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Executive Director's Update
Greetings from Rome where I am attending meetings for my Congregation of Holy Cross.
POSITIVE RESPONSE TO "MOVING FORWARD" INVITATION
We received an overwhelmingly positive response to the invitation to attend the “Moving Forward in Hope: Keys to the Future” workshop scheduled for June 4-6 in San Antonio, TX.
Our selection committee met in the middle of a Chicago snowstorm on January 20 for the difficult task of choosing 75 participants. We received 171 applications  representative of the three leadership conferences from 24 states and Canada.
After prayerful consideration, the committee selected a diverse group of participants. Every region has at least one participant, except region 13, which had no applicants. There is also one participant from Canada. The final roster of participants includes 25 percent men religious (19) and 75 percent women religious (56). Fifty nine percent of the participants are vocation ministers; 23 percent are in leadership; and 18 percent are in formation or another ministry. Our youngest participant is 30 years old and our oldest is 84. Ten percent of the participants are from the Conference of Major Superiors of Women Religious. Twenty-five percent are from the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. And 65 percent are from communities that belong to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
Due to the high number of candidates, we sincerely regret that we could not accept everyone. We tried to select one participant from each institute, province, or monastery; however, that was not always possible. As a result a wait list has been created.
I extend my sincere thanks to members of the selection committee for their dedication to this project: Sisters Deborah Marie Borneman, SS.C.M., Charlene Diorka, SSJ, Virginia Herbers, ASCJ, Brother Jonathan Beebe, CSC, and Father Mark Soehner, OFM.
STUDY ON EDUCATION DEBT BEING RELEASED THIS MONTH
The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) has completed the final report on our educational debt and vocation study. We are currently gathering our talking points and preparing for a February release. NRVC is also  working with a public relations firm to promote the study, and our intention is eventually to publish a book of guidelines for major superiors, treasurers, and vocation directors who are dealing with prospective candidates with student loans. All NRVC members will receive the press release and will have access to the study on the NRVC website. More details will be forthcoming in the near future.
LEADERS PLAN STRATEGY
The NRVC leadership team met in Houston, TX, from January 15-18. Much of the agenda focused on a strategic planning session scheduled for the winter board meeting in late February. Part of this planning session will include discussion of finances, membership structures, national office infrastructure, and the implementation of the goals and objectives of the NRVC national vocation plan. This planning session will be facilitated and will include NRVC staff.
REGISTER FOR A WORKSHOP TODAY
Program descriptions, speakers, dates, and fees for the 2012 NRVC Workshop Program are now available for your review online. Registrations are open as well. Please note that we will inform you when the online registration is available for the NRVC Convocation and pre-Convocation workshops. Don’t forget to mark the dates—November 1-5, 2012!
DON'T FORGO MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS!
A second set of invoices were mailed this past month to those who have not yet renewed their membership. If membership is not renewed immediately, we cannot guarantee that you will receive your Winter edition of HORIZON. You may renew by mail or online.
WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE FEB 4-5
The church officially celebrates World Day for Consecrated Life on Thursday, February 2 and on the weekend of February 4-5 in the U.S. I would highly encourage you to participate in your local diocesan celebrations. Please call your local chancery for further information, and click on the link above for prayers and resources.
Wishing you peace, I remain,
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Brother Paul Bednarczyk, CSC, Executive Director
Technology tip of the month
CAN PEOPLE FIND YOU ON THE INTERNET?
The world wide web is a big place. Help web browsers to find your vocation website by following using strong “keywords”  for “search engine optimization” (SEO). SEO helps your site to show up when people use a web browser like Google. Discerners will probably type in words such as: “Catholic nun” or “priesthood” or “How to be a sister?” (Most aren’t aware of the finer points of “nun” versus “sister.”)
Ask whoever is helping you with technology whether your website keywords are the same keywords that people considering religious life might use. (Never mind whether those are your favorite words to describe yourself. The point is for your page to be connected to the keywords your prospective audience will use.) If you haven’t checked up on your keywords lately, it might be time to do so.
Resource of the month
MANUAL FOR VOCATION DISCERNMENT
God, Grant Me a Discerning Heart: A Manual for Vocation Discernment is a favorite resource for vocation ministers because this folder contains 14 relevant topics for those who are  prayerfully considering their future. The resource is intended to be used by vocation directors, spiritual directors, campus ministers, and vocation team members. The approach is a Behavioral Skills Model of Vocation Discernment. The components of each topic include: recommended Scripture passages, suggested open-ended reflection questions, and specific questions based on behavior assessment. While intended for individual discernment with an emerging adult, this resource can be adapted to use at discernment weekends. Available in English and Spanish. $12. Order by calling (773) 363-5454.
News roundup
KNOW SERIOUS DISCERNERS? ENCOURAGE CATHOLICS ON CALL
Catholics on Call invites young people, ages 18-30, who are considering a life of service in the Church to join them for their 2012 young adult summer conference. Participants will have the opportunity to connect and pray with other like-minded young adults, to hear nationally known speakers discuss how to listen to God’s call, and to learn valuable skills that will help them to discern their vocation, whether it be to priesthood, religious life, or lay ecclesial ministry.
This five-day conference will take place at Catholic Theological Union in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. The registration fee is $100 and includes room and board. For an application please visit www.catholicsoncall.org, or for more information contact Catholics on Call at catholicsoncall@ctu.edu or (773) 371-5431.
CALLING ALL AGGIES
St. Mary’s Catholic Center of Texas A&M knows of at least  140 of its graduates who have pursued a vocation to priesthood, diaconate, or religious life. The St. Mary’s staff believes there may be more who completed formation before St. Mary’s began keeping good records.
If you know of an Aggie who took vows or was ordained prior to 2000, please contact Father David Konderla so St. Mary’s can add this graduate to its list—a list that supports and inspires current discerners. Contact: dkonderla@aggiecatholic.org, (979) 846-5717.
WORKSHOP HELPS WITH ALL TYPES
OF COMMUNICATION
You know what you want to say. Now comes the real challenge: how to say it. The NRVC Summer Institute Workshop, "Communication Skills for Vocation Ministers: Oral, Written and Digital," (July 30-August 1, Chicago)  tackles this topic.
It’s no easy task to find the right words or the best tone to deliver clear, concise, compelling messages to promote religious life to varied audiences. Whether communicating in a classroom, at a retreat, or online, this workshop will help vocation directors refine their style of communicating and to implement new ideas. Special attention will be given to the ethics of communicating with minors and young adults in a digital environment.
* Hint: for greater impact, attend with a community leader or another staffer who has or will have communications responsibilities.
* Hint: Stay an extra day and enjoy Chicago at its best time of year.
Note: complete information about Summer Institute workshops is now online. Or see the listing in the column to the right.
HOLY FATHER CONTINUES TO ENDORSE ONLINE COMMUNICATION
As a vocation minister you know this, but it's always nice to have your instincts confirmed. Pope Benedict XVI continues to advocate use of electronic  communication to spread the Good News. Here are some excerpts from his address on World Communications Day in January.
"Search engines and social networks have become the starting point of communication for many people who are seeking advice, ideas, information, and answers. In our time, the internet is becoming ever more a forum for questions and answers."
"Attention should be paid to the various types of websites, applications, and social networks which can help people today to find time for reflection and authentic questioning, as well as making space for silence and occasions for prayer, meditation, or sharing of the word of God."
REGION 4 PREPARING FOR "FOCUS 11" EVENT
On January 13 members of NRVC's Region 4 met with officials from the Archdiocese of Baltimore to plan the forthcoming 2012 "Focus 11" event for promoting vocations in Catholic schools.
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Calendar
World Day for Consecrated Life February 4-5 in the U.S.; (Feb. 2 international date)
Summer Institute July 16-August 1, DePaul University downtown campus, Chicago
Behavior Assessment I
Father Ray Carey, July 16-18, DePaul University, Chicago
Ethical Issues in Vocation and Formation Ministry Father Ray Carey, July 19-20, DePaul University, Chicago
Orientation Program for New Vocation Directors, Brother Paul Bednarczyk, CSC and Sister Debbie Borneman, SSCM, July 23-27, DePaul University, Chicago
Communication Skills for Vocation Ministers: Oral, Written, and Digital Lisa Ripson, Jessica Schmidt, Father Vince Wirtner III, CPPS, July 30-August 1, DePaul University, Chicago
Convocation 2012, November 1-5, 2012, Marriott Hotel at Legacy Towne Center, Plano, TX
PRE-CONVOCATION WORKSHOPS
Recognizing Subtle Signs and Symptoms of Personality Disorder, Adeline Boye, PSy.D and Sister Cindy Kaye, RSM, November 1, Marriott Hotel at Legacy Towne Center, Plano, TX
Vocation Ministry and the Issues of Civil, Canon and Immigration Law, Father Daniel J. Ward, OSB and Anne Marie Gibbons, November 1, Marriott Hotel at Legacy Towne Center, Plano, TX
The Vocation Director's Marketing Toolbox, by Kim Cavallero, November 1, Marriott Hotel at Legacy Towne Center, Plano, TX
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NRVC staff
Brother Paul Bednarczyk, CSC
Executive Director
bpaulbcsc@nrvc.net
Sister Deborah Marie
Borneman, SSCM
Associate Director
debbiesscm@nrvc.net
Debbie Prieto
Administrative Assistant
daprieto@nrvc.net
Carol Schuck Scheiber
Editor
cscheiber@nrvc.net
Send us your news
 Share your vocation efforts with others in this ministry. Send news and photos to the editor, Carol Schuck Scheiber, at cscheiber@nrvc.net.
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