NRVC staff and members extend a warm welcome to NRVC's new executive director, Sister Sharon Dillon, S.S.J.-T.O.S.F., who begins the job June 1.

Dillon, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis, brings a wide array of experience to the position. She was vocation director for her community for 10 years and served as executive director for the Franciscan Federation for six years. In the past 25 years she also co-founded, directed, worked at, and served on the board of several nonprofits that specialize in providing hospitality and support for people with intellectual and medical/physical challenges. Dillon has a master’s in education, is certified in special education and physical education, and is a Franciscan spiritual director.

Dillon succeeds Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., who became vicar general of his community last September after serving at NRVC for 14 years. 

The NRVC Board conducted a national search with an extensive interview process by a committee consisting of Sister Mary Rowell, C.S.J.; Brother Ronald Hingle, S.C.; Sister Josita Colbert, S.N.D.deN.; Sister Priscilla Moreno, R.S.M.; Father Ralph O’Donnell; Sister Mary Bendyna, O.P.; and Mr. Len Uhal.

“The board was impressed by the depth and breadth of Sister Sharon’s experience,” says Board Chair Brother Ronald Hingle, S.C. “We are confident that she will carry on the vision and legacy of inclusion and professional excellence passed on by our prior executive directors and effectively advance the mission of NRVC during her tenure.” 

More than 200 people gathered March 25 in South Bend, Indiana for the first-ever national Brothers Symposium, co-sponsored by NRVC and several other organizations. Participants represented 32 religious institutes. Their discussion centered on the singularity of the vocation, focusing on the Vatican document “Identity and Mission of the Religious Brother in the Church,” published on Oct. 4, 2015. 

NRVC member and former vocation director Brother John Mark Falkenhain, O.S.B. delivered the keynote address. In addition to brothers, others in the church concerned about the vitality of brotherhood attended the symposium.

Alongside the NRVC, the symposium sponsors were the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, the Religious Brothers Conference, the Religious Formation Conference, and the University of Notre Dame, where the event took place.

The full text of the keynote presentation by Brother John Mark Falkenhain, O.S.B., along with all video files and photos are available here.

For Religious Brothers Day on May 1,  a brothers prayer card and a suggested prayer service are now available for download.

This inaugural day of prayer and celebration is a collaborative effort of the Brothers Think Tank, made up of members from the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, Religious Brothers Conference, National Religious Vocation Conference, and the Religious Formation Conference.  
 

A study of sisters from abroad who minister in the United States shows, among other things, that these religious:

1) Tend to be much younger upon arrival (age 30) than the average U.S. sister.

2) They are highly educated.

3) Come from more than 80 countries.

The study was conducted by Trinity University and the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. The full study may be downloaded in English and Spanish.

Be sure to connect with the members of NRVC in your area for support, camaraderie, and continuing education. 

For details on all areas, including the following, click here.

Heartland — April 3-5 
Presenter: Sister Maribeth Wentzlaff, O.S.B. 
Effective Collaboration between Vocation and Campus Ministers

Delaware Valley — April 25
Presenters: Brother Sean Sammon, F.M.S. and Sister Deborah Borneman, SS.C.M. 
Rediscovering Fire, Religious Vocations: Why Be Hopeful?

Lake Erie/Ohio River — April 27-29
Presentation: Demystifying Social Media Networking and Engaging It for Vocation Ministry by Mary Lynn Delfino and A Nun's Life Ministry

Mid-Atlantic — May 2-3

New England — May 20
Discussion topic: Preparatory document for 2018 synod on "Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment"

The NRVC will offer an ethics workshop July 14-15 in Chicago.

Father Raymond P. Carey will present "Ethical Issues in Vocation and Formation Ministry" as part of NRVC's Summer Institute series. The workshop will explore confidentiality, agency, and obligations related to positions of trust. It will also address issues related to dissemination of information, the timeliness of admissions or dismissal decisions, and other issues related to ethical rights of candidates as well as ethical rights of those in positions of authority. 

Registration is now open. Details of the full Summer Institute are available here.

This 24-page booklet was written by NRVC member Sister Amy Hereford, C.S.J., who is also a member of the Canon Law Society. This workbook contains excellent sample screening forms and checklists that aid those who assess applicants. In particular, this resource contains sample forms for various legal and financial factors typically needed in an application process. This affordable workbook can also be used for updating application forms. Members pay $10; non-members $15. Purchase it here.

