2024 Health & Wellness in Candidate Assessment Workshop

Spring & Summer events

2024 Health & Wellness in Candidate Assessment Workshop

July 23-24, 2024

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Workshop registration is now closed.

Workshop description

Today’s discerners come with varied healthcare preferences, chronic illnesses, and problematic medical issues that may complicate vocation discernment and the admissions process. Canon law 642 informs vocation directors and major superiors “to exercise a vigilant care to admit only those who, besides being of required age, are healthy, have a suitable disposition, and have sufficient maturity to undertake the life which is proper to the institute.” What does this mean for discerners living with diagnoses of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, lack of vaccinations, neurodiversity, anxiety, depression, ADHD, eating disorders, asthma, sleep apnea, long COVID-19, etc.?

This workshop addresses challenging issues that preclude admission to initial formation, must be resolved before admission, or can be part of a health history that will rarely disrupt overall wellness. Learn which health issues are more prevalent in cultures of origin, families, generations, and genders. Discover ways to ask minimally invasive questions about health behaviors including actions, practices, or habits that have an impact on health and vocation discernment.

Arrival and departure dates

Please note this two-day workshop begins on July 23 at 9:00 a.m. and ends on July 24 at 4:00 p.m. Central time. Overnight accommodations are included, with arrivals after 3 pm on July 22 and departures before 9 am on July 25. If you are registered for the next workshop, Being Human and Sexual, you do not have to check out of your room, your room and meals are provided between workshops.

Venue

This fourth workshop of our Summer Institute will be held at the Marillac Center, in Leavenworth, KS. It is the home of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, The nearest airport is Kansas City (MCI) and ground transportation is available through Lyft, Uber, and Super Shuttle. Workshop participation is limited to 23 participants.

Liturgy

Eucharistic Liturgy for workshop participants will be offered each day at 8:00 a.m. in the Chapel. Each workshop includes communal prayer.

Presenters

Sister Chero Chuma, CSJP, DNP, is a Sister of Saint Joseph of Peace and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Sr. Chero is the Director for Vocations in the USA and has been involved in the healthcare field for over 22 years. She continues to serve as a per diem psychiatric provider at Seattle’s Crisis Solutions Center where she diagnoses and treats people with mental illness. Sr. Chero is a University of Washington graduate with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and a WWAMI AHEC Scholar. She is also a Seattle University graduate with a dual bachelor’s degree in nursing and theology & religious studies. She uses her education and experiences to educate many on matters of faith and mental health.

Sister Mary Catherine Redmond, P.B.V.M., has been Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the past 36 years. Until being elected Sister President of her congregation, she has ministered in various aspects of health care, most recently as Chief Physician Assistant of Emergency Medicine at North Central Bronx Hospital, a small city hospital caring for the uninsured, recent immigrant, and Medicaid population. She served as a vocation minister for twelve years until her appointment to formation ministry. Her formal training in counseling has been instrumental in offering spiritual direction to and directing retreats and small-group faith communities with young adult populations.

Workshop fees

Workshop fees include materials, speaker stipends, facility fees, all meals, and breaks. The workshop fee also includes overnight accommodations for 3 nights, arriving after 3:00 p.m. on July 22 and checking out by 9:00 a.m. on July 25. If you do not need overnight accommodations, please contact dinasp@nrvc.net

NRVC member: $700 Non-member: $900

Become an NRVC member here to save on workshop fees.

Registration is now closed.

Late fees

All registrations received after June 30 incur a $100 late fee.

Cancellations

Cancellations for workshops must be received in writing to dinasp@nrvc.net before June 30 to receive a full refund minus a $100 processing fee. After June 30, all fees are non-refundable.

Financial assistance available

The Misericordia Scholarship Fund is available to assist NRVC members with their professional development. Scholarship funds can be applied to NRVC workshops; however, they do not cover the cost of transportation, accommodations, meals, or personal expenses. If you need financial assistance to attend an NRVC workshop, please apply here.

Workshop terms and conditions

Please read our NRVC terms and conditions for all events and programs.

Workshops are designed from the NRVC curriculum for those who wish to deepen their understanding of the complex theological, spiritual, psycho-sexual, ethical, and diversity issues often present in contemporary vocation ministry. NRVC recommends that vocation ministers participate in ongoing educational opportunities to attend to their own vocation, faith formation, and to further develop their professional competencies.