, talking, and encouraging one another in vocation ministry! Topics for March are as follows: Tuesday, March 2, Involving vowed membership in key relationships with inquirers presented by Sr. Tarianne DeYonker, O.P. Tuesday...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments0 / Tags

As I ponder this question I am reminded that all of us are called to be signs of hope for each other.  I found a hopeful sign in a recent article that I read in the Catholic Sen...

Author(s)National Office / Comments0 / Tags

Convocation 2020 keynote presentations will be posted for public viewing on the NRVC YouTube Channel over the next few months. You can use these inspiring presentations to animate your congregations in promoting vocations to religious life. Consider show...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

In celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life, NRVC will be releasing several newly recorded Abundant Hope videos.  The videos, hosted on the NRVC YouTube Channe...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Join in the conversation with NRVC members to learn a new skill, share ideas, and connect with other vocation directors during the winter months. Starting at 1:00 p.m. Central Time, it’s 60 minutes of engagement: 20 for the presentation, 20 for small group insights, and 20 for large group conversation magnifying ideas. This is a...

Author(s)National Office / Comments1 / Tags

  We never imagined what would happen this year, With a global pandemic bringing distress, loss and fear. 2020 has been different in every way, No hugs, no visits, wearing face masks each day.   Vocation ministers were challenged with pandemic desolation, Countless pivots and f...

Author(s)Sr. Virginia Herbers A.S.C.J. / Comments0 / Tags

Nominations for the NRVC National Board are now open. You are invited to prayerfully consider applying to serve by completing a Self-nomination Application or a

Author(s)National Office / Comments0 / Tags

The National Board has proposed amending the NRVC Constitution, and we need your vote to confirm, abstain, or reject the amendment. The revisions were publicized to all members in the August and September NRVC newsletters and can be accessed here....

Author(s)National Office / Comments0 / Tags

  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER   We look forward to seeing you soon at NRVC's upcoming Virtual Convocation (Oct. 28 - Oct. 31, 2020...

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments2 / Tags

Last month we presented our Orientation for New Vocation Directors virtually for the first time. When we came to the topic of supervision the zoom chat feature “exploded” with an emphatic Yes. Below we delve into the HORIZON library to explore the topic further. Sr. Helen Cahill D.C., in her article...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments5 / Tags

Welcome to the new normal. As we approach Month Six of doing things differently, I reflected on a line from a 1982 song "Should I stay or should I go?" by the Clash, an English punk rock band. The lyrics and intent of the song were seemingly racy (even by today’s standards), but one line has always been a bit of a...

Author(s)NRVC National Board / Comments1 / Tags

Updated July 15, 2020. 2020 Convocation will be a virtual gathering rather than a convening in Spokane, WA. A revised schedule and new registration portal to come in September 2020. Read notice from NRVC Board here.

Author(s)NRVC National Board / Comments0 / Tags

As a professional organization comprised of nearly 1,000 members representing more than 300 religious institutes and organizations in 20 countries, the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) feels compelled to speak at this moment to strongly and publicly condemn racism in all its forms and manifestations. We stand in solidarity w...

Author(s)National Office / Comments0 / Tags

The NRVC is pleased to announce an open position within our team: Director of Membership. The current director, Ms. Marge Argyelan, will assume the position of Director of Database Administration upon the hire of the new Director of Membership. Marge’s expertise in data acquisition and member relations is highly valued and her focu...

Author(s)National Office / Comments0 / Tags

Archbishop Charles Thompson The NRVC welcomes Indianapolis Archbishop Charles Thompson as the episcopal liaison to the N...

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments0 / Tags

The Orientation Program for New Vocation Directors is filled to capacity and registration is now closed for this workshop. All other Summer INstitute workshops are still open but nearing capacity. So please

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments3 / Tags

NRVC is happy to announce that Convocation will feature sisters, brothers, and priests who entered religious life since 2003. Their presence throughout the gathering will surely be mutually enriching. Applications to nominate attendees are due July 15. Each member area of NRVC will select two newer religious from...

