2.1

The World Day for Consecrated Life will be celebrated in U.S. parishes the weekend of February 7-8. The three U.S. leadership conferences and the U.S. bishops are encouraging religious communities to host open houses so that the public can learn about and celebrate religious life. 

Click here to learn more about the open houses.

For resources, see the links below.

World Day for Consecrated Life materials
Year of Consecrated Life resources by VISION-NRVC
Vocation Resources for classroom, youth, young adults
 

caption caption

For more from the leadership conferences about the open houses, see:

Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious

Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C.,  executive director of NRVC, was invited by America magazine to share his thoughts on the vocation impact of the December 16 Apostolic Visitation Report. He emphasized that although the numbers are fewer than in the past, some 1,200 women are in religious formation in this country, and several thousand others are in serious discernment.

See his commentary here.

At the convocation composer Steven Warner, head of the Folk Choir at the University of Notre Dame, will lead the world premier of "Wake the World with Dawning Joy," the Year of Consecrated Life hymn.

The 25th Jubilee-Year NRVC Convocation will take place November 6-10. While every NRVC convocation has top speakers, workshops, and activities, because this year NRVC is celebrating its 25th anniversary, this gathering will be unique. Additional entertainment and festivities will top off a quality roster of presenters and activities.

Care for yourself: add a day

In addition to registering as soon as possible, NRVC staff encourage you to consider coming in a day early to be refreshed and prepared. Or stay an additional day to process and unwind. Use the extra time to also see a world-class city; downtown Chicago is easy to reach via a short walk to the el line from the hotel.

By adding one or two extra days, many people find they get more out of the experience. You can enjoy the deep discount on the hotel room for these additional days (only $115). To add a day or two, e-mail registrar@nixassoc.com or 314-645-1455.

Still debating whether to attend?  Benefits include:

1. Networking. Our members say that the chance to mingle and share ideas and best practices with colleagues in this niche profession is one of the most enriching parts of a convocation.
2. Professional development. The speakers and workshops are designed specifically for religious-order vocation personnel and those who support them. You won’t find these offerings anywhere else.  
3. Refresh and renew. We know vocation directors have many pressures. NRVC’s convocation is an opportunity to recharge your batteries at a spiritual, social, and professional level.
4. The 25th Jubilee features:

♦ The theme of “It is good that we are here: rise and have no fear”
♦ Guest host TV star Clarence Gilyard
♦ Nationally known jazz and church musicians
♦ Memorable music and prayer at liturgies
♦ Results of NRVC’s study on multiculturalism in religious life
♦ Keynoters: Sister Theresa Rickard, O.P.; Father Bernhard Eckersdorfer, O.S.B.; and Sister Colleen Mary Malone, O.P.
♦ Seven workshops (two per person)
♦ Click here to see 19 other features at the 2014 convocation.

Put HORIZON on your smartphone by following these easy steps.

1) Download the free Kindle app. Android users can download it from the Play Store. iPhone users can get it on iTunes.

2) Download HORIZON by logging into nrvc.net, searching for the edition you want in the upper-right search bar, then opening that edition. The site allows readers to download  a tablet-form file (.epub), Kindle-form file (.mobi), or pdf (which can be read on any device but is most suitable for a computer).

3) If your device does not automatically open your downloaded copy of HORIZON (or if you simply prefer to do most of your searching and downloading on a computer), then send the downloaded file by email to your Kindle email address. That is, use your regular email, attach a copy of the HORIZON file, and e-mail that file to your Kindle email address. If you aren’t sure what your Kindle email address is, see this link.

Once you’ve sent the file to your Kindle e-mail, your Kindle app will sync, and HORIZON will be in your Kindle library.

Loved the convocation? Or wish you could have attended? Click here to see this visual round-up of the highlights created by NRVC member Father Toby Collins, C.R.

It's not too late to purchase video or audio recordings of the convocation by calling AVM at 1-888-763-1464.

How long have you been in vocation ministry?
Four yearssssss

Are you part of a vocation team?
Yes. We have a vocation team in the Los Angeles area and at each of our three universities (University of Dayton; St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX; and Chaminade University in Honolulu). Each team has a regional leader or coordinator. Our goal, of course, is to encourage all of our Marianist brothers, priests, and sisters to play a role in vocation ministry.