Religious priesthood conference April 6-7

The Center for the Study of Consecrated Life will sponsor a conference on religious life priesthood April 6-7 at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Three keynoters will speak: Archbishop Joseph Tobin, C.S.S.R.; Edward Hahnenberg, Ph.D.; and Father Robin Ryan, C.P. For more information, see ctuconsecratedlife.org.

RFC offers a variety of events, programs

Among the programs that Religious Formation Conference is offering are: "Religious Communal Living as an Intercultural Journey," May 6 in Saint Louis, with Pio Estepa, S.V.D., and "Crossing the Borders of Diversity: Interpersonal Skills and Challenges," May 13 in Philadelphia, with Luisa Saffiotti, Ph. D. A new cohort is forming for ForMission, the RFC’s formation program for those preparing for or are new to formation ministry; applications are due by April 12. The Life Commitment Program, for religious approaching final profession, will be offered in Leavenworth, Kansas. Learn more at relforcon.org. 

CMSWR directory

The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR) recently released the 2017-2018 edition of its Vocations Directory. The Vocations Directory is published every two years and highlights over 100 different religious communities. The directory offers updated photos and a summary of each community as well as contact information. Find it at cmswr.org

Job opening

The Office of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is searching for a new associate director. Candidates must be a religious sister in good standing in the church, have a bachelor’s degree in theology, pastoral ministry, or a related field, and have a minimum of 5 years of vocation ministry experience. For more information, please contact Father TJ Dolce, director of the Office of Vocations, at 713-652-8239 or vocations@archgh.org. The application deadline is May 15.

Calling all musical artists

The Daughters of Charity are reaching out to find talented musicians and singers to create two music videos. They need 8-10 people, including priests, brothers, sisters from different religious communities/dioceses. The recording is scheduled for Labor Day weekend in St. Louis. Those selected would be responsible for travel and taping fees. For more information, please contact Sister Liz Sjoberg, D.C. at elizabethann.sjoberg@doc.org.

Communicators conference: Save the date

Communicators for Women Religious (CWR) will host its 23rd annual conference October 3-6 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada—its first outside the United States. The theme is “One Voice: Charged by the Current / Voix Unies: Courant Puissant.”
 
Presenters and topics include: Dr. Moira McQueen (Catholic social teaching and communications); Heather Mansfield (social media), Sister Nuala Kenny (ethics of communication), Blayne Haggart (copyright), and Sister Kateri Mitchell (spirituality of communications).
 
For more information, visit c4wr.org. Online registration will be available soon.

Father Joe Nassal, C.PP.S. is a Missionary of the Precious Blood. He is provincial director of the Kansas City Province. For several years in the late 1980s and early 1990s he was vocation director for the community. He is also a contributor to HORIZON and has offered workshops and a retreat for the NRVC.

How long have you been involved in vocation ministry?

Vocation ministry is the call and challenge of all members of our congregation. By this measure, I have been involved in vocation ministry for more than 40 years, including before my profession and ordination.

I have been in leadership in my province for 22 years, the past six years as provincial director, so I have worked closely with our vocation team. When I was vocation director, we developed a team that included members and lay men and women who were associates with the community.

Has being a member of NRVC been helpful? 

NRVC has been a source of insight, encouragement, enlightenment, challenge, and support. I find the articles in HORIZON extremely valuable in sharing creative ideas for vocation ministry that meet the signs of these times. As a member of CMSM (Conference of Major Superiors of Men) it is always helpful to meet with other provincials and religious leaders—many of whom used to be or currently are involved in vocation ministry—for support and the sharing of ideas.

What idea(s) have you used in vocation ministry lately that you have been excited about? 

The article in a recent issue of HORIZON concerning the “vocation impact of full-time volunteering” resonated with me, as the director of our volunteer program and our vocation team work in close collaboration. 

Do you have any words of wisdom to those who are new to this ministry?

It is essential that vocation ministers have a good support system of friends and “truth tellers” who will keep us honest, support us in those difficult times, and challenge us in times when we might become complacent. A wise spiritual companion is also very important for the journey.