Author(s)National Office / Comments0 / Tags summer institute

Click here to review workshops and register Take a workshop this summer in the comfort of your home, no hassles with travel or packing, just time to enjoy learning ...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments1 / Tags

These days are different, that is certain.  What do we do? We are all called to a life of holiness through Baptism, and many too are called to do a specific type of work. To that end given my role and job responsibilities here at NRVC, I have participated in several webinars that address fundraising during the COVID-19 ...

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments3 / Tags

During a storm, “…with the windshield wipers going, you can either watch the windshield wiper or you watch the road. Which is going

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments0 / Tags

The NFCRV is pleased to announce that they received six requests for educational-debt grants this spring. The NFCRV board is in the process of reviewing the applications. A...

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments0 / Tags

This article was updated July 15, 2020. NRVC Board made the decision to convert 2020 Convocation to a virtual event rather than a gathering in Spokane. Details on the revised virtual event, including schedule, speakers, and fees to be determined by September 2020. More information about 2020 Virtual Convocation c...

Author(s)Maureen Cetera, Director of Finance and Operations / Comments0 / Tags

We are happpy to report that NRVC annual membership fees will remain the same in 2021. A single membership is $820 while a five-person license is $1,380. Membership renewal begins in September 2020. Anyone in need of financial assistance for membership renewal, please request a Misericordia Scholarship application form from the

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

With the upcoming World Day of Prayer for Vocations on May 3, consider providing copies of the beautiful 16-page color compendium to the NRVC/CARA 2020 Study on Recent Vocations to Religious Life with key messages and statistics.  Feel free to distribute to community members, board, alumni, discerners, parishes, and anyone w...

Author(s)National Office / Comments1 / Tags

NRVC will be releasing its 2020 Study on Recent Vocations on March 25. One of the key areas of religious life addressed by the study is community--both the desire for community and the challenges of living in community.  We offer this deep dive into the HORIZON archives on the topic of community as a quick...

Author(s)National Office / Comments0 / Tags

With the global spread of COVID-19, we want to assure you of our prayers for your community members, institutes, and the people you serve. We urge you to consult with your religious leadership regarding travel, presentations, and events. We also want to encourage you to follow the protocols recommended by the Centers for Disease Control ...

Author(s)National Office / Comments1 / Tags summer institute, 2020 summer institute, ctu, catholic theological union

We hope you will plan to join us this July for Summer Institute in Chicago. All five workshops offered this summer will take place at the Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park.

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags 2020 convocation, spokane, convocation

Updated Sept. 29, 2020. Registration now open https://nrvc.net/blog/11308/post/22791-2020-virtual-convocation-registration-now-open   Updated July 15, 2020. Pre-Convocation workshops for 2020 Virtual Convocation to be determined by September 2020.   

Author(s)National Office / Comments0 / Tags 2019 profession class report

The recently released annual USCCB/CARA Profession Class Report indicates 94 religious institutes had a perpetual profession in 2019 with a total of 186 professions. The number of professions declined slightly from last year, but the average professions remains steady at nearly 200 annually for the past five years.

Author(s)National Office / Comments2 / Tags 2020 study of recent vocations

The 2020 Study on Recent Vocations to Religious Life--surveying those who entered between 2003-2018--will be released at the end of March. The complete study, an infographic handout, color booklet, and special HORIZON issue will provide much needed information for vocation directors and those who support vocation ministry to share with member...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

Our Summer Institute registration will begin in February. All workshops will be held at the Catholic Theological Union. Mark your calendars with these dates: Orientation Program for New Vocation Directors July 8-12, 2020 Presented by Sr. Deborah Borneman, SS.C.M.; Fr. Adam MacDonald, S.V.D.; a...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments0 / Tags

The National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations will accept applications from NRVC members until April 15, 2020. Since its inception, 42 candidates have received grants. Read the Grant Guidelines here. Or more information on how the NFC...

Author(s)National Office / Comments1 / Tags 2019 year in review, benefits of membership, national board, donors, advent

The NRVC National Office continues to be inspired by the generosity and good works of our members, their communities, the National Board, and our donors and benefactors. As we head into the third week of Advent and the year draws to a close, we want to thank all of you for your appreciation and support of the important mis...

