Talks

Talk 5

 

A NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR VOCATIONS (1996-98) USA


A FUTURE FULL OF HOPE

AN UPDATE OCTOBER 1998

 

Elden Francis Curtiss


Archbishop of Omaha

October 10, 1998

 

This past June, a report on the progress of the national program for vocations was given to the bishops of the USA by Bishop Paul Loverde, Chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Vocations. His committee had sent a questionnaire to all the dioceses in the country concerning implementation of the strategy. 121 out of 191 dioceses responded to the questionnaire (my guess is that most of the 70 dioceses which did not respond have made some effort to improve vocations these two past years).

 

The national strategy targeted the following offices in dioceses: vocation office, Catholic school office, religious education office, youth ministry office, and campus ministry office. There was also a strong emphasis on developing vocation committees in all the parishes of a diocese. Serra clubs in 78 dioceses were instrumental in helping to develop the parish vocation committees.

 

As part of implementing a vocation strategy in dioceses, the following programs were reported:

  • Called by Name in 64 dioceses (52.9%)
  • Operation Andrew in 50 dioceses (41.3%)
  • Operation Miryam/Joseph in 15 dioceses (12.4%)
  • Vocation retreats in 89 dioceses (73.5%) which included discernment retreats such as "Search and Discover", college campus retreats and seminarian assisted retreats.

Other effective programs named were vocation camps for upper grades (6-7-8-9), high school visitations by vocation director and his staff, holy hours for vocations, dinners with the local bishop, and use of the Minister Potential Discerner (MPD).

 

New vocations initiatives since January 1996

  • 108 dioceses report new initiatives for vocations since the national strategy began in January 1996.
  • 43 dioceses report using or are in the process of developing Internet or web pages to promote vocations. In Omaha we have a special web site linked with our archdiocesan web site.
  • 32 dioceses have undertaken new print media efforts, posters and pamphlets, newsletters to prospective candidates, articles in the diocesan newspaper, even in secular papers.
  • 25 dioceses have increased vocation personnel either by making the vocation director full time or adding support staff to his office.
  • 17 dioceses reported increased interest in vocations through parish vocation committees.

Also mentioned were Holy Hours, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for extended periods of time to pray for vocations, the family vocation week program.

 

Expanded vocation programs since January 1996

  • 91 dioceses (75.2%) indicate they have expanded preexisting programs since January 1996.
  • Operation Andrew - 12 dioceses (9.9%)
  • Parish vocation committees - 11 dioceses (9.1%)
  • Vocation visits to Catholic schools/religious education programs - 10 dioceses (8.3%)
  • Parish weekend visits by vocation director - 9 dioceses (7.4%)

Also mentioned were retreats for prospective candidates, candidates and priests with bishop, use of seminarians to promote vocations, vocation support and vocation efforts on campus by campus ministers, and the role of Serrans in personally inviting prospective candidates.

 

Growing support for vocation ministry since January 1996

  • 81 dioceses (66.9%) report there is greater support for vocation ministry as a result of the National Strategy. Only 26 dioceses(21.5%) indicated no discernible change in the level of support for vocation ministry.
  • 89 dioceses (73.5%) responded that more resources have been dedicated to vocation ministry since the strategy began. 26 dioceses (21.5%) report no increase in resources for vocation ministry.
  • The amount of dollars given specifically to vocation ministry (as separate from seminary costs) ranged from less than $10,000 annually to as much as $800,000. My estimate is that most dioceses need to spend more money on personnel for the vocation office, adequate staff support, and the technologies needed today to reach young people and sustain their interest.
  • 62 dioceses (51.2%) report more time has been freed for vocation personnel. 59 dioceses (48.8%) responded in the negative.

 

Increasing vocation awareness for young and old

The most frequent response to the question about successful programs (what works) is the need to find ways to personally invite potential candidates - personal and individual meetings with young people. Also, vocation directors indicate a need for them to have time to follow through with prospective candidates (the need for much personal attention over a longer period of time). All the priests in the diocese must accept responsibility to be vocation directors (recruiters) for the diocese. They need to elicit cooperation from religious, deacons, lay leaders (Serra). Parents must be convinced to promote vocations among their children.

 

Greatest challenges and obstacles to vocations

  • ? apathy or even resistance of clergy and religious to vocation ministry - 49 dioceses (40.5%)
  • ? resistance of parents to a vocation in their family - 18 dioceses (14.9%)
  • ? lack of personnel in vocation ministry, especially a full time vocation director - 16 dioceses (13.2%) - also lack of adequate support staff
  • ? lack of support by lay people in diocese - 10 dioceses (8.2%)
  • ? several dioceses mentioned the present age cultural obstacles to religion and consequently to vocations.

 

Increasing numbers entering seminary

The 121 dioceses that answered the questionnaire reported the following number of new candidates entering the seminary:

  • 1995 - 575 candidates
  • 1996 - 663 candidates (an increase of 88 candidates - 15.3% increase)
  • 1997 - 772 candidates (an increase of 109 candidates - 16.4% increase)
  • 1998 - est. 866 candidates (an increase of 94 - 12.2% increase)

 

Overall increase in these 121 dioceses from 1995 to 1998 - 291 candidates - 50.6% increase.

 

Recommendations for the future

  • Increase the number of parish vocation committees
  • Presbyteral convocation on vocations (use new NCDV video or priest as inviter)
  • Continue to use Called by Name, Operation Andrew, dinners for prospective candidates and their pastors with the Bishop (pray and witness to priestly life)
  • Cooperation between vocation office and young adult ministry office - campus ministry office - family life office
  • Developing stronger spiritual bases for vocations among adults and youth - prayer in parishes, small groups, meetings in diocese - helping people discern God's call - listening to God speak through people and events of one's life - discernment retreats, media contact with young people.

 

A future full of hope

  • Ongoing process of inviting young people and those not so young to think about priesthood and religious life - someone has to invite them to think about a vocation, someone has to follow through with them until they are ready to give the seminary or novitiate a try (and ongoing support through the formation process)
  • We need best of our personnel in vocation ministry full time with adequate staff so they will stay longer in the ministry
  • We need dialogue between bishops and vocation directors and clergy of diocese for unified vocation ministry
  • 90% of the reporting dioceses reported that the national strategy helped give their vocation ministry a new focus and framework, caused more enthusiasm or motivation for vocation ministry, helped create greater support and appreciation for vocation ministry, more response from priests in the diocese, and from people in parishes. More than anything else, it raised the consciousness in the diocese about the responsibility of the baptized and confirmed to be agents for vocation ministry.