Archdiocese plays host to National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors

Fellowship, idea sharing mission of annual summit

By John Gleason

More than 200 diocesan vocations directors from across the United States are gathering in Denver this week for the 45th National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors.

The Sept. 27-Oct. 2 event consists of lectures, workshops, receptions and fellowship according to Father Jim Crisman, director of priestly vocations for the Archdiocese of Denver and coordinator of this year’s convention.

“There’ll be many things going on at the convention,” Father Crisman told the Denver Catholic Register. “Fraternity is a big part of it; guys from around the country coming together with a common goal and supporting each other.”

The 50-year-old National Conference of Diocesan Vocational Directors is an organization of priests, religious brothers and sisters, and lay people whose responsibilities include promotion of the priesthood, assessment of candidates and formation of seminarians.

“We’ll have talks on how to be a vocations director, how formation works and the process of creating formation,” Father Crisman said.  “It’s good support for everyone.”

In an open letter to the NCDVD members, Father Crisman said that one of the great blessings in his ministry has been the convention.

“The suggestions and ideas that are offered,” he said, “the contacts and support networks that are available and the renewal that takes place each September are a welcome blessing.”

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, apostolic nuncio and permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, addressed the convention the evening of Sept. 28 on the subject “To Stand in the Presence of God: Finding Heaven and Giving Heaven.”

Curtis Martin, founder and president of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, a fast-growing campus ministry program with a track record of numerous vocations to the priesthood and religious life coming from its ranks, will deliver the week’s keynote address “To Hear the Call You Need to Know the Caller.”  Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Diocese of Raleigh, N.C., is set to speak on “The Role of the Bishop, Director of Vocations and Seminary in Forming Candidates for the Priesthood.”

Rose Sullivan, NCDVD formation events coordinator and vocations director for the Diocese of Rockwell Center in New York said the convention kicked off with a daylong series of pre-convention workshops.

“These are for new vocation directors,” she said, “which averages about 45 guys a year who are new in the ministry.”

On the second day of the conference Father Michael Glenn, rector of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, was scheduled to hold an all-day workshop on how to apply the Program for Priestly Formation to vocation work.  The PPF document provides the norms required for the formation of priests in the United States. Sullivan said that having a rector deliver the lecture would be insightful for vocation directors who recruit candidates as well as for those who both recruit and are involved in formation.

“He’ll be able to speak to both and say ‘How does this work at seminary?’” Sullivan said.

Other workshops to be presented during the week include “Nine Keys for a Successful Vocation Ministry,” “Vocation Ministry to Hispanic Discerners,” “Spiritual Assessment of the Candidate and Seminarian,” “Marketing 101 for God: Raising Up More Seminarians.”

Another purpose of the convention is the sharing of ideas according to Sullivan.

“One of the things I like to say is that we’re probably the only membership that encourages you to steal from one another,” she said with a laugh.  “We have a program called Share the Wealth where directors come to a table bringing samples of some of the things they have done to share with others.  It’s a great idea to find things to take back to your diocese and implement there.”

Sullivan added that, put simply, NCDVD offers as service to the Catholic Church a training opportunity and the chance to come together and have a sense of support.