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29 Mar 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of service to his mission when he says, “Whoever serves me must follow me . . . .” There is growing interest in “following Jesus” by way of Catholic religious life, according to results from the most recent survey conducted by VocationMatch.com, the leading online religious vocation discernment website. Sixty-nine percent of the communities responding to the website’s annual “Survey on Trends in Religious Vocations” reported increased inquiries into religious life. Discerners—those interested in religious life—are primarily under 40 years old and say they are looking at religious life because of a desire for deeper spirituality. Most are quite serious about exploring religious life, and nearly 20 percent plan to enter religious formation in the next 12 months. In addition to their desire for a deeper spirituality and a life of faithfulness to the church, discerners say they are most drawn to a particular religious community by its prayer life and community living. A significant 35 percent ranked justice and peace outreach as essential. Celibacy, a life of service, and living simply are all perceived as more challenging to this year’s crop of discerners than last year’s. Prayer and spiritual direction continue to rank as the most essential element in making a decision about religious life, and the discipline of prayer remains the greatest perceived challenge in living as a religious priest, sister, or brother. “This information is vital to the life of the Catholic Church and the future of religious life,” commented Holy Cross Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., executive director the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) in Chicago. The NRVC and its publishing partner TrueQuest Communications annually survey discerners who have completed profiles on VocationMatch.com. Ninety percent of discerners say their inquiries into religious life are made easier because of access to information about religious life on the Internet. “With the dawn of instant and anonymous information-gathering via the Internet, we’ve begun to see a steady increase in inquiries about religious life, which we expect will translate into more vocations over the next decade,” said Patrice Tuohy, executive editor of VISION Vocation Guide and VocationMatch.com. Not surprisingly, those discerning a call to religious life still consider personal contact with someone in religious life as the most essential resource for gathering information about vocations (53 percent). However, “Come and See” weekends ranked high on every age group’s list (42 percent) as did working with a counselor or spiritual director (38 percent). A religious community’s website ranked next, above vocation directors, parish priests, parents, and friends, and 58 percent rated vocation-related websites as either very important or essential to their information-gathering. Source: TrueQuest Communications and VocationMatch.com. The full results of the survey are available online.

vocations vocationmatchcom survey on trends in religious vocations religious life discerners paul bednarczyk truequest communications patrice tuohy

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Vocation study reveals changing face and habits of new entrants

16 Aug 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

This Sunday's psalm seems ready-made for those who in recent years have chosen to "taste and see" for themselves what Catholic religious life is like. In keeping with the psalmist's desire to bless and praise the Lord at all times, a landmark vocations study reveals that newer recruits place a high priority on shared prayer and worship, communal living, and Catholic identity. The newest generation of religious priests, brothers, sisters, and nuns are more ethnically diverse than their predecessors and also drawn to more traditional expressions of piety, according to the "Study of Recent Vocations to Religious Life" conducted by Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) for the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC). "We've heard anecdotally that the youngest people coming to religious life are distinctive, and they really are," said Sister Mary Bendyna, executive director of CARA. "They're more attracted to a traditional style of religious life, where there is community living, common prayer, having Mass together, praying the Liturgy of the Hours together. They are much more likely to say fidelity to the church is important to them. And they really are looking for communities where members wear habits," said Bendyna. "This younger generation is seeking an identity, a religious identity as well as a Catholic identity," said Brother Paul Bednarczyk, executive director of the Chicago-based NRVC, a professional organization of Catholic religious vocation directors. "Symbolism, images, and ritual are all very important to this generation, and they want to give witness to their faith." The study also found that non-Hispanic whites account for 94 percent of current nuns and priests but only 58 percent of those in the process of joining orders, including 21 percent who are Hispanic, 14 percent Asian or Pacific Islander, and 6 percent African or African American. In addition, the study revealed that the graying of American religious is more pronounced than many Catholics might have realized. Ninety-one percent of nuns and 75 percent of priests are 60 or older, and most of the rest are at least 50. And finding new members remains a struggle for many orders. Thirty-four percent of women's orders and 22 percent of men's orders surveyed had no candidates. Almost half the orders that do have someone on the early path toward his or her vows have no more than one or two in the pipeline. Bednarczyk drew reason to hope from the fact that 43 percent of those in the early stages of joining an order are under 30. "Younger people are re-looking at religious life as a viable life option," he said. "It does speak of a future." A full summary and review of study results, as well as a list of best practices that foster vocations, can be found at the NRVC's website, www.nrvc.net. Source: Articles by Eric Gorksi for the Associated Press and Laurie Goodstein for the New York Times

vocations cara studies national religious vocation conference nrvc mary bendyna religious orders study of recent vocations to religious life paul bednarczyk religious life center for applied research in the apostolate

