June 2019 newsletter
June 2019 newsletter
The number of distinct communities ordaining men has been slowly climbing in the past several years, from 28 religious institutes with ordinations in 2015 to 52 in 2019.
In addition, 51 more men were slated to be ordained this past year in the United States than last year, although that number has ebbed and flowed in the past 10 years, generally between 400 to 600.
These findings come from the latest annual study of men entering the priesthood, conducted for the U.S. bishops' conference by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. The NRVC organizes annual reports about ordinations, entries into religious institutes, and final vows under the "Studies" tab on nrvc.net.
Photo by Province of St. Joseph, Flicker CC.
More than 100 people have signed up for this year's Summer Institute, to be held in Chicago on the beautiful campus of Catholic Theological Union, near the NRVC offices, near Lake Michigan parks, and many other venues.
Plan your summertime professional development now:
Among the new workshops this year is "Due Diligence in Vocation Ministry," specially designed for seasoned vocation directors. Participants will look through the lens of experience at current trends, best practices, and challenges of contemporary vocation ministry. Topics include the demographics to consider when inviting discerners, specific candidate issues that delay or preclude admission, animating membership, and the latest research on newer members.
If you need financial assistance to attend the Summer Institute, notify the NRVC office for a Misericordia application. Scholarship funds can cover registration fees; however they do not cover travel, accommodations, meals, or personal expenses.
If you will be leaving vocation ministry, please notify NRVC's Marge Argyelan so she can help make this a smooth, productive transition for your community. Reach Marge at margyelan@nrvc.net or 773-363-5454.
In addition here are HORIZON's tips on good transitions. Members and subscribers can download and share these articles with up to 50 people at no charge.
Photo by Nikki on Flickr.
NRVC extends its gratitude to member area coordinators who volunteer time to create opportunities for networking, professional development, and communal prayer in member areas.
All NRVC members are welcome to attend member events anywhere in the country. Our warmest thanks to the following:
Member area coordinators who have completed their terms
NRVC members who stepped up to become member area coordinators
Other notes: Many thanks to Sister Michael Francine Duncan, S.S.M.O., who agreed to continue to serve in the Pacific Northwest until the conclusion of Convocation 2020. There is still a vacancy in the Southwest member area to serve with Sister Bridget Waldorf, S.S.N.D. If you are an NRVC member and open to serving, please contact Sister Bridget: (507) 217-0663, bwaldorf@ssnd.org.
Please help NRVC to encourage the 3,000+ members who entered religious life between 2003-2018 to complete our survey. It was recently mailed to them by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA).
If you know anyone who entered religious life from 2003 onward who did not receive a survey, please contact Sister Thu T. Do, LH.C. of CARA: ttd9@georgetown.edu or 202-687-1290. The questionnaire for newer members is available in English and Spanish.
Through this survey the NRVC is gathering new information about trends and changes in religious life and new membership. Superiors of religious institutes received surveys in January 2019, but it is not too late for them to still obtain or return a form.
The greater the participation by all communities, the more accurate our data will be. Communities that have NOT experienced new membership are encouraged to fill out the survey, too. Their experiences matter, and NRVC values their input.
For more information and to see the survey questions, click here.
Photo by Helloquence on Unsplash
Mark your calendars for an NRVC-co-sponsored webinar on Wednesday, June 26 on "Gospel Values and Essential Conversations: Confronting Abuses of Power in Religious Life."
Co-sponsored with Religious Formation Conference and the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, it will be presented by Father John M. Tourangeau, O. Praem., Ph.D. Details and registration are here.
Thank you to all who have taken out space ads in the next edition of VISION. This print and online publication of NRVC contributes every hour of every day to spread the culture of vocations (a church culture in which everyone knows he or she has a vocation and seeks to live it).
Advertisers not only receive names of inquirers, but—by supporting VISION—they help prepare inquirers who come to them by other means. More than 360,000 people a year use the VISION website. Online ad space is still available. Call Patrice Tuohy at 312-356-9900 or pjtuohy@truequestweb.com.
The unforgettable words of Sister Ita Ford, M.M., martyred in El Salvador in 1980, speak to a new generation.
This card makes an ideal giveaway to graduates, to inquirers, to those you meet in ministry. The front of the card reads:
I hope you come to find that which gives life
a deep meaning for you.
Something worth living for—
maybe even worth dying for—
something that energizes you, enthuses you,
enables you to keep moving ahead.
I can’t tell you what it might be—that’s for you to find, to choose, to love.
I encourage you to start looking and support you in your search.
The back of the card lists figures from scripture who answered God's call. The card is $12 for a pack of 100 or $8 per pack for NRVC members.
