NRVC chose to take a closer look at our future, challenges, and hopes... Dear Friend of NRVC, In preparation for the 2008 presidential election, Americans around the country examined their values and priorities, and compared them with those of our two presidential candidates, so that they would be well-informed about the country’s present challenges and their own hopes for the country’s future. In a similar fashion, last year NRVC chose to take a closer look at our future, our challenges and our hopes so that we can be well- informed about what lies ahead. Our first priority was to launch a major study on vocations to religious life, in collaboration with the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), which we did in the fall. When the results are finally released later this year, the “best practices” gleaned from this study will serve as a guide for religious insti- tutes to develop their future, vocation strategies. Complementing this project, the annual VISION survey from VocationMatch.com in- dicates a rise in the number of inquiries to religious life for the third year in a row—another hopeful sign for our future! Our Executive Board is also looking to secure the future of NRVC by identifying our major priorities for the coming three years as our previous strategic plan will be completed in 2010. The need, the energy, and the passion to promote new membership in religious life are there. I felt it in Louisville, KY, where approximately 450 vocation ministers processed through the downtown streets raising vocation awareness. I hear it in the voices of campus, youth and young adult ministers and our many other collaborators who work with us in our mission of vocation promotion. And I see it in the hopeful faces of our young people who flock to World Youth Day and engage in a multitude of volunteer service programs. NRVC is grateful for the generous support of our many benefactors who desire to keep the dream and the hope of religious life alive for future generations to come. Through their finan- cial contributions and donated services, and with the help of our dedicated NRVC board and staff, we are not only taking a closer look at our future—we are building the future together for the sake of the Church and for all those who benefit from the lives and work of men and women religious everywhere. I invite you now to take a closer look at our organization, our works, and our accomplish- ments. It is my prayerful wish that you would consider joining us in our vital mission of ensur- ing a future for the next generation who will hopefully follow their hearts by choosing to follow Jesus as religious sisters, priests and brothers. Sincerely in Christ, Brother Paul Bednarczyk, CSC Executive Director 2 YEAR IN REVIEW ...so that we can be well informed about what lies ahead. Convocation 2008–“Called by One, Invited by Many” Louisville, KY, was the host city for the 2008 NRVC Convocation from October 9-13. Hav- ing as our theme, “Called by One, Invited by Many,” approximately 450 vocation ministers gathered at the historic Galt House Hotel to hear keynote speakers Father Donald Senior, CP, president of Catholic Theological Union, Sister Maria Cimperman, OSU, associate professor of moral theology at Oblate School of Theology, andFather James Martin, SJ, award-winning author and associate editor of America magazine. To mark the 200th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Louisville and to give pub- To raise vocation awareness, over 450 voca- lic witness to religious life, the Convocation tion directors processed through the streets of included a procession through the streets of Louisville to the Cathedral of the Assumption for downtown Louisville to the Cathedral of the solemn vespers with Archbishop Joseph Kurtz as Assumption where the Most Reverend Joseph presider.. E. Kurtz, Archbishop of Louisville, presided and preached at a solemn vespers service. which began in the spring of 2008 and will NRVC also acknowledged two of its conclude later this year, is meant to separate fact from fiction regarding vocations to reli- members, Sister Anita Louise Lowe, OSB, gious life. After surveying approximately 800 and Sister Rose Sevenich, OSF, for their out- standing service to vocation ministry. In addi- religious institutes in the United States, and almost 4,000 newer religious, the goal of this tion, NRVC proudly presented Patrice Tuohy and the staff of TrueQuest Communications project is to identify best practices for voca- with the Harvest Award, in recognition of tion promotion and formation. their incredible creativity and expansion of Because no research of this magnitude VISION and VocationMatch and its many has been done before, we are anticipating that other online vocation centered features. much attention will be given to the final data of the project. As a result, NRVC is forming a NRVC extends special thanks to Sister public relations committee to assist us in the Charlene Diorka, SSJ, associate director, for her organization of this event and to the local promotion of the research when it is com- planning committee whose warm welcome pleted in the fall of 2009. and southern hospitality could not be beat. New Workshops Presented NRVC Major Research Project in 2008 on Religious Vocations Over 600 people participated in the various NRVC has contracted with the Center for Ap- workshops offered by NRVC in 2008. Con- plied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) to sistent with our commitment to offer quality conduct a major research project on religious programming to our membership, this year vocations in the United States. The study, NRVC premiered four new workshops: 3 YEAR IN REVIEW International Outreach Continues In 2008 the NRVC Executive Director attend- ed the biennial conference of the Canadian National Association of Vocation and Forma- tion Directors (NAFVD) which was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The NRVC membership consisted of 56 Canadians in 2008. Of course, we value greatly the long-standing collabora- tive relationship we share with our friends north of the border. In addition, the European Vocation Services (EVS) invited Brother Paul to attend their annual conference, which was held in In order to keep members abreast on current the summer of 2008 in Porto, Portugal. The trends in vocation ministry, NRVC offered EVS consists of the directors of vocation ser- four new workshops during 2008 vices for the 34 European bishop conferences. Recognizing and Responding to Yellow Present at this conference were 98 delegates Flags in Vocation Ministry, with Sister representing 22 European nations. NRVC Mary Lindsay, SSJ, Ph.D. reciprocated the invitation and was honored to have Rev. Jean-Pierre LeRoy, Coordinator Young Adults, the Church, and of the EVS, present at the NRVC Convocation Vocations, with Dr. James D. Davidson, in Louisville. Ph.D. “Calling Forth” the Called: Market- ing 101 for Vocation Ministers, with Dr. Daniel Grippo, Ph.D. Crossing Borders: Vocation Ministry in a Multicultural World, with Father Gary Riebe-Estrella, SVD, Ph.D. NRVC Introduces Code of Ethics and Curriculum for Vocation Ministry As a way to provide guidance to major superi- Bishop Wojciech Polack, President, introduc- es keynote speaker His Eminence Jose Cardi- ors and vocation ministers, NRVC introduced nal Policarpo, of Lisbon, at the European in 2008 a revised Code of Ethics for Vocation Vocations Service Conference in Portugal. Ministry. This Code, which is value based, treats the responsibilities in vocation ministry of religious leadership, members of an insti- Horizon Gains Further tute, and the vocation director. A committee Prominence of ethicists and experts in the area of child Subscriptions to Horizon, the NRVC quar- protection was formed to produce this docu- terly professional journal, continue to grow in ment. number. Horizon was recently elected to be Likewise, a Curriculum for Vocation Min- part of EBSCO, an international publications istry was also developed in 2008 highlighting database used widely in libraries and research the subject areas for foundational preparation centers. With over 77,000 publications in this for vocation ministry, in addition to the on- database, EBSCO membership will easily going professional development and renewal allow access to Horizon to research scholars of the vocation minister. Both documents are and library patrons around the world. now available online at www.nrvc.net under As a convenience to NRVC members Public Documents. 4 YEAR IN REVIEW and Horizon subscribers, a topical index for 9 Commission on Religious Life and Ministry years of Horizon was introduced on the NRVC and the Institute of Religious Life. Brother website in 2008. With this new online feature, Paul also serves on the Church Relations readers may now easily do a topical search Committee of the Catholic Campus Ministry for articles on a particular area of vocation Association (CCMA), the Praesidium Ad- ministry. visory Council, and the CMSM Formation NRVC continues to be indebted to its edi- Committee. tor, Carol Schuck-Scheiber, and the NRVC Sister Charlene Diorka, SSJ, Associate Editorial Committee for their excellent work Director, presented a workshop with Sis- in producing a quality professional publication. ter Mary Beth Kubera, DC, at the NCEA VISION 2008 conference of Chief Administrators of Catho- lic Education (CACE), as well as another This year VISION Vocation Guide, the NRVC workshop with Patrice Tuohy at the annual print and online vocation discernment re- NCEA Convention. Sister Charlene has source published by TrueQuest Communica- tions, launched a digital version of its print edition (digitalvocationguide.org). This new version reproduces the printed guide online with live links and provides VISION’s writers and print advertisers with global exposure. The VISION website also received a new look and several new online features were introduced, including two new blogs and a question-and- answer column by noted Catholic writer and scripture scholar Alice Camille.