Has belonging to NRVC been helpful?
Definitely. The professional workshops have provided much practical guidance in everything from ethics to using technology and social media. The relationships, both occasional and ongoing, with other vocation ministers throughout the country have also been especially enriching and encouraging.

What has been your best outreach effort?
Our vocation discernment retreats have continued to be most helpful—they allow time for sharing information about our congregation, for prayer, and for interaction among young people who are asking some of the same questions about God’s calling in their lives. After that, the one-on-one companionship with candidates has been critical in the discernment process, and this can begin as early as the first time an inquirer contacts us through our website or through another brother, priest, or sister in one of our ministries.

Any words of wisdom to those who are new to this ministry?
There are best practices for vocation ministry, which NRVC shares so well, but there is no one way to do vocation ministry well, so don’t over-worry about finding the “right strategies.” Experiment and seek the advice and perspective of others, within and outside your congregation. Also, I remind myself regularly that vocation ministry is a mysterious work, a matter of faith and relationship with God—we can do much to help, but much is also out of our control and beyond the need for our control.

What do you find most rewarding about vocation ministry?
Working with men and women who are seeking to discover God’s call in their lives—it puts me in touch with my own vocation and relationship with God, and it calls me to greater integrity in living my own life as a Marianist brother. Naturally it’s also satisfying when someone does choose the life of a Marianist brother and persevere.

Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. greets the newly installed Archbishop Blase Cupich of Chicago after his installation Mass.

NRVC executive director Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. was invited to attend the November 18 installation Mass of Archbishop Blase Cupich, the Chicago area's new leader. Brother Paul had the opportunity to renew old acquaintances with Archbishop Cupich, as he served as the last chair of the former U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Vocations when Brother Paul was a consultant. In 2007 the NRVC board met with Archbishop Cupich in Rapid City, South Dakota, his former diocese, as he also was the NRVC liaison to the bishops' conference.

NRVC encourages you to renew your membership today so you do not miss a single benefit, including the forthcoming Winter HORIZON. (The Winter edition will include all the keynote addresses from the recent convocation, perfect for reflection and community encouragement.)

For the easiest and fastest service, renew online by clicking here.

Two new video series on vocation discernment have become available for free online.

The U.S. bishops have produced a six-video series named “What is your call in life?” It is specifically aimed at Hispanic young people who want to understand their own life-vocation. Each video is available in both Spanish and English.

The Australian religious order Missionaries of God’s Love has produced an animated four-part series called “Discernment for Dummies.”

Of interest to vocation directors who work with men and women from abroad, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recently published “Guidelines for Receiving Pastoral Ministers in the United States," 3rd Edition. The chapters on financial and immigration law can be seen here. The same link also has information about workshops being offered January 8, March 12, September 10, and October 22 in different parts of the United States. Workshop registrants will receive a copy of the published guidelines. Others can order a copy here.

NRVC extends its condolences to the loved ones of two dedicated vocation ministers: Father Bob Lucero, O.F.M. and Ed Verbeke.

Father Bob Lucero, O.F.M.

Father Robert Lucero, O.F.M. was associate vocation director for the Franciscan Friars, order of St. John the Baptist, and was a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio. Also a longtime editor with St. Anthony Messenger, the 64-year-old friar passed away December 20 of cancer. A short tribute to this beloved member of NRVC can be found here.

Edmund Victor Verbeke was executive director of Serra USA Council for many years. A committed Catholic and friend of vocation ministers everywhere, Ed was well known to many in the National Religious Vocation Conference. The 80-year-old passed away December 4 of pancreatic cancer. A full obituary may be seen here. (No image of him was available.)

May the souls of these two faithful ministers, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace.

"God, Grant Me a Discerning Heart" is a popular resource, and this Spanish version of it contains materials for discerners and vocation ministers. Organized by topic, each subject area has recommended Scripture passages, open-ended questions, and specific questions based on a  behavioral assessment. While intended for individual discernment with adults, this resource can be adapted to use at discernment weekends. This month’s sale pricing is $6 for members and $9 for non-members. Order here or contact nrvc@nrvc.net.