Author(s)Maureen Cetera, Director of Finance and Operations / Comments1 / Tags

As we experience this blessed time of Thanksgiving together, I want to offer sincere thanks from your National Office Team for the significant participation of our members both in 2018 and in 2019. NRVC Finances and investments As Director of Finance and Operations, I am particularly grateful that together we achie...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

The 2019 National Vocation Awareness Week is Nov. 3-9 To assist you in publicizing the week, NRVC has created two new videos to share on your social media platforms. We also created a new infographic using excerpts from Christus Vivit. This handout was included in your membership renewal letter. It is designed as a ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Thank you for your engagement and commitment to NRVC! All members were sent membership renewal information and encouraged to renew their annual membership by December 31 to be eligible for the National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations grant. If you need financial assistance to renew your mem...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

The first phase of the NRVC/CARA study involved a survey sent to 752 major superiors in the United States. There was a 67% return rate compared to 66% in 2009. The second phase included a survey sent to 3,092 identified newer entrants with a 63% return rate compared to 40% in 2009. The third phase concluded with focus groups of 112 participan...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments0 / Tags

Pictured in photo: Sr. Sharon Eurart, R.S.M. , Executive Director of RCRI; Sr. Anita Quigley, P.H.J.C., NRVC Board Member; and Phil Loftus, NRVC Development Director and Executive Director of the National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations. Recently I attended the National Conference for Resource Center for Reli...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments2 / Tags

Each year, Member Area Coordinators gather in Chicago for three days of communal prayer, dialogue and updates from the National Office and Board. This year’s focus was on the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation,

Author(s)National Office / Comments0 / Tags

There’s still time to register for the NRVC Fall Institute! Come, enjoy time with colleagues while enhancing your professional skills in Leavenworth, KS. Each of the four workshops have openings: Behavioral Assessment 1...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Register as an exhibitor, volunteer, or with a diocesan delegation for a three-day, high energy, immersion experience with over 20,000 high-school teens from across the country. NRVC is once again sponsoring Inspiration Nook, a gathering space for vocation directors to meet teens, youth ministers, and parents for conversation about v...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags ncyc 2019

The National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) is a biennial three-day experience to encounter Christ, experience Church, and be empowered for discipleship sponsored by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). Over 22,000 high school teens, parents, and youth ministers from around the country will gather Nov. 21-23, 2019, a...

Author(s)Patrice J. Tuohy / Comments0 / Tags

2020 VISION: Focus your calling is now available along with bookmark/prayer cards and multilingual posters. Click here to order your free copies of all VISION resources.

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments2 / Tags

Thanks to our generous members for donating over $24,000 to the annual NRVC Misericordia Appeal. We are just short of our $25,000 goal,. You can still donate to this fund which...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

All women and men who entered religious life from 2003 – 2018 were emailed a questionnaire from CARA in April. Currently, there is a 41% response rate, so we need your help to remind newer members to complete the survey. If they lost or never received the questionnaire, please contac...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

Over 140 registrations have been received for Summer Institute. Don’t miss the early registration discount as the late fee begins June 23. There are nine workshops designed to fit your needs around assessment skills, national networking, and trends i...

Author(s)Phil Loftus / Comments0 / Tags

The NFCRV is excited to announce that they received requests for eight educational debt relief grants and are in the process of reviewing these applications. This benefit is only a...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

The National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) is a biennial three-day experience to encounter Christ, experience Church, and be empowered for discipleship sponsored by the National Federation for Catholic Ministry (NFCYM). Over 20,000 high school teens, parents, and youth ministers from around the country w...

