NRVC at major gatherings of religious

Over the summer staff and board members represented NRVC at the annual gatherings of four national organizations for religious life. By being present, NRVC strengthens its collaboration with other groups and remains part of the conversation about contemporary religious life and its future.

Brother Ronnie Hingle, S.C., NRVC board member, represented NRVC at the Assembly of the Religious Brothers Conference and at the J.S. Paluch Vocations Seminar. He is pictured here with Mary Lou Rafferty, owner of the J.S. Paluch Company whose foundation sponsors the seminar.

RBC

Brother Ronnie Hingle, S.C., chair of the NRVC board, represented the group at the Religious Brothers Conference assembly held July 18-21 in New Orleans. The theme was "Brotherhood: a distinct vocation lived in diverse ways." The keynote speaker was Brother Mark McVann, F.S.C. of St. Mary's College in Moraga, California.

CMSM

Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., NRVC executive director, attended the Assembly of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men in Charlotte, North Carolina, August 4-8. The theme was “Celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life: Gratitude, Passion, Hope.” Archbishop Joseph Tobin, C.S.s.R. delivered a presentation on renewal since Vatican II on behalf of Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Theologian Massimo Faggioli spoke about the ecclesiology of Vatican II as a framework for religious life today.

NRVC's Sister Debbie Borneman, SS.C.M. snapped this photo of sisters applauding the LCWR newly installed president, former NRVC member and HORIZON writer Sister Mary Pellegrino, C.S.J.

LCWR

Sister Debbie Borneman, SS.C.M., director of member relations and services, and Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., executive director, attended and exhibited at the Leadership Conference of Women Religious Assembly in Houston August 11-14. Participants discussed issues facing religious life and its leaders under the theme of “Springs of the Great Deep Burst Forth: Meeting the Thirsts of the World.” Keynoters included executive director Sister Janet Mock, C.S.J., who spoke on contemporary realities and joy; Sister Sharon Holland, I.H.M, who spoke on the doctrinal assessment; and Father Stephen Bevans, S.V.D., who spoke of thirst as a grace, a yearning that can lead to growth. 

J.S. Paluch Annual Vocation Seminar

Several staff members of NRVC, board members, and editors of its publications attended the J.S. Paluch Annual Vocation Seminar August 17-19 in Chicago. The theme was collaboration as an essential element in vocation ministry, and the keynoter was Father Frank Donio, S.A.C., director of the Catholic Apostolate Center near Washington, D.C. In addition, NRVC's executive director, Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., presented the results of the NRVC-CARA study about the impact of families on church vocations.