If you have not yet renewed your membership, please do so now to ensure you receive the forthcoming Winter edition of HORIZON, which features the keynote speakers from our recent convocation. Renew at nrvc.net/signup. If you have questions or would like assistance, contact Marge Argyelan at 773-490-6556 or margyelan@nrvc.net.

World Day for Consecrated Life will take place February 2, and as part of the celebration NRVC is co-sponsoring an online prayer and panel discussion on "Consecrated Life Through the Lens of Fratelli Tutti," from 6-7 p.m. Central Time. Register to attend using this link. NRVC encourages you and your community members to participate and share this downloadable flyer. The other co-sponsors are the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Religious Brothers Conference, and Religious Formation Conference. To plan other outreach or activities for World Day for Consecrated Life, see our information and resources here; prayers of the faithful and bulletin blurbs from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are here.

This 24-page booklet, "Screening and Discernment Instrument for Religious Life," was written by NRVC member and canon lawyer Sister Amy Hereford, C.S.J. It includes sample screening forms and checklists that are helpful for assessments and applications. In particular, this resource contains sample forms for legal and financial matters that are typically included in an application to join a religious institute. $10 members, $15 non-members. Learn more or purchase this booklet here.

Starting January 26, NRVC members will be invited to take part in "Talk it up Tuesdays," 60-minute, online sessions to collaborate, build relationships, and learn effective practices for now and beyond the pandemic. Each session will take place from 1-2 p.m. Central Time. Focusing on a topic in vocation ministry, sessions will consist of short presentations, breakout groups, and a large group sharing. To register and see the list of topics and presenters, click here. 

The National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations (NFCRV) is pleased to announce that from January 4 through April 12 communities may apply online for education grants. Grants are available only to NRVC members and must be used for paying educational debt of a candidate to religious life. The NFCRV has provided 47 grants since it began in 2015. Learn more here; or contact Phil Loftus at 312-318-0180 or ploftus@nfcrv.org.

Building on the popularity of the recently released 19 videos of newer religious, NRVC is partnering with Support Our Aging Religious (SOAR!) to develop videos of religious over age 80 who express hope for the future. The short videos, to be released in February, are meant to amplify hope in religious life, demonstrate that hope is not determined by age, and show that the youngest and oldest members inspire one another in their vocations. Both sets of videos can be used in community conversations with NRVC's Study and Reflection Guide. Support Our Aging Religious is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to helping congregations of sisters, brothers, and priests care for their aging members.

To ensure the health of all involved, the NRVC will be hosting its Summer Institute workshops online July 12-28. Following are the workshop titles and dates; full details and registration will be available in February.

Orientation Program for New Vocation Directors — July 12-16
Behavioral Assessment 1 — July 19-21
Ethical Issues in Vocation and Formation Ministry — July 23-24
Is It Cultural, Generational, or Family of Origin? Issues in Candidate Assessment — July 26-28

The NRVC extends a warm welcome to Sister Charlene Herinckx, S.S.M.O., who will join the leadership team as director of membership on January 11. Marge Argyelan, who has held that position, will become director of database administration. Sister Charlene, available at srcharleneh@nrvc.net, is no stranger to vocation ministry as she was the NRVC coordinator of programs and projects from 1999 to 2005 and held various positions in vocation ministry for her community over the years. She also served in education and leadership, most recently as superior general from 2010-2020 for the Sisters of Saint Mary of Oregon.

The NRVC Board invites members to nominate by January 31 themselves or another member to serve on the board. Service requires two to three meetings per year (lasting three days) and begins in fall 2021. Interested parties are encouraged to discuss this opportunity with current board members. Details and nomination forms are available here.

The following NRVC member areas are meeting online in the coming weeks. Keep in mind that any NRVC member can attend these gatherings for networking and ongoing formation.

New England — January 12
Delaware Valley — January 19
 

Member area details, including coordinators for each area, are here.