International vocation meeting in Paris

Participants spent a day at the French Bishops' Conference meeting with conference representatives from vocations and consecrated life as well as the heads of the Conference for Religious in France.

In Paris, from November 30 to December 3, NRVC convened a sub-group follow-up meeting of the February 2015 International Vocations Conference.

The February conference brought together religious life leaders and directors of vocation centers from nine countries. At that initial gathering a topic of concern was that many countries have no coordinated action to support vocations to consecrated life.

At the December meeting, the sub-group explored possible ways to support coordinated vocation efforts around the world.

Facilitated by NRVC Executive Director Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. and hosted by Sister Nathalie Becquart, Xav., director of the National Service for the Evangelization of Youth and for Vocations, Bishops’ Conference of France, participants included:

• Sister Deborah M. Borneman, SS.C.M., NRVC director of member relations and services;
• Sister Gabrielle Farrell, O.L.V., executive board member of Vocations Ireland;
• Brother Ronald Hingle, S.C., NRVC board chair;
• Father Christopher Jamison, O.S.B., director of the National Office for Vocation, Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales;
• Mr. Brad Myers, senior program officer, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation; and
• Sister Mary Rowell, C.S.J., president of Canada’s National Association of Vocation and Formation Directors (NAVFD).

At the February 2015 International Vocations Conference, the major international religious life organizations were present:

• CICLSAL:  Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
• UISG:  International Union of Superiors General (for women's institutes)
• USG:  Union of Superiors General (for men's institutes)
• UCESM: Union of the European Conferences of Major Superiors (men and women)