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First phase CARA mailed surveys to a total of 976 entities in spring 2008. CARA received completed responses from 591 religious institutes for a response rate of 60 percent.. The second phase of the research a survey of new members." The questionnaires were mailed in fall 2008 and winter 200
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1. CENTER FOR APPLIED RESEARCH IN THE APOSTOLATE Georgetown University Washington, DC Recent Vocations to Religious Life: A Report for the National Religious Vocation Conference August 2009
2. First phase – CARA mailed surveys to a total of 976 entities in spring 2008. CARA received completed responses from 591 religious institutes for a response rate of 60 percent.
3. The second phase of the research – a survey of “new members.” The questionnaires were mailed in fall 2008 and winter 2009 to 3,965 new members. CARA received a total of 1,568 usable responses – response rate of leas.t 40 percent.
4. The third and fourth phases – research included three focus groups with new members and closer examination of selected institutes, during spring and summer 2009.
5. During the final phase of the research – CARA examined selected institutes that have experienced some success in attracting and retaining new members in recent years.
6. Part 1
7. Main Points from Part III: Best Practices in Vocations Ministry
8. Summary: 1. Being Proactive about Vocations 2. Creating a Culture of Vocations 3. Vocation Director and/or Team
9. Summary: 4. Use of Media for Vocation Promotion 5. Discernment Programs 6. Targeting Age Groups
10. The research suggests that good intentions, sophisticated marketing campaigns, and the investment of resources into vocation promotion alone will not attract new members...
11. It is the example of members and the community life, prayer life, and/or ministries of the institute that most attract new members. p.117
12. Many of the successful institutes are characterized by a ‘culture of vocations’ within their Institute. In these institutes everyone – not just the vocation director – has a sense of responsibility for vocation promotion and is involved in and supportive of vocation efforts. p.118
13. Findings from the survey of religious institutes reveal that there is a positive correlation between having a vocation director, especially one who is full-time, and having candidates and new members in initial formation. p.118
14. Several new members mentioned vocation directors who they experienced as pandering to them or giving them a sales pitch. Examples included promises of opportunities to travel and assurances that they could do anything they wanted in terms of ministry…
15. These new members suggested that this was the wrong mindset and the wrong approach for those with authentic vocations. p.119
16. Both vocation directors and new members emphasized the importance of honesty and authenticity in presenting the institute and suggested that websites and other promotional materials will be for naught if they do not match the reality in the institute. p.120
17. In particular, those [institutes] that sponsor discernment retreats are significantly more likely than those who do not sponsor these retreats to have new members in initial formation and to be more successful in retaining new members…
18. It is important to note again that many young people today have little or no direct contact with men and women religious. Discernment retreats and “Come and See” experiences may be the first prolonged exposure to men or women religious for some of these potential candidates. p. 120
19. Results from the survey of religious institutes indicate that institutes that sponsor vocation promotion and discernment programs directed toward college students and young adults are more likely to have new members than those who do not sponsor programs for these groups…
20. Although the relationship is not as strong statistically, targeting high school students also appearsto have an impact on attracting and retaining new members. p.121
21. Findings from the survey of new members show that 40 percent of the men and almost 50 percent of the women first considered a vocation to religious life before they were 18 years of age. More than a quarter of the women considered it before they were 14…
22. These findings suggest that vocation directors might want to consider targeting some of their vocation efforts at those in elementary and high school. Anecdotal evidence from vocation directors also suggests a possible trend toward considering religious life at a younger age than was the case even a few years ago. p.121
23. Part 2
24. IMPLICATIONS OF THE NRVC/CARA STUDY ON THE FUTURE OF RELIGOUS VOCATIONS Talk given by Br. Paul Bednarczyk, CSC at the Annual J. S. Paluch Vocation Seminar August 18, 2009
25. SUMMARY: - Independent study serves as snapshot and benchmark - Study challenges all Catholics to promote a culture of vocations
26. SUMMARY (cont): - Young looking for role models of holiness - All vocations require community support - Invitation is essential
27. Study challenges all Catholics to promote a culture of vocations: What does this research tell us as ministers in today’s Church?
28. This study challenges all of us to promote a culture of vocation in our own particular disciplines with our Catholic young and young adults.
29. From our research, I would suggest three areas for us to begin this: Catholic identity, prayer, and community.
30. THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION – tangible and concrete symbols of our Catholic faith and spirituality speak to this younger generation in a powerful way.
31. Growing up in a world of relativism, political correctness, and ambivalence, young women and men are looking for a defined identity as Catholic Christians.
32. Young people are looking for role models of holiness: Our research has shown that one of the reasons people are coming to religious life is to enrich their relationship with God through prayer and their participation in the sacraments.
33. This should not be interpreted as a minimization of their commitment to mission and ministry. Since, as our study has also shown, the majority of our newer entrants were already engaged in some form of ministry prior to entrance, one can assume that they are already committed to a life of service.
34. The Church, and especially our young people, desperately need models of holiness, a call that we all share through our baptism, no matter what vocation we have chosen.
35. Our first priority in our ministries must be to help all, especially the young, deepen their relationship with God … Our young people need authentic witnesses of prayer in their parishes, families, and faith communities … They need people to share their own experience of prayer and to teach them how to pray.
36. Do young people see us praying? … Since religious and priests are the assumed professionals in prayer, how can we speak directly to young people about our prayer lives, be it in the Sunday homily, the classroom or in private conversations?
37. All vocations require community support: Our study is an invitation to renew our efforts of community building in our parishes, religious houses, and in the programs sponsored by our organizations.
38. A response to a vocation is not only a personal one; it is a communal one. For a vocation to be truly lived for others, it must be lived with others.
39. Providing supportive community experiences is important, because after prayer, our study found that men and women come to religious life for community. Some come from disjointed families and feel disconnected from the world, and may lack a strong sense of self.
40. It is not just the service we provide in our ministry that builds upon the Body of Christ; much more today, it is the witness of our life together as brothers or sisters united by our vowed commitment in community.
41. How do we provide experiences of community for our young? … This study challenges all of us to provide creative, positive experiences of community and welcome for our youth and young adults without prejudice or exclusion.
42. I do believe that we are at the point, given our diminishing numbers in religious life and priesthood, we have got to take the next step and actively connect the dots for our younger Catholics.
43. In other words, we can no longer assume that they will take the initiative on their own of considering a religious vocation, we have got to make the invitation and to provide them with opportunities to discern their own call prayerfully and reflectively.
44. Invitation is essential Study after study has shown that the number one reason why people enter religious life and seminaries is that they were invited.
45. Advertising is important, as are web pages and media coverage, but over and over again, they cannot replace the personal invitation of a priest, religious, or other trusted adult.
46. But, if we are going to invite, we have got to be convinced ourselves that this life is worth living. Our Church needs the energy, the enthusiasm and the dreams of the young, as it needs the wisdom, fidelity and the tradition of the old.
47. Thank You
