Program Outlines

Program Outlines

Program Outlines

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What are the best practices for “Come and See” events?

By Joel Schorn

A survey of how vocation ministers conduct “Come and See” events reveals what vocation ministers are doing, what works and what doesn’t. Read more...

Samuel Group: a year-long discernment program

By Tiziana Mazzei, A.I.L.

By regularly meeting for prayer and spiritual formation, young adults in the Samuel Group learn how to discern their life’s vocation. Read more...

Vocation exhibits at large events: What happens? Is it worthwhile?

Vocation exhibits at large events: What happens? Is it worthwhile?

By Sr. Pat Dowling C.B.S., Sr. Durstyne Farnan OP, Br. David Henley, and Sr. Michelle Sinkhorn O.S.B.

Four vocation ministers relate their experiences and offer their tips on exhibiting at the National Catholic Youth Conference or World Youth Day. Read more...

Effective vocation programs with a mentoring dimension

By Carol Schuck Scheiber

There are many ways to bring together those who are considering religious life and those who have lived it for years. Any time people from those two groups come together, the door is opened for mentor-type relationships to emerge. Read more...

Sister, you go girl: a cool way to present religious life to young people

By Danielle Rossi

I am very interested in the future of religious life. As a candidate for the Sisters of St. Read more...

Volleyball as a vocation tool

By Vicki Lichtenauer S.C.L. and Barbara Schrader S.C.L.

They ask us, “Where are you?” As women religious we are frequently asked this question. Many of us no longer wear a habit or work in the traditional settings of education or health care, so it is a challenge to be a visible sign of religious life. Read more...

Seeking a new dawn together: organizing a vocation symposium

By Mary Pat LeRoy S.N.J.M.

This is an adventure story lived by many people for the sake of mission and new life in our congregation, the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.1 There are hundreds of versions of this story about how our congregation turned our collective focus toward new membership for the sake of mission. Read more...

A successful vocations program I discovered by accident

By John Merkelis O.S.A.

The first step to any high school discernment program is to identify potential candidates. All right, this part is not by accident … but it is easy! You keep your eyes and ears open. Read more...

Programs that work: Pilgrimage Tour, Women’s Retreat

By Sister Mary Pellegrino C.S.J.

Vocation minister Mary Pellegrino presented the following two programs at NRVC’s Summer Institute 2001 as part of a workshop on Millennials. These programs work well with Millennials, but, as she points out, they can be adapted to other age groups as well. Read more...

Outline of a successful vocation retreat for Hispanic young adults

Targeting overlooked Hispanics

By Clemente Barrón CP

A vocation minister who doesn’t collaborate with others in this ministry may soon suffer burnout. At the same time, vocation promoters today are aware that collaboration can be valuable at all levels of church life. Read more...

A workshop to energize the community and form bonds with young adults

By Jim Kent, O.F.M., Conv.

Here’s a workshop that puts community members into direct contact with Catholic young adults and motivates the community to be involved with vocation ministry. Read more...

Vocation visioning weekend

A process for involving membership

By Sr. Patricia Donlin R.S.M.

Vocation ministry cannot succeed without involvement from the full community. The leaders of a program that inspired membership action tell how they did it. Read more...

An international conference to encourage vocations

Through a five-day international conference, two connected congregations of brothers stirred enthusiasm for inviting new members and began forming strategic plans for promoting vocations. Read more...

Get membership involved with a Vocation Summit

When this Franciscan province gathered together college men, those in formation and solemnly professed members, the discussion regarding new membership was enlightening and fruitful. Read more...

Helping college students create their own discernment models

By Melanie-Préjean Sullivan

In the context of a college course on the theology of discernment, this campus minister helped each student create a personal discernment model. Read more...

How we organized a Day of Discussion for leadership and vocation directors

By Fr. Scott Jones S.D.S., Sr. Barbara Linke S.S.N.D., Sr. Rose Sevenich O.S.F., and Fr. Joachim Studwell O.F.M.

Milwaukee area vocation ministers took the kernal of an idea—”let’s talk about our ministry with leadership”—and ran with it. Here’s the step-by-step planning that resulted in a day of fruitful exchange. Read more...

Justice retreat provides discernment perspective

Justice retreat provides discernment perspective

By Br. Brian C. Halderman SM

This weekend justice retreat served multiple purposes. It spurred theological reflection, exposed contacts to the Marianist charism and encouraged relationships between discerners and the community. Read more...

How Duchesne House leads students to reflection

How Duchesne House leads students to reflection

By Sr. Mary Patricia White R.S.C.J.

Helping young adults to go deeper in their understanding of the faith requires entering into the young adult world, listening deeply and guiding from a solid foundation. Read more...

The six best practices for vocation ministry today

These best practices were gleaned from the results of the NRVC-CARA study of new members released in 2009. See nrvc.net/best_practices to read the full report. Read more...

Examples of best practices

By Br. Stephen Glodek S.M. and Carol Schuck Scheiber

The NRVC-CARA study revealed a number of best practices in vocation ministry. Here are three concrete examples of programs that illustrate some of those practices. Read more...

