International Vocation Conference held

In honor of the 2015 Year of Consecrated Life, the National Religious Vocation Conference hosted an unprecedented gathering in Rome February 23-27 of national vocation and religious leaders from the developed world.

The goals of the gathering, being funded by a grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, were to share vocation-related information, identify common needs and challenges, and explore future areas for worldwide collaboration in promoting vocations to consecrated life.

"Rome Reports" covered the conference, releasing this short video of the topics being discussed.

Sister Gemma Simmonds, C.J., director of the Religious Life Institute at Heythrop College in London, served as facilitator. Father Gerard Whelan, S.J., associate professor at Pontifical Gregorian University, was the theological reflector.

Those scheduled to participate:

Sister Viviana M. Ballarin, O.P., vice-president of the Union of the European Conferences of Major Superiors, Brussels

Sister Nathalie Becquart Xavière, director, National Service for the Evangelization of Youth and for Vocations, Bishops’ Conference of France, Paris

Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., NRVC executive director, Chicago

Sister Deborah M. Borneman, SS.C.M, NRVC director of member relations and services, Chicago

Father Anthony Cox, S.S.C, executive officer, Catholic Vocations Ministry Australia (CVMA), Essendon, Victoria, Australia

Sister Nanise Degei, S.D.N., board member, Religious Leadership Conference, South Pacific Islands, Fiji

Sister Gabrielle Farrell, O.L.A., executive board member, Vocations Ireland, Dublin

Father David Kinnear Glenday, M.C.C.J., general secretary, Union of Superiors General (USG), Rome

Brother Ronald Hingle, S.C., NRVC executive board chair, New Orleans

Father Christopher Jamison, O.S.B., director, National Office for Vocation, Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, London

Father Hank Lemoncelli, O.M.I., Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Vatican City

Sister Patricia Murray, I.B.V.M., general secretary, International Union of Superiors General (UISG), Rome

Mr. Brad Myers, senior program officer, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Agoura Hills, California, U.S.A.

Sister Lusiana Raratini, D.O.L.C., delegate, Congregational Leaders Conference, Aotearoa-New Zealand (CLCANZ), Wellington

Sister Mary Rowell, C.S.J., president, National Association of Vocation and Formation Directors, Toronto

Sister Katharina Kluitmann, O.S.F., provincial minister, board member of Religious Leadership Conference, committee member of German Bishops’ Conference for Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Laity, Münster, Germany.