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

As vocation directors welcome new candidates into the admissions process, understanding the nuances of educational qualifications and lifelong learning is increasingly vital. Evolving educational landscapes require vocation directors to be more attentive not only to academic records, but also to the broader learning needs and capacities of ea...

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

The National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) hosted its annual Member Area Coordinator Gathering from September 15-18, 2025, at the Carmelite Spiritual Center in Darien, Illinois. The event, rooted in the Convocation 2026 theme “Bearers of Hope/Portadores de Esperanza/Sứ Giả Hy Vọng,” united coordinators from across the Unite...

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

If you google “Ethical Concerns in Vocation Ministry,” the first website that appears  is the NRVC Code of Ethics for Vocation Ministry

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

Good news! Now you can use our national office phone line (773-363-5454) to TEXT the NRVC, and international members can connect with us on WhatsApp. Reach out and let us know what we can do for you-we are just a call or text away.

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

Have you ever wondered how or whether you should inform a community member about someone discerning with your congregation? Have you ever second-guessed your decision? And what are the potential consequences of your choices?   These are only a few of the questions we must consider when engaging inquirers/discerners and our w...

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

We are excited to announce that our Summer Institute participants have chosen a Convocation logo to beautifully complement our inspiring theme selected by the National Board: Bearers of Hope/Portadores de Esperanza/Sứ Giả Hy Vọng. Join us as we celebrate this spirit of hope together! Mark your calendars to attend Convocation in Orla...

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

Three recent studies offer valuable insights for those involved in vocation ministry, especially for those wanting to learn more about young Catholics:   2025 CARA Study on the Impact of Mary, Mother of the Church, on Ecclesial Vocations: Many religious communities and dioceses have a Marian focus, and researchers ask...

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

The NRVC marks the end of an era at the end of July 2025. As she approaches retirement, we wish to congratulate and thank Carol Schuck Scheiber for her many years of dedicated service to the NRVC. She began working as an editor for VISION in 1989 and then for the NRVC in 1998. Notably, Carol collaborated with the NRVC to produce our award-win...

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

Join us in greeting our new Member Area Coordinators, who began their two-year term of NRVC leadership service on July 1:  Sister Suzanne Fitzmaurice, O.S.B., in the Heartland with Sister R&...

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

This past weekend’s gospel reading invited us to wrestle with one of life’s most profound questions: “Who is my neighbor?” In response, Jesus gifted us the parable of the Good Samaritan—a story that continues to overturn our assumptions. In his time, Samaritans were considered outsiders, shunned and separated fro...

Author(s)Jesús Leyva, Director of Communication / Comments0 / Tags

Friends, mark your calendars to promote vocations at the National Catholic Youth Conference, November 20-22, 2025! NCYC is a three-day immersive experience of prayer, community, evangelization, and service sponsored by the Nat...

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

The NALM Summit 2025 brought together a vibrant community of lay ministry leaders to offer a dynamic platform for dialogue, learning, and networking. Held in an atmosphere of mutual inspiration and shared mission on the beautiful campus of Loyola University Chicago, the Summit underscored the vital role of lay ministers in nurturing faith com...

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

Over the past two years, leaders within the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) have embarked on a transformative journey of learning and unlearning behaviors, seeking to deepen our understanding of intercultural humility and anti-racism. At a recent Board meeting, members of the National Board and staff humbly shared their insights...

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

Have you explored the Member Toolbox recently? This exclusive benefit for NRVC members is packed with 50 invaluable resources designed to animate your community during summer meetings and empower your vocation promotion efforts! For example, one handy tool you will find is an adaptable Photo Release consent form. In collaboration with Vocatio...

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

The NRVC is pleased to announce that in honor of the Jubilee Year, the National Board has voted to freeze NRVC membership fees for 2026!  NRVC membership fees will remain the same in 2026 as for 2025: single membership for 2026 will be $880, and license membership for up to five members will be $1,485. This information is being p...

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

Since implementing the revised Roman Missal, Third Edition, in English-speaking dioceses worldwide, the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) has gradually issued new English translations and recently completed the Order of Religious Profession. As a catalyst for vocation discernment, the National Religious Vocation C...

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

On May 11, 2025, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations,  during his first Sunday blessing at the Vatican Basilica, our newly elected Pope Leo XIV reminded those present that “[It] is imp...

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

The NRVC Board selected four new National Board members at its spring meeting in New Mexico. Each will begin their 3-year term of service at the autumn Board meeting in Chicago, September 8-12, 2025. They join the following Board members in leadership...

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 ...