The NRVC ended its virtual convocation October 31 by presenting awards for outstanding contributions to vocation ministry to seven individuals and the Notre Dame Vision program. Mary Lou Rafferty, owner of the J.S. Paluch Company, Inc., was given the Harvest Award. Rafferty and her company have lent support to vocation efforts in numerous ways for decades, most notably by hosting an annual seminar for diocesan and religious life vocation personnel. Father Ray Carey, who has conducted workshops on ethics and assessment for decades, was presented a lifetime membership. Five members of NRVC who have gone above and beyond in service to vocation ministry received the Outstanding Recognition Award: Sister Michael Francine Duncan, S.S.M.O., Brother Ronnie Hingle, S.C., Sister Marie Mackey, C.S.J., Sister Priscilla Moreno, R.S.M., and Brother Sean Sammon, F.M.S. The Notre Dame Vision program—a summertime faith development program for high school students—received the Mustard Seed Award. Learn more here.

"Fifty Fun Facts" is a free, two-page, downloadable handout that helps people delve into findings from the 2020 Study on Recent Vocations to Religious Life. Consider using these handouts as elevator signs, dining-room-table tents, in newsletters, and with faith-formation classes. Facts can serve as bulletin announcements, social-media posts, card inserts, or on meeting agendas to increase awareness of vocations to religious life. Find it here.

More than 390 people attended the NRVC virtual Convocation held October 28-31, including dozens of newer religious and leaders. The interactive event included diverse presentations, prayer time, small group discussions, an awards ceremony, and more. Participants donated $5,200 to the National Black Sisters Conference, the largest amount ever raised during NRVC's traditional offertory collection during a convocation liturgy. The NRVC is grateful to Convocation speakers and participants and to the many sponsors whose support made it possible. The Winter edition of HORIZON, which mails in February, will carry selected presentations.

The members of NRVC voted in October to approve the proposed changes to the constitution, with 95 percent favoring the new language. These changes bring the organization's constitution into line with current realities. Thank you to all who gave these issues their attention and took part in voting.

If you have not yet renewed your membership, please be sure to do so. Remember:  to be able to apply next year for an education grant from National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations, you must sign up by December 31 to be a 2021 NRVC member. Go to nrvc.net/signup. Please direct any questions to Marge Argyelan at margyelan@nrvc.net or 773-490-6556.  

The following NRVC member areas are meeting online in the coming weeks. Keep in mind that any member of any region can attend these gatherings.

Mid Atlantic — December 9
West Coast — December 10
New England — January 12
Delaware Valley — January 19

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