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Vocation study reveals changing face and habits of new entrants

16 Aug 2009 - Preaching the News for Sunday

This Sunday's psalm seems ready-made for those who in recent years have chosen to "taste and see" for themselves what Catholic religious life is like. In keeping with the psalmist's desire to bless and praise the Lord at all times, a landmark vocations study reveals that newer recruits place a high priority on shared prayer and worship, communal living, and Catholic identity. The newest generation of religious priests, brothers, sisters, and nuns are more ethnically diverse than their predecessors and also drawn to more traditional expressions of piety, according to the "Study of Recent Vocations to Religious Life" conducted by Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) for the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC). "We've heard anecdotally that the youngest people coming to religious life are distinctive, and they really are," said Sister Mary Bendyna, executive director of CARA. "They're more attracted to a traditional style of religious life, where there is community living, common prayer, having Mass together, praying the Liturgy of the Hours together. They are much more likely to say fidelity to the church is important to them. And they really are looking for communities where members wear habits," said Bendyna. "This younger generation is seeking an identity, a religious identity as well as a Catholic identity," said Brother Paul Bednarczyk, executive director of the Chicago-based NRVC, a professional organization of Catholic religious vocation directors. "Symbolism, images, and ritual are all very important to this generation, and they want to give witness to their faith." The study also found that non-Hispanic whites account for 94 percent of current nuns and priests but only 58 percent of those in the process of joining orders, including 21 percent who are Hispanic, 14 percent Asian or Pacific Islander, and 6 percent African or African American. In addition, the study revealed that the graying of American religious is more pronounced than many Catholics might have realized. Ninety-one percent of nuns and 75 percent of priests are 60 or older, and most of the rest are at least 50. And finding new members remains a struggle for many orders. Thirty-four percent of women's orders and 22 percent of men's orders surveyed had no candidates. Almost half the orders that do have someone on the early path toward his or her vows have no more than one or two in the pipeline. Bednarczyk drew reason to hope from the fact that 43 percent of those in the early stages of joining an order are under 30. "Younger people are re-looking at religious life as a viable life option," he said. "It does speak of a future." A full summary and review of study results, as well as a list of best practices that foster vocations, can be found at the NRVC's website, www.nrvc.net. Source: Articles by Eric Gorksi for the Associated Press and Laurie Goodstein for the New York Times

vocations cara studies national religious vocation conference nrvc mary bendyna religious orders study of recent vocations to religious life paul bednarczyk religious life center for applied research in the apostolate

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U.S. church loses ambassador of hope

07 Aug 2011 - Preaching the News for Sunday

At a time when, like the disciples’ boat in this Sunday’s gospel, the Catholic Church in the U.S. finds itself storm-tossed by the cumulative effect of church closings, a clergy shortage, and the sex abuse crisis, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the papal nuncio to the U.S. since 2005 who died July 27 at the age of 73, had offered a sympathetic and hopeful presence. Sambi was particularly supportive of those in vowed religious life during these challenging times. Delivering the keynote address at the 2009 gathering in St. Louis of the major superiors of men religious, representing the leadership of more than 20,000 vowed religious brothers and priests, Sambi called on the U.S. church “not to remain a prisoner of the sex scandal” nor “a prisoner to the crisis in religious life.” Sambi acknowledged that the sexual abuse crisis has taken a terrible toll, saying that in some quarters it has “deprived us of all credibility.” Likewise, he conceded that diminishing numbers have induced a crisis of confidence in some circles of religious life. Nonetheless, Sambi insisted that rebirth is possible through adopting the spirit of Saint Paul. “There is a Christian way of dealing with problems,” Sambi told the several hundred leaders of religious life. “It involves converting humiliation into strength by fidelity to our vocation and mission.” Vatican observer John Allen offered this anecdote from the St. Louis gathering: “When I sat down next to him . . . I asked how he was doing. ‘Better every day,’ he said with a broad smile, adding. ‘We must be optimistic ... we are Christians, after all.’ ” Sources: An article by T. Rees Shapiro for the Washington Post and blog posts by John L. Allenfor the National Catholic Reporter and Patrice J. Tuohy for SpiritCitings

Consecrated life religious life united states sexual abuse pietro sambi papal nuncio

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Nun’s long-cloistered life brought to light

