Workshops

THE INSTITUTE
for diocesan vocation personnel

“3-DAY BOOTCAMP FOR NOVICES”

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 – MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2019

This Institute, or Bootcamp, invites Vocation Directors, Seminary Formators & Staff who are new to the Sacred Ministry of Vocations, as well as, those seeking a refresher in foundational approaches to accompanying young men as they navigate the call of God in their lives. The institute will offer an overview of the ministry of vocations and the basics of organizing your office plans for administration, discernment, formation, psychological guidelines, 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.

This program is meant to be taken in concert with the daily workshops offered later in the week.

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.

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, where he gives talks and helps lead retreats in the United States and Canada. Fr. Martin is also pastor of St Clare of Assisi in Ellisville, MO. He currently serves as NCDVD President.

Rev. Jeff Eirvin

Fr. Eirvin was born in St. Louis Missouri and relocated to Portland Oregon in 1999 with his family. He graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design and worked in the field prior to entering Mount Angel Seminary in 2005. In 2007 he began his theological studies at the North American College in Rome. He was ordained a priest in 2012. Upon ordination he was named administrator of Sacred Heart-St. Louis Parish in Gervais, Oregon. In 2014 Archbishop Sample assigned him as full-time vocation director for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. He has served NCDVD as Regional Coordinator for two years and is currently finishing a three-year term as NCDVD Vice-President.

Rev. Bryan Dolesji

Ordained in 2006 for the Archdiocese of Seattle with a Masters of Divinity from St. Patrick Seminary, Rev. Bryan Dolejsi is currently in his eighth year serving as the Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Seattle. Born and raised in the Seattle area and a graduate from Western Washington University, Fr. Dolejsi worked as a Catholic High School teacher, youth minister, basketball coach, and international missionary before entering seminary. Since ordination he has served in six parishes, including his current assignment at St. Benedict in Seattle. As Director of Vocations he helps seminarians, youth, and young adults throughout the Archdiocese discern God’s will and their gifts, individually and through preaching, teaching, and retreats.

Rev. Jorge Torres

In 2018 Bishop Noonan appointed Fr. Jorge as pastor of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and Director of Seminarians.

Mrs. Rosemary Sullivan

Mrs. Rosemary Sullivan is the Executive Director of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors and has over 16 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 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. A graduate of St. John’s University with degrees in Business and Communications, Rose has been married to her husband Gary for over 32 years; they have two daughters and two sons.  One son is a recently ordained priest for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. 

CLINIC

Embracing the Gospel value of welcoming the stranger, CLINIC promotes the dignity and protects the rights of immigrants in partnership with a dedicated network of Catholic and community legal immigration programs.

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

Father David Songy is a priest of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America and a clinical psychologist. Prior to coming to Saint Luke Institute, he was the spiritual director and prefect of studies at Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary in Denver, Colorado. He also was director of counseling services at the Pontifical North American College in Rome and held several positions at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary. Fr. Songy holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of Denver and a doctorate in sacred theology from the Teresianum, the Pontifical Institute of Spirituality in Rome. He holds a master’s degree in pastoral counseling from Loyola College and theology degrees from Aquinas Institute. Fr. Songy speaks Italian, Spanish and Tok Pisin, the language of Papua New Guinea and gives workshops on topics such as priestly spirituality, formation in priestly celibacy, cybersex addiction and the integration of psychological and spiritual treatment.