Responsibilties of Community Members for Vocation Ministry

This color handout is designed to provide clear direction for community members who support vocation promotion efforts through prayer, invitation, and encouragement, to people in discernment desiring to learn more about consecrated life.  

In the 2020 NRVC/CARA Study on Recent Vocations to Religious Life, newer entrants report personal contact with institute members as most helpful when discerning their vocation. In fact, newer entrants ranked meeting with members of the institute as the highest among various discernment activities. In additional, newer entrants received the most encouragement from members of their religious institute during their initial discernment.

The NRVC reinforces the value that vocation ministry is a shared responsibility of religious leadership, vocation ministers, vowed members, and prospective candidates to religious life. The NRVC Code of Ethics for Vocation Ministry sets forth the principles, responsibilities, and expectations for vocation ministry—that is, for vocation promotion with inquirers, accompaniment of discerners, and assessment of applicants for admission to formation in religious life and societies of apostolic life. This new handout includes an excerpt of the responsibities of membership from the Code of Ethics.

This resource is not for discerners, rather it is a great resource to give to all community members at your next gathering about vocations! Download the handout or order printed bulk copies in the online store.