Due Diligence in Vocation Ministry Workshop

Click here to register now

This workshop is designed for experienced vocation ministers who have been involved in vocation ministry for at least three years. It will provide a comprehensive approach to update participants on the trends, best practices, and challenges of contemporary vocation ministry. Topics include the demographics to consider when inviting discerners, specific candidate issues that delay or preclude admission, animating membership and the latest research on newer members. Using several skillful presenters, this workshop will be highly interactive with ample time for individual and group processing based upon the ministerial experiences of participants.

Please note this workshop ends at 4:30 p.m. on July 20. Overnight accommodations are contracted for 4 nights, arrival on July 17 and check out on July 20.

Workshop fees

Workshop fees include materials, speaker, facility fees and lunch. The fees do not include supper. Residents are provided with a continental breakfast.

Commuter:        $525 – NRVC Member               $780  –   Non-NRVC Member

Resident:           $985 – NRVC Member               $1,240 – Non-NRVC Member  

Late registration

Registrations received after June 22 incur a $100 late fee. 

Cancellation

Cancellations for workshops and accommodations must be received in writing to debbiesscm@nrvc.net before June 23 to receive a full refund less a $100 processing fee. After June 23, all fees are non refundable. 

Presenters

Sister Deborah M. Borneman, SS.C.M. began working for the NRVC in 2011 and presently serves as the Director of Member Relations and Services. A Sister of Saints Cyril and Methodius, she served 10 years as vocation director for her community and is currently serving on her congregational leadership team. Sr. Debbie has previous ministerial experience in pastoral care, youth ministry, college campus ministry and immigration advocacy. She has presented on various topics in vocation ministry in Ireland and throughout the United States. Sr. Debbie holds a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Arts Degree in Pastoral Studies (Loyola University, Chicago).  

Sister Mary Beth Bromer, CSFN, is a member of the Felician Sisters of Our Lady of Hope Province. She has served as Candidate Director and Vocation Minister for the North American Province. Currently, she is a member of the Province’s Vocation Ministry team. Sr. Mary Beth is a certified Director of Religious Education and currently ministers full-time in that capacity for a parish on the southwest side of Chicago. Sr. Mary Beth enjoys working with at-risk teens and previously coached junior high athletes. holds a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies (Loyola University, Chicago) and a certificate in Parish Leadership from St. Xavier University. 

Sister Judith A. Smith, RSM, Psy.D. serves as a professional consultant for the Saint John Vianney Center and currently serves as Life Coordinator for the Convent of Mercy. She is both a licensed clinical psychologist and a registered nurse. Sister Judith holds Doctorate and Master of Arts degrees in Clinical Psychology (Widener University) and a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology (Temple University). Her previous professional experience includes assessment and treatment for Catholic religious women and men for residential and post-residential treatment as well as medical/surgical and psychiatric nursing.

Sister Ann David Strohminger OSF, MS, RN, ACC serves as a professional consultant for the Saint John Vianney Center and is the Delegate for Religious for the Diocese of Wilmington. Previously, she served for 28 years as a Pastoral Counselor including Director of the Pastoral Counseling Department at the Saint John Vianney Center. Sr. Ann David holds a BS in nursing (Neumann University) and an MS in Pastoral Counseling (Loyola University, Maryland). She is a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. She also has ministerial experience in vocation and formation within her congregation and is certified in Gestalt Therapy.

Mr. Len Uhal is the National Vocation Director for the Divine Word Missionaries since 2003. Len earned a Bachelor of Arts degree (Divine Word College, Iowa) and a Master of Science degree (Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee). After eight years of formation with the Society of Divine Word Missionaries, he married in 1990.  He lives in Dubuque, Iowa with his wife, Sue, and he has three children and two grandchildren.  Previously, Len worked twelve years as a certified drug and alcohol counselor and a licensed social worker.  Len currently serves on the NRVC Board and previously served as the Heartland member area Coordinator.

This workshop is newly created in 2019 from feedback from NRVC members who desire to update their skills, interact with others who support vocation ministry and to obtain accurate information on promotion, screening and assessment.

Workshops are designed from the NRVC three-component curriculum for those who wish to deepen their understanding of the complex theological, spiritual, psycho-sexual, ethical, and diversity issues often present in contemporary vocation ministry. NRVC recommends that vocation ministers participate in ongoing educational opportunities to attend to their own vocation, faith formation, and to further develop their professional competencies. Please read the terms and conditions of all NRVC programs and events.

Register now, click here