The Minister General in USA

Vocation Meeting stresses collaboration

Information sent by Tom Washburn, OFM
Editor - Newsletter of the Immaculate Conception Province

ROME - From October 9 through 23, our Vocation Team - Charles Gingerich and Dennis Wheatley - took part in the Renewal Program for Vocation Directors of the English-Speaking Conference in Rome. The conference was held in conjunction with the ESC's annual vocation directors' meeting and was directed by our own André Cirino and John Wojtowicz of the Assumption BVM Province.

The meeting's goal was for vocation directors to share experiences of