Summer Institute participants not only deepen their ministerial skills and knowledge, they enjoy networking, camaraderie, and the pleasures of Chicago in the summertime.

Limited space is still available for vocation ministers who want to strengthen and enhance their skills and knowledge at NRVC's Summer Institute, taking place July 8-22 in Chicago.  Prompt registration is encouraged for the following workshops, all of which will take place at De Paul University's downtown campus in Chicago.

Click on the workshop title for details and registration.

July 8-9, ETHICAL ISSUES IN VOCATIONAL AND FORMATION MINISTRY, by Father Raymond P. Carey, Ph.D.

July  10-12, BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT I, by Father Raymond P. Carey, Ph.D.

July 14-18, ORIENTATION TO VOCATION MINISTRY, by Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. and Sister Deborah Borneman, SS.C.M.

July 19-22, PSYCHOSEXUAL INTEGRATION, by Sister Lynn Levo, C.S.J.

U.S. religious communities are experiencing a subtle disconnect when it comes to welcoming new members who are not from the dominant race and culture. Leaders and vocation ministers tend to be more open to receiving diverse members than are other community members. That is one of several key findings in the 2014 study, “Incorporating Cultural Diversity in Religious Life,” which was released in October 2014 by the National Religious Vocation Conference. On behalf of NRVC the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate surveyed the leaders of all 835 religious institutes in the country, of which 42 percent responded.

NRVC commissioned the study to learn from leaders about the policies and procedures communities use and the experiences they have had with the formation and integration of culturally diverse candidates. The full report on the study is at nrvc.net.

Asked to name what they have done well to integrate culturally diverse new members, leaders reported four steps: 1) having bilingual formation staff; 2) having multicultural formation communities; 3) establishing formation houses in other countries; and 4) educating membership in cultural understanding.
Although the study focused on cultural concerns during formation, given an open-ended question about what their biggest formation concerns are, leaders reported concerns linked to age. New members often lack age-peers, and (with fewer religious still in the workforce) communities have difficulty maintaining a formation staff.

The study was commissioned by NRVC and underwritten by an anonymous grant. The full study can be downloaded or viewed. The two-page summary can be downloaded or viewed.

 
International vocation gathering underway

A first-ever gathering of national vocation leaders representing most English-speaking countries in the developed world will gather during the Year of Consecrated Life in Rome in February 2015. Initiated by NRVC, and with the generous support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the purpose of this meeting is to explore ways in which we can globally promote vocations to religious life. Participants will include representatives from the United States, Canada, England/Wales, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific Islands. (France and Germany are also included because of their prominence in Europe). Both general secretaries from the Union of Superiors General and International Union of Superiors General will be attending as well.

 
World Youth Day advances

NRVC and VISION Vocation Network continue to lay plans with collaborating partners for an English-speaking vocation pavilion at the July 26-31, 2016 World Youth Day (WYD) in Krakow, Poland. Organizers hope to: Click here to download the pdf.

• promote WYD websites. The international site is krakow2016.com. The U.S. bishops’ site is: wydusa.org;
• encourage minority and non-affluent youth to attend; and
• promote “at home” WYD events in various dioceses so that more people can be influenced by the vibrant WYD experience of faith and community.

 
Second “Sisters Week” slated

After its premier in 2014, National Catholic Sisters Week  (NCSW) will again be celebrated in 2015 on March 8-14.

Those leading the effort are encouraging communities to organize their own local and regional events and activities. They ask women religious to post their activities on the NCSW website in the “events” tab. The site offers prayer, liturgy, and activity resources for religious communities and their affiliated colleges, schools, and parishes. Go to www2.stkate.edu/ncsw/participate.

Giving Voice-CTU to launch leadership development project

In partnership with Catholic Theological Union, Giving Voice, a peer-led network of young women religious, has received a $1 million grant for developing leadership skills among young sisters. The project aims to prepare them to assume leadership positions in their religious communities, ministries, and the Catholic Church. Because of the dramatic demographic changes going on in women’s communities right now, the youngest generation in religious life will need to begin leading their communities much sooner than previous generations. Learn more at givingvoice.org.