The Vocation Ambassador program begins with a four-day "Share the Sacred" workshop that provides participants with the skills to become vocation ambassadors.

The workshop

Fourteen select teams of vocation ministers, communicators, and single young adults (ages 20-30), will work together to develop a consistent message that vocations to religious life is a viable option in the Catholic Church. Teams bridge gaps of knowledge and experience to create a collaborative communications strategic plan for vocations that involves a minimum of 100 team hours beyond the Share the Sacred workshop. 

Venue and fees

The program will convene at Holy Cross College, June 9-12, 2017, starting at 5 p.m. on June 9 and ending at noon, June 12. The Program is free. Participants will only be responsible for travel and personal expenses. All program materials, accommodations, meals, and presenter fees will be underwritten through the generosity of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. 

Application process

Participants in the Vocation Ambassadors Program will be selected as a team. The application must be completed and submitted by an NRVC member (single or licensed). And the participating team must include a vocation minister who has previously attended the NRVC Orientation Program for Vocation Directors. The communicator and young adult do not have to be NRVC members.

Read more details about the program here.

What prior year participants have said about the program

Global Sisters Report on the 2016 Vocation Ambassadors Program.
 

Vocations ministry can be an isolated experience, and it's essential to be able to touch base with others who work in that area. I found working with the entire group was a wonderful experience. There is a real sense of enthusiasm around the ministry.

—Father Alan Neville, M.S.C. Vocations Ireland VAP team

It was great to listen to all the other congregations and learn from them. I want to work closely with our community's vocation director to ensure we are communicating correctly and branding ourselves in the best way possible.

—Ms. Yahaira Perez-Caraballo, Communicator

I have been inspired to speak up for Christ and for vocations to religious life in general when meeting all of the vocation directors at this event. The collaboration of activities was very helpful because people were not often alone representing their ideas.

—Jennifer Merola, young adult

The most helpful workshop was the one where the young adults were taught about religious life. I now feel much more confident in my ability to talk to people about religious life and vocations. In addition to the wonderful presentations and abundance of useful information that was shared, two things really made this program "over the top". The first was the communal prayers when a different team led each one. I truly enjoyed seeing others' ways of praying, especially some of those who shared their native languages. 

—Kelly Dahman, young adult

Do you want to learn relevant, practical, and affordable marketing strategies that you can implement immediately to promote vocations to religious life?  

NRVC is creating a network of young adults who will be commissioned as Vocation Ambassadors and equipped with media training and communication skills to represent and to promote religious life in the Church and to the general public. All program materials, accommodations, meals, and presenter fees will be underwritten by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. Selected participants will be responsible for personal expenses and travel to and from Holy Cross College for this summer workshop, June 10-13, 2016.

Using a four-day workshop called Share the Sacred, 14 selected teams of vocation ministers, communicators, and Catholic young adults (ages 20-30), will work together to develop a consistent message about vocations to religious life as a viable option in the Catholic Church. The Vocation Ambassadors Program will bridge gaps of knowledge and experience by assisting team members to create a collaborative communications strategic plan for vocations that involves a minimum of 100 team hours beyond the Share the Sacred workshop. 

_{WHAT:  Share the Sacred, 4-day workshop}

_{WHERE: Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, Indiana} 

_{WHEN: Workshop commences June 10, 4 p.m.; concludes: June 13, noon}

_{REGISTRATION: Applications accepted Feb. 1 - March 15, 2016}

_{Who is participating?}

Participants in the Vocation Ambassadors Program have now been selected. Team applications were submitted by NRVC members. Eligible applicants could hold a single membership or be part of a license; however only one application per license was allowed to be submitted. The vocation minister needed to be an NRVC member who had some experience in social media and had previously attended the NRVC Orientation Program for Vocation Directors workshop. Team members did not be the same gender. 

Members of the NRVC Vocation Ambassadors design team talk to young adult focus group members during its fall planning meeting.

Successful vocation ministry integrates leadership, vocations, communicators, and young Catholics. We are confident that the participants in the Vocation Ambassadors Program will play an important role in ensuring the future of religious life. Please direct any questions to Deborah M. Borneman, SS.C.M., NRVC director of member relations and services at debbiesscm@nrvc.net.

Serving on the Vocation Ambassadors program design team were: Sister Deborah Borneman, SS.C.M., project coordinator; Ms. Miranda Caulkins (communicator with the Adorers of the Blood of Christ); Ms. Debbi Della Porta (communicator with the Sisters of Mercy); Sister June Fitzgerald, O.P.; Father Adam MacDonald, S.V.D.; Ms. Valerie Oltmanns (communicator with the Felician Sisters); Father Larry Rice, C.S.P.; and Sister Theresa Sullivan, D.C.

Details and FAQ  here.

The application process is now closed. 

There were 38 applications from 12 states and Ireland, representing missionary, apostolic, monastic, and evangelical religious institutes.  After prayerful deliberation, the selection committee has chosen 14 teams to participate.  All applicants have been notified of their status. 

For more information about this exciting program, click here.