Turning point: building consensus to make membership a priority

By Father Jim Kent, O.F.M. Conv., Fr. Jim Kent, O.F.M. Conv., and Sr. Patricia Donlin R.S.M.

How do you nurture a corporate commitment to vocation ministry? Here is how two communities have helped move their communities toward a “vocation culture.” Read more...

Pilgrimage as a way to build vocation culture

Pilgrimage as a way to build vocation culture

By Sr. Carolyn Hoying C.PP.S. and Father Ken Schnipke C.PP.S.

Building on the time-honored Christian tradition of pilgrimage, vocation ministers in West Central Ohio have designed an annual trek that promotes vocation awareness. Read more...

How one community is using the NRVC-CARA study to move forward

By Sr. Maria Therese Healy, O.Carm and Carol Schuck Scheiber

The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm used findings from the NRVC-CARA study to help their community move forward with a vocation action plan. Read more...

Carmelite Sisters Action Plan for Vocation Ministry

This action plan was developed by the vocation director, Sister Maria Therese Healy, O.Carm with leaders of the community. It is presented here to show the overall congregational approach to vocations and how the “Rekindling” seminar—which was dedicated to examining the NRVCCARA study results—was part of a larger strategic plan. Read more...

Strategies to address the lifestyle gap, help newcomers fit in

Strategies to address the lifestyle gap, help newcomers fit in

By Carol Schuck Scheiber

The Sisters of Mercy are building on their “pockets of energy” to encourage the kind of communal life that young adults seek and to help new members feel at home. Read more...

My week with the sisters

My week with the sisters

An insider view of service

By Caroline Hopkinson

“The week with the sisters gave me a sense of what it means to be the best version of myself, which may not be the same for someone else, but for all of us it involves something greater than ourselves.” Read more...

We’re moving forward

We’re moving forward

By Sr. Krista von Borstel S.S.M.O., Mother Katherine Caldwell T.O.R.., and Sr. Ginny Heldorfer O.S.F.

The Women Religious Moving Forward in Hope project has held gatherings in four cities to bring together a variety of sisters. Together they have bridged differences, gained new insights and developed momentum for their vocation efforts. Read more...

Summer retreat kicks off vocation year

Summer retreat kicks off vocation year

By Brother Mike Sheerin F.M.S.

This summer retreat cemented relationships with high school contacts and kicked off a “Year of Marist Vocations.” Read more...

VISION Lesson Plans

This presentation will help participants integrate vocation themes into their teaching by demonstrating the interactive website www.vocationnetwork. Read more...

What Vocation Shortage?

By Russell Shaw

Despite all the talk about a vocation shortage, there is in fact no such thing in the Catholic Church. The real shortage is that of vocational discernment, and that is a very different problem. Read more...

Jeopardy game: Introducing high school students to prayerful discernment

By Jean Rosemarynoski C.S.J.

This game was created for use during a high school vocation day. Questions in some categories will need to be changed to fit your locale. Read more...

Day of Discovery: Vocation Initiative

By Carolyn Jost S.S.N.D.

Religious life is one of the best-kept secrets today! Realizing this, members of the Joliet Area Vocation Association (JAVA) feel it is so important to tell our story. How do we become known? How do we get the word out about a way of life that has been wonderful for us? Read more...

What Vocation Education for Adults Might Look Like If We’re Really Serious About It

By Jane Mary Lorbiecki S.S.N.D.

The National Religious Vocation Conference continues to distill the meaning of the wide variety of parent input it has received through regional and national parent gatherings. While the effort to analyze and strategize continues, one conclusion from the gatherings is clear: religious must work on educating parents about who they are. Read more...

HORIZON Fall 2024 ...

This edition focuses on discernment, particularly how vocation ministers can accompany ... More

Convocation Gratitude ...

The National Office and Board extend its appreciation for your participation, ... More

Nominate a board member ...

Board members have the opportunity to lead the NRVC into the ... More

World Day for Consecrated Life ...

There are several ways to celebrate World Day for Consecrated Life! ... More

Bold and Faithful Storymap ...

Our Bold and Faithful Storymap links people interested in religious life ... More

NRVC Member Areas

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National Office Closed

Dec. 24-Jan.1,

Christmas holiday

Southwest Member Area Gathering

January 15, 2025,

via Zoom

Talk it Up Tuesdays

Starting Jan. 28,

Mark your calendars...

Delaware Valley Member Area Gathering

February 12, 2025,

via Zoom

Pilgrims of Hope

Jubilee Year 2025,

Learn more...

Catholic Sisters Week

March 8-14, 2025,

Ideas to celebrate...

Religious Brothers Day

May 1, 2025,

Resources to celebrate...

World Day for Consecrated Life

February 2, 2025,

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

May 11, 2025,

National Vocation Awareness Week

November 2-8, 2025,

VISION Discerner Guide

HORIZON Journal

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Sister Jenny Wilson, R.S.M.

Sister Jenny Wilson, R.S.M.

Short-term volunteer stints have proven to be a good way for Sister Jenny Wilson, R.S.M. to get to know women who might consider religious life. Building a relationship with people is key, she says, and the volunteer experience allows time for that. Read more...

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