Video, handout, summary explain results

Go Back

A scene from the video "Five things your family can do," which summarizes key findings. Find it and other resources regarding the family study at nrvc.net.

NRVC encourages its members and friends to make use of its latest study, which looks at the role of families in nurturing vocations. Vocation supporters are urged to use the free video and handouts summarizing key findings and also to read the summary and full report—all of which are at nrvc.net. The next edition of HORIZON will also carry study results.

The study found that recent entrants to religious life and diocesan priesthood come from families that go to Mass weekly, pray together often, have active faith lives, and encourage family members to be open to vocation options. The study was conducted for NRVC by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. It also found that new entrants tend to come from families that:

Give importance to private and public religious practices—in addition to Mass attendance—such as saying grace before meals and bedtime prayers, displaying religious art and objects, and actively participating in parish life and charitable services
Witness and talk about their faith in their daily lives
Attend Catholic schools or receive parish-based religious education
Regularly eat dinner together and gather as a family for games or discussions
Have Catholic periodicals and other media available in the household
Support the idea of a vocation to religious life and the priesthood

“The study confirmed what we’ve known instinctively: Families are the seedbed of vocations,” says NRVC Executive Director Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. “Our goal is to help Catholic parents understand their crucial role in the future of religious life and ordained ministry and encourage them to create a culture of vocations within their families.”