Author(s)Marge Argyelan, Director of Database Administration / Comments0 / Tags

  Recently I was speaking to a member who was looking for some excel tips for managing her data/tasks.  Because she is new to excel I thought a good first step might be using the tools which exist within her  Gmail (FYI these tools also exist on other platforms such as Outlook) I thought I would share how I use ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Sunday, May 12 | Word Day of Prayer for Vocations As you anticipate World Day of Prayer for Vocations on Sunday, May 12, you may find free resources from NRVC here and NRVC's VISION Voc...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

The recently released 2019 USCCB/CARA Ordination Class Report shows an uptick in ordinands from 430 in 2018 to 481 in 2019. Of deeper significance, the number of religious institutes with ordinations also continues to increase each year--up from 41 last yea...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Youth synod webinar Learn more about the Synod in the four-part webinar "Synodality: Unpacking the Universal Church’s Recent Work on 'Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment.'" The webinars are live in English and Spanish throughout May and June. For ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

All those responsible for the assessment of discerners and candidates need to be updated in the skills, trends, and best practices. No better place to hone these skills than at NRVC's annual 

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

We are grateful for the over 75 religious brothers who are NRVC members. On May 1, NRVC celebrated by highlighting a brother and his community via Facebook each ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

Celebrated annually on Good Shepherd Sunday, this year World Day of Prayer will be commemorated on Sunday, May 12. The purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publicly celebrate vocations to ordained ministry and religious life in all its forms.  Many parishes and religious institutes commemorate this day wi...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M., Director of Mission Integration / Comments0 / Tags

Join NRVC members in thanking religious brothers on the feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1, 2019. Post a shout out to brothers who inspire you with the hashtag #ReligiousBrothersDay. Over 70 brother...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments1 / Tags infographic, vocation statistics

We have created a

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

As we enter the unfolding of Christ's Paschal Mystery, the Triduum, we join our prayers with yours that Christ's promise of the Resurrection and new life will fill your hearts with joy, peace and hope this Easter season. Our NRVC offices will be closed on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

Help us to recognize Brothers by sharing your celebrations for Religious Brothers Day with NRVC to promote vocations. NRVC will post celebrations and pre-publicity about your events on our Facebook page and on the VISION calendar if you'd like to make discerners aware of your events. Thank you to the over 100 men’s communities who ...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

Our workshops have exceeded 100 registrations. The registration process has been streamlined and now includes a link in the initial confirmation email to an attendee directory for NRVC members. We hope you find this directory helpful in coordinating travel plans (such as sharing a ride to and from the airport) or in setting up meetings to tou...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

File under "good to know:" There is a "quick link" at the top of the NRVC newsletter email and at the top of the website post for the each newsletter (Display complete articles) that enables you to view all the artic...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags papal message, apostolic exhortation

Photo credit: NRVC member, Sister Jenny Zimmerman, S.N.D. Taken March 27, 2019 in Rome.

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

This report presents the findings from a national survey of women and men religious who formally entered a religious congregation, province, or monastery based in the United States during 2018. In all, 82 percent of LCWR superiors, 72 percent of CMSWR superiors, 71 percent of CMSM superiors, and 44 percent of superiors of co...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

The National Dialogue on Catholic Pastoral Ministry with Youth and Young Adults will be one of the key ways in which the Church in the United States will respond to the Synod and papal exhortation. The vision of the National Dialogue is an energized and unified Chur...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

As we close National Catholic Sisters Week, we extend our appreciation to over 600 women religious who are NRVC members. We also look forward to celebrating Religious Brothers Day on May 1.

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

NRVC members can promote vocations by exhibiting and volunteering at NCYC in Indianapolis, November 21-23, 2019. Consider presenting a workshop by submitting a proposal by February 28. Click here for more NCYC info. NRVC will be coordinating the...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

This year, NRVC is offering nine workshops for all those entrusted with the assessment of discerners and candidates. We listened and responded to your requests to streamline the registration process to be able to register for multiple workshops at one time.

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

Every religious superior was recently sent a two-page questionnaire to complete as part of NRVC’s 2020 Study on Recent Vocations being conducted by CARA. The survey focuses on the characteristics of your institute or society, its vocation and formation programs, and newer members who have entered and/or...

Author(s)Sister Deborah M. Borneman SS.C.M. / Comments0 / Tags

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) recently released The Profession Class of 2018 Report to the U.S.C.C.B. Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. One of the most significant findings is the increase in the number of professions and the diversity of religious institutes chosen.