Learn more or place an order here. Or order by phone: 773-363-5454.
The peaceful Sonoran Desert is the stunning setting for this retreat center. It offers programs year-round, including its "Contemplative Study and Sabbatical Program" and the "Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction." Learn more at desertrenewal.org.
Assessments of candidates to religious institutes are offered by a skilled, experienced religious, psychologist, and NRVC member / presenter / HORIZON writer: Sister Cindy Kaye, R.S.M., Ph.D.
The Institute of Religious Formation and Hesburgh Sabbatical Programs at Catholic Theological Union are currently accepting applications for the fall semester of both programs, which begin August 28. For more information, see ctu.edu/academics/special-programs.
The Mexican American Catholic College in San Antonio, Texas offers courses in Pastoral Spanish and Hispanic Ministry. Participate in a transformative experience and be part of a diverse community rooted in faith.
HORIZON reaches a premier niche of highly educated religious men and women and lay ministers. Readers hold leadership positions in their communities and influence community decisions. Contact editor Carol Schuck Scheiber for more information: cscheiber@nrvc.net or 567-288-2255. Download the current rate card here.
Catholics on Call is sponsoring a Young Adult Conference July 23-27. The conference will be expanded to a five-day program at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. This experience is designed for women and men (ages 18+) who may be thinking about a life of service in the church as a lay minister, religious sister, brother, or priest. Applications for the 2019 Young Adult Conference are available here.
Catholics on Call also invites campus ministers, vocation directors, and anyone who works with young adult Catholics to consider joining Catholics on Call as partners. The next Partner Conference will be September 19-20.
The Religious Formation Conference is gathering October 24-27 for its biennial congress in Louisville, KY: "Being Signs of Courageous Hope." Learn more at relforcon.org.
You are invited to explore the many offerings this summer available at Catholic Theological Union, including a month-long mini-sabbatical called "Reframing Retirement": ctu.edu/summeratctu/.
National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry is presenting a webinar series on the youth synod on several dates in June. For more information and to register, go to nfcym.org/webinars.
Save the date for the Conference on Human Formation: Mental Health Matters, April 20-23, 2020, to be held at Saint Meinrad, Indiana Archabbey, Seminary, and School of Theology.
The conference will address mental health concerns that commonly arise among men and women pursuing priesthood and religious life. Topics include addressing mood disorders and anxiety, understanding personality disorders, screening for emotional and psychosexual concerns, dealing with trauma or abuse in discernment, and more. Learn more here.
July 9-24 |
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October 7-24 |
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November 3-9 |
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November 21-23 |
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February 2, 2020 |
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March 8-20, 2020 |
My ministry over the past 25 years has primarily been accompanying refugees and immigrants by providing mental health and cultural adjustment services and educating other social workers about how to work effectively with this population. I’m now completing my third year in vocation ministry.
I am part of a vocation team of five for the United States and Canada. We have a director and four other ministers who meet as a team via video conference monthly and in-person three or four times a year. Although one of us may take the lead in a particular region, we mix and match our duties depending on availability and our specific gifts.
Being a member of NRVC has been a great gift! I really can’t imagine coming into this ministry without being a part of NRVC. The orientation, ethics, and behavioral assessment trainings were essential for learning how to get started in this ministry, and the ongoing input via the biennial convocation and HORIZON are very helpful.
What I value most are the ongoing relationships and networking—the ideas, the collaborative efforts, the mutual support, and of course the fun we have when together!
One of things I’m most excited about is our collaboration with the Youth in Theology and Ministry Program (YTM) out of St. John’s University in Minnesota. YTM is so committed to creating a culture of vocation and nurturing the leadership and faith development of young people. They partner creatively with religious communities, and I’m looking forward to spending a week with them this summer and having some of the youth visit our motherhouse in Mankato for their presentations.
I’m also excited and intrigued by the possibilities of online outreach and interactions. We have now offered one Advent and one Lent online interactive retreat for women. The retreats provided reflection materials and paired retreatants with sisters for weekly one-to-one spiritual companionship by phone, Skype, or in-person. It has allowed us to reach a greater variety of women than we would otherwise, both generationally and geographically. Also it has become another way for us to involve our sisters and use their gifts.
I still take opportunities that present themselves to enjoy a bit of dancing! This summer I celebrate my silver jubilee; it is the highlight of my year! I love making music and dancing. I sing and play the guitar, mostly in church. Years ago, when studying in Spain, I studied Flamenco dance and later performed for two years in Minnesota with the Dolina Polish Folk Dancers before entering the S.S.N.D.s.
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