Workshops

THE INSTITUTE
for diocesan vocation personnel

“3-DAY BOOTCAMP FOR NOVICES”

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

Who: Vocation Directors & Staff Who Are New To The World of Vocations (and all those looking for a refresher)

Why: “Honestly…I’m not sure what I’m doing!!! WHAT job description?!? My staff & I need the confidence of having valuable tips & lessons from others’ experience that we can take home with us!”

What: Overview of the ministry of vocations and the basics of organizing your office – plans for administration, discernment, formation, psychological guidelines, office structure, youth activities, who to work with, (such as parents, families and Church personnel) and how. We will also offer an introduction to recruiting, assessing, and mentoring candidates for priesthood.

How: Practical lessons from experienced personnel, open-forum discussion to answer your questions and share ideas to get you started, lots of take-home resources

Rev. Ralph O’Donnell

Rev. Ralph B. O’Donnell was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha in 1997, where he served as Vocation Director, Urban Director of the Permanent Diaconate, Chaplain for the Omaha Chapter of Legatus, and Pastor of St. Bridget Parish and St. Rose Parish. A graduate of Conception Seminary College with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Fr. O’Donnell attended Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, IL, where he earned the Master of Divinity degree. He earned the Master of Arts in Spirituality from Creighton University in Omaha, NE. He served as Vice Rector and Dean of Students at Conception Seminary College, prior to serving as Executive Director of the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC.

Rev. Luke Ballman

Rev. Luke Ballman, STL, a priest of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, is the Associate Director of the Secretariat of Clergy Consecrated Life and Vocations at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Fr. Ballman formerly served as the Director of Apostolic Formation at the Pontifical North American College, a position he held for five years.  Ordained in July of 2001, Fr. Ballman’s priestly ministry has also included service as a parochial vicar, pastor, vocation director, and vicar for clergy in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. A Graduate of the Pontifical North American College, with a STL in Spiritual Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, University of Dayton (1987), Cum Laude. Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Mrs. Rosemary Sullivan

Mrs. Rosemary Sullivan is the Executive Director of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors and has over 15 years of experience in the ministry of vocations for diocesan priesthood.  Rosemary’s work in this ministry began in 2002 as the Vocation Program Coordinator for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, including overseeing of seminary candidate admissions. This led to her being hired as the Events Coordinator for the NCDVD in 2006, and subsequently their Executive Director in 2009. Since 2009, Rosemary has also been served as a consultant to the USCCB committee for Clergy, Consecrated Life & Vocations. In addition to her work in vocations, in 2012 Rose was appointed by Timothy Cardinal Dolan to serve as Program Director for the newly established Sacred Heart Institute for the ongoing formation of Clergy, part of the St. Charles Borromeo Tri-Diocesan Partnership.  Rosemary is a member of the Board of Directors for the Foundation of Priestly vocations, and is also a board member for Women of Grace. A graduate of St. John’s University with degrees in Business and Communications, Rose has been married to her husband Gary for over 30 years; they have two college-aged daughters and two sons.  One son is married and teaches Theology at a Catholic HS; their other son is a newly ordained priest for the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

Rev. David Songy O.F.M. Cap., S.T.D., Psy D.

Rev. David Songy, O.F.M.Cap., S.T.D., Psy.D., is president of Saint Luke Institute. A psychologist, he has extensive experience working with clergy and religious. His areas of expertise include integrated psychological and spiritual treatment, multicultural candidate assessments and initial and ongoing formation. He previously served as director of counseling services for the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He also was spiritual director and prefect of studies at Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary, and held several positions at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, both in Denver. Fr. Songy served on the Provincial Council for the Capuchin Province of St. Conrad and was formation director and safe environment coordinator. He holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of Denver.

Rev. Christopher Martin

Fr. Martin was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Louis in 2006. In 2012 he opened and became director of the Kolbe House, a house of discernment for men who are discerning priesthood. In 2016 Archbishop Carlson appointed him as Vice-Rector of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. He currently serves as a national board member for Life Teen International and as a team member for the Steubenville Youth Conferences. He currently serves as NCDVD President.

Rev. Jorge Torres

Fr. Jorge was born in Mexico, raised in NY and settled in Orlando at the age of 17 years old. Fr. Jorge entered seminary at the age of 18 and holds an undergraduate degree in philosophy from St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami and a Masters in Divinity from St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, FL. Fr. Jorge was ordained in 2005 and served at St. Ann Catholic CHurch from 2005-2008. From 2008-2011 he served in his second assignment at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church while also serving as a chaplain for campus ministry at the University of Central Florida. In 2011 he became vocation director and currently serves as Secretary for NCDVD.