16 Jun 2013 - Preaching the News for Sunday

A Pharisee may have invited Jesus to dine with him in this Sunday’s gospel, but it was an anonymous woman who gained his attention and respect for having "shown great love” through her generous service. Cloistered nuns live out their lives of loving service to the Lord in relative anonymity, but Sister Teresita Barajuen of Buenafuente del Sistal monastery northeast of Madrid, who died Tuesday evening at age 105, has come to the world’s attention because of her 86 years of cloistered life, likely a world record. Barajuen entered the Cistercian monastery at the age of 19 in 1927. She acknowledged in recent interviews that she had not intended to become a nun but entered the monastery because of family pressure. Nevertheless, the lifestyle agreed with her and the years and decades rolled by. In 2011 Barajuen left the monastery for the first time in 40 years to meet retired Pope Benedict XVI during a papal visit to Madrid. As it turns out, she had entered the monastery on the same day he was born. Homily hint: The body of Christ is supported and sustained by the prayerful witness of countless believers, including those who worship night and day behind monastic enclosures. Many monastic communities operate guest houses where people can renew their spirits in the holy atmosphere of contemplative prayer. A summer retreat can be the best vacation plan of all. Source: An article by the Associated Press

religious life cloister

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Nun uses kitchen as her canvas

22 Nov 2015 - Preaching the News for Sunday

When it comes to deities, the Lord God is "the Alpha and the Omega," as the reading from the Book of Revelation puts it this Sunday. And when it comes to creative cooks, Sister Alicia Torres of Chicago holds all the cards, at least as far as the Food Network is concerned. Torres became the "Chopped" champion on the Food Network's reality TV cooking show, winning $10,000 for Our Lady of the Angels Mission to provide more home-cooked meals for neighbors in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood. "The Lord gave me this talent," she told the show's judges, who ribbed her for perhaps harboring some divine culinary training. "I believe the kitchen is my canvas where I get to express myself creatively." Homily hint: Sometimes people who feel a call to religious life feel like they will have to give up “all that they love” in order to embrace their vocation. But God does not ask us to give up our gifts and talents to embrace a religious vocation, but rather invites us to put those gifts and talents to work serving the world. As theologian Carl Frederick Buechner put it, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” For more on the "cooking nun,” see: Chicago nun wins 'Chopped,' hopes it will help spotlight 'issue of hunger'

religious life nun cooking Hunger

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Invitation by example

Short essays about observed trends in Roman Catholic life - Pastoral trends

Studies confirm that vocations to priesthood and religious life depend on personal invitation. When fewer priests report inviting young men to consider priesthood, for example, the number entering seminary seems to decline. There is, however, another, perhaps even more important factor: Vocations also depend on inspiring example and personal witness more than simple invitation. That may seem obvious, but it is an often overlooked factor. Young people are looking for qualities of dedication and approachability and a sense of peace and contentment more than simply being asked to consider a life as a priest, sister, or brother—or as a lay ecclesial minister, or any particular life calling for that matter. That may suggest that the most we can do to lift up vocations in the next generation, whether vocations to religious life and church service or simply as faithful followers of Christ, will be in how effectively we witness to who we are rather than what we do. This conclusion comes out in studies of the clergy. When priests are asked to rate themselves in terms of what they do and the pressures they feel, the result often shows low morale or division. When they are asked the same question in terms of priesthood or their sense of themselves, the result is typically one of high satisfaction and contentment. The question for vocation and for building a church of high commitment may well be in how we can effectively integrate the two. © 2010, Bryan Froehle. Originally posted 7/04.

Authors Bryan Froehle

vocations religious life

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Homily stories

05 Feb 2012 - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

SAINT PAUL wrote of the "obligation" he felt to preach the gospel--that is, he was talking about his vocation. When I was trying to figure out how God was calling me, I felt as if I would never get to the point of knowing for sure whether God was calling me. I realized later that the more I consciously tended to God and sorted through my life with all its hopes and dreams and struggles, the more I was growing into my calling. The first step for me was to be more faithful to prayer. I also began seeing a spiritual director who could help me to see the ways God was moving in my life. I began reading more of the saints, and, when I was finally willing to admit I might be attracted to religious life, to get to know sisters around me. Over time I began to feel shifts within my own self toward feeling more like myself, feeling more alive than ever. By being intentional about my discernment and also integrating it with my everyday life, I found that I had already been living into the calling that God was nudging me toward. (Adapted from Ask Sr. Julie about Vocations, vocationnetwork.org)

Authors Sister Julie Vieira I.H.M.

Vocation call life calling religious life

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