NCDVD: National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors

New Vocation Directors Workshop

Presenters: Rev. Brian Christensen, Rev. Brian Bashista

Sunday, September 12, 2010
9:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m

 

This one-day orientation will offer an overview of the ministry of a vocation office, including the basics of organizing an office, working with constituencies, and vocation promotion.  An introduction to recruiting, assessing and mentoring candidates for priesthood will give new vocation personnel a solid foundation to begin their ministry.  Ample opportunity for questions and answers will be incorporated into the workshop.

 

NCDVD Pre-Convention Workshop Part 1

Presenter: Rev. Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti

Monday, September 13, 2010

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Psychological & Spiritual Health of Priests Today and Living the Joy of Priesthood as a Vocation Director

 

The workshop will present Msgr. Rossetti’s latest research survey findings on the psychological and spiritual wellness of our priests today.  He will present new data comparing the psychological state of priests today compared to the general population and will identify those factors which strongly affect the wellness of our priests.  This information will be critical in screening, formation and on-going formation for the priesthood of today and tomorrow.  The workshop will also present findings on the spiritual practices of our priests and how these relate to their wellness and overall priestly satisfaction.  Finally, the day will end with a presentation on promoting gratitude and joy in our own lives.

 

Workshops Session I

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

1:30 - 2:45 p.m.

 

A. Assisting the Candidate in Growth in Chastity

Presenter: Dr. Gladys M. Sweeney, Ph.D., Dean, Institute for the Psychological Sciences
This seminar will provide an appreciation of the exhibitionistic quality of the prevailing culture and its possible effects on the candidates for the celibate life of the priesthood. It will also provide an understanding of the psychological and neurological underpinnings of unchastely. Practical ways to help the seminarian exercise self-mastery and remain chase will be presented.

 

B. Vocation Director as Spiritual Father

Presenter: Rev. Michael J. Najim, Vocation Director, Providence
We know that vocation Ministry is so much more than just promoting and recruiting; however, sometimes we can fall into the trap of being too program-oriented or too focused on how many seminarians we have, and we can forget about the essence of vocation ministry: developing personal relationships with men who are discerning as well as with our seminarians. That relationship begins as soon as we meet a potential candidate and continues until the day of his ordination. In this workshop we prayerfully examine our call to spiritual fatherhood, as well as practical ways that we can live spiritual fatherhood as
vocation directors.

C. Addressing a Culture of Entitlement: Formation Challenges Learning Priestly Charity

moderated by Rev. Thomas Rosica
Presenters: Rev. Brendan Cahill, (St. Mary Seminary, Houston)
Rev. Todd Lajiness, (Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit)
Rev. Mark Latcovich (St. Mary Seminary, Cleveland)

This workshop will explore issues and concerns in seminary formation that flow from the current climate of reward and entitlement that effects the human formation of many of our seminarians. This culture of entitlement impacts the perceptions seminarians may have regarding commitment, celibacy, leadership and collaboration with others.

 

D. Cultivating Transparency: How to Elicit Trust Between Seminarians and Formators

Presenter: Rev. Brett A. Brannen, Vice-Rector, Mount St. Mary’s Seminary

One of the largest and most pressing issues in priestly formation today for vocation directors and seminary formators is how to elicit the trust of seminarians. Many of our seminarians today are products of broken families. Some have father wounds, anxiety and serious trust issues. Some seminarians arrive at seminary with an extensive history of sin, especially sexual sin. Working through all of this and helping a man to grow in integrity and affective maturity is all but impossible unless the man can really trust his formators. How can a vocation director or seminary formator elicit this trust?

 

Workshops Session II

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

 

A. Connecting with Today’s Generation – A Practical Guide

Presenter: Very Rev. Denis Robinson, O.S.B., President-Rector St. Meinrad’s Seminary

The workshop focuses on the practicalities of communicating with young adults in the church today. While newer forms of communication, email, texting, cyber communities and social networking provide clues for connecting with younger audiences the essential elements of spoken and written communication remain important in the life of ministry. How can vocation personnel balance and manage these sometimes conflicting paradigms? How can we effectively reach young adults?

 

B. Parents & Priestly Formation – How They Form and De-Form their Sons

Presenter: Rev. William Baer, Former President-Rector, St. John Vianney College Seminary

Families generate saints and sinners, and the Church looks for those sons with the qualities of good priests to bring Jesus to the world. Fr. Baer had been Rector-President of Saint John Vianney College Seminary at the University of Saint Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, for 11 years. He also served in Campus Ministry for 11 years in Baltimore and at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Fr. Baer will pull from his experience working with young adults and their parents in offering a clearer perspective on this topic.

 

C. How to Assist Priests in Effective Discernment and Calling Forth of Men Whom

Christ has Called to the Priesthood.

Presenter: Rev. Thomas J. Richter, Vocation Director, Bismarck

Calling forth men to the priesthood is an important part of priestly ministry; however, only 30% of surveyed priests actually do it. This workshop will help vocation directors to assist pastors to become more confident and effective promoters of priestly vocations. The seven lessons from the new discernment booklet, Lend Your Own Voice to Christ, will be discussed.

 

 

Workshops Session III

Thursday, September 16, 2010

1:30 - 2:45 p.m.

 

A. Psychological Assessment Study for Seminaries

Presenter: Mary L. Gautier, Ph.D. Senior Research Associate, CARA

This workshop presents findings from a recent study of the psychological assessment process for candidates for priestly formation and priesthood that was conducted by the NCEA Seminary Department and CARA. The findings will help guide an interactive discussion among vocation directors and seminary rectors about policies and practices for psychological assessment and formation of seminarians.

 

B. Relationship between Rector, Vocation Director and Bishop

Presenter: Bishop Earl Boyea - Diocese of Lansing

Bishop Boyea will lend his expertise in the formation of candidates to the priesthood, in an in-depth examination of the relationship between Rector, Vocation Director and Bishop. Bishop Boyea has served as the Academic Dean, of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and Rector of the Pontifical College Josephinum. The bishop is also a current member of the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, as well as having served on the USCCB Committee on Priestly Formation from 2006-2007.

 

C.Recruitment and Formation of Hispanic Seminarians in the Untied States

Presenter: Rev. Jorge Rodriguez, Vice-Rector, St. John Vianney Theological Seminary

The spiritual care of the growing Hispanic Catholic community in the United States demands a pastoral response. Hispanic vocations are an important part of the solution. Our challenges include forming these men for ministry in the United States, encouraging and supporting the Hispanic Catholic tradition, and fostering a healthy cultural and religious integration. In this talk, Fr. Rodriguez will discuss elements of the problems encountered and share his personal experiences in working with Hispanic men in his role as vice rector of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. He will probe possible creative solutions to the issues, and he will provide insight into the criteria offered by the US Bishops to respond to the pastoral challenge Church in US today.