EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Planting the seeds for growth Dear Friend of NRVC, As you read through this 2004 Annual Report, you will see that this has been an extraordinary year for the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC). We completed our five year strategic plan; our Convocation was a major success; our various NRVC workshops attracted a notable attendance of over 400 people; we continue to improve and to expand our NRVC services, publications and websites; and we have extended our collaboration with other major organizations within the Church. Although we are proud of these impressive achievements, we are far from finished! Committed to ensuring the future of consecrated life, the NRVC Board began the process of developing a Five Year Strategic Plan two years ago. Gathering the valuable input of our members, major superiors and directors of our collaborating organizations, the Board outlined specific strategies and plans to meet the challenges of projected vocation trends. We are excited about this plan’s completion, and we are confident that it will give NRVC the direction and focus necessary so that we may assist the religious discernment of women and men in the future. That is why your support of our mission of vocation awareness, invitation and discernment is so appreciated and why your continued support of our efforts is so essential. The good of our Church and the future of our religious congregations and societies depend upon it. As I meet with our NRVC members around the country, I am always amazed at how they maintain a passion and hope for religious life in a climate of such uncertainty. This reality was further affirmed at our biennial Convocation in September when vocation ministers, major superiors, formators and younger religious gathered to celebrate the theme, “Fidelity to Jesus: A Paradigm of Hope.” Our participants’ profound love for Jesus and the Gospel and the Church and religious life was palpable, if not contagious. It is a tremendous privilege to be a vocation minister today. Following the footsteps of Jesus Christ, vocation ministers walk with people on their journey to discover God’s deepest desire for them. As I am grateful for their service to the Church, I am also truly grateful for our National Board, our NRVC staff, and for the tremendous support of the many people like yourself who care deeply about the future of religious life and its members. In his message on the occasion of the 2004 World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope John Paul II wrote: “My heartfelt wish is that prayer for vocations be intensified ever more; prayer that is adoration of the mystery of God and thanksgiving for the ‘great things’ that he has accomplished and does not cease to carry out…” I invite you to join me in a prayer of thanksgiving for the blessings we have reaped this year in vocation ministry and may the Lord of the harvest guide us in faith as we anticipate the “great things” we hope are yet to come. Sincerely, Brother Paul Bednarczyk, CSC Executive Director YEAR IN REVIEW A year filled with faith, hope, and action FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN “Fidelity to Jesus: A Paradigm of Hope.” In addition, Dr. Kathleen McChesney, COMPLETED Director of the USCCB Office of Child and After two years of much prayer, Youth Protection, addressed the assembly consultation and discussion, NRVC is on the work of her office. The Convocation proud to have completed a Five Year ended with a “fishbowl discussion” Strategic Plan for the organization and facilitated by our presenters with major the services it provides. The impetus superiors, vocation directors and younger for this plan was to meet the needs and religious participating. No one can dispute challenges of vocation ministry in the the scholarly input of the speakers or the future and to respond formally to the high energy present in the spirit of the directives of the Pastoral Plan of the 2002 participants. Continental Congress on Vocations. The Plan focuses on six priorities: • Education of the laity about consecrated life and ordained ministry; • Creation of a “vocation culture”; • Scientific research on contemporary vocation trends; • Ethnic and racial inclusion and vocation ministry; • Resources and support for religious institutes and societies of apostolic life to welcome and retain new members; and • Organizational and operational review of NRVC. Specific tasks for each priority have been outlined with some initiatives already begun. We are especially grateful to all who shared with us their insights, creativity and suggestions in formulating NRVC also presented four awards this plan. at the concluding banquet of the Convocation. NRVC Recognition Awards CONVOCATION 2004 – went to members Brother James “Fidelity to Jesus: McVeigh, OFM, and Sister Mary A Paradigm of Hope” Pellegrino, CSJ, for their contributions to vocation ministry. The 2004 Harvest From September 9-13 NRVC hosted a Awards went to Mrs. Dorothy Foss, successful Convocation at the Marriott former Executive Director of NCDVD, and O’Hare Hotel in our home city of Chicago. Rev. Raymond Lafontaine, author of the Gathering over 500 vocation ministers, Vocation Congress Pastoral Plan. major superiors, formators and young religious, keynote speakers Sister Mary Maher, SSND, and Rev. Timothy Radcliffe, OP, treated the theme of 3 YEAR IN REVIEW Prior to the Convocation, NRVC our policies for candidate assessment sponsored an additional three are up to date and consistent with the workshops: Inviting and Discerning guidelines put forth by both the USCCB with the Latino/Hispanic Candidate, and Praesidium. Discernment: the Asian Way, and Vocation Ministry and the Issues of Civil, TWO NEW STANDING COM- Canon and Immigration Law. Because of the high demand for the legal workshop, MITTEES ESTABLISHED NRVC will sponsor this program again To meet the needs of our members, this year with Rev. Dan Ward, OSB, the NRVC Board approved this year and Sister Margaret Perron, RJM, as the formulation of two new standing presenters. committees. Education: The purpose of this com- RISK MANAGEMENT AND mittee is to collaborate with Catholic VOCATION MINSITRY educators in the area of vocation pro- The recent sexual abuse crisis has motion and awareness. It is hoped that affected the way we all do ministry in the the work of this committee would as- Church. Aware of this reality and wanting sist school administrators, teachers and to insure that parish directors of religious education in proper preventative their responsibility in building a vocation measures are culture. in place for Religious Priesthood: This committee future candidate has been established to respond proac- assessment, tively to the unique issues and challenges NRVC has been related to promoting the vocation of in close contact religious priesthood. with Praesidium Religious Services, As recommended by our Strategic an organization Plan, and as a way to broaden greater subcontracted responsibility for vocation promotion, all by CMSM, in of our NRVC Standing Committees now cooperation with include representatives of other national Christian Brothers Catholic organizations. Risk Management Services, to assist OUTREACH TO NATIONAL “I would recommend religious communities in responding to the Bishops’ Charter by providing CATHOLIC EDUCATION the NRVC orientation standards, policies, resources, technical ASSOCIATION (NCEA) program for anyone assistance and the implementation In January the two Executive Directors of accountability for accreditation in who will be working to of NRVC and NCDVD met with the providing safety to minors. Executive Council of the National provide vocations In a similar fashion, NRVC has also Catholic Education Association (NCEA) within the Church.” been in discussion with the USCCB Office in Washington, DC. The purpose of this of Child and Youth Protection on the meeting was to discuss the pivotal role BROTHER GARY HUMES, SC policies and guidelines we recommend of NCEA plays in vocation promotion. for the assessment and admission of new As a result our organizations have candidates. now established formal collaborative We are happy to report that both relations. Brother Bernard Stratman, Praesidium and the Office of Child SM, Executive Director of the NCEA and Youth Protection are in general Seminary Department, currently agreement with our NRVC guidelines. serves as our liaison with the NCEA. NRVC continues to work closely with With NCEA’s encouragement, both both organizations so as to insure that NRVC and NCDVD have since met with representatives from key publishing 4 companies to encourage adequate YEAR IN REVIEW coverage of vocation education in traffic to advertiser’s websites from religious textbooks. It is hoped that the the Vision site; new Education Standing Committee will • special assistance provided continue the work that has begun. to advertisers by TrueQuest Communications in the NEW SPANISH WEBSITE: enhancement, design and effectiveness of their individual In the few months since www.vocacioncatolica.com websites. I was called from Africa In March the NRVC launched a new • e-mailed reader responses to Spanish-language website, www.vocac advertisers in addition to to return to the States ioncatolica.com, for Hispanic Catholics advertiser 24-hour access to the to take up Vocation who are seeking spiritual development Vision Advertiser Updater, which and who may be considering religious contains all the data of individual Ministry, I’ve been life. This new website, which is an advertiser reader service and welcomed and supported affiliate of www.visionguide.org, has summaries of all Vision reader an attractive, contemporary design activity. first by NRVC. It has to appeal to younger Latinos, ages • Opportunities section online, given me the skills to do 18 to 35, living a bilingual, bicultural which allows for free postings existence in the U.S. The site includes: of retreats, summer service my new ministry with programs, come and see professionalism while a sampling of articles about finding • weekends, vocation fairs, etc.