GHR Foundation awards NRVC grant for follow-up vocation study

Update

The NRVC National Office is currently working with CARA in reviewing a draft of the 2020 Study on Recent Vocations. Scheduled release is Spring 2020.

GHR Foundation awards NRVC grant for 2020 vocation study

The National Religious Vocation Conference announced November 8, 2018 that, thanks to a generous grant from the GHR Foundation, it will conduct a follow-up study to its groundbreaking 2009 Study on Recent Vocations to Religious Life, which set the benchmark for tracking vocation trends in the 21st century.

The primary objective of this new study, to be published in early 2020, is to provide an accurate picture of the current realities of religious life, outline updated best practices in inviting men and women to religious life, and project the potential impact of today’s trends on the future of religious life and on Catholic social services and ministries managed, directed, and sponsored by religious institutes.

With support and input from sociologists and collaborating organizations, NRVC is confident that the 2020 study will expand the body of knowledge on religious life, not only for the sake of consistent social science but for the purpose of providing NRVC members and all those who promote vocations with clarity on the demographics and characteristics of newer entrants to religious life, what attracts and sustains membership in religious life, and changing and emerging trends.

NRVC is grateful for the support of the GHR Foundation and the expertise of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), which will conduct the study on NRVC’s behalf. The study research is expected to begin in early 2019 with the final report to be published on February 2, 2020, World Day for Consecrated Life. The NRVC board and staff strongly encourage all NRVC members to participate.

The goals of the 2020 study are:

• To gather data on newer members from 2003 to 2018 on what attracts and sustains membership in religious life in comparison to newer entrants from 1994-2009 in the 2009 NRVC/CARA study.

• To outline the challenges and opportunities for vocation ministers and religious leadership in inviting the next generation to religious life.

• To identify the trends and best practices for the Church in promoting vocations to religious life in the United States as identified by this study.

• To energize the baptismal call of all members of the Catholic Church to choose a life path that enables them to live holy and joyful lives by integrating the best practices of vocational discernment that will be highlighted in the study.

Like the 2009 study, the 2020 study will provide data-backed information about religious life, dispel myths and misconceptions, and offer a roadmap for religious institutes and the wider church on how to successfully invite young people to consider religious life, assist parishes and schools in promoting religious vocations, and enable religious institutes to continue to welcome new members and plan for the future. For more information, email Sr. Deborah Borneman, SS.C.M. at debbiesscm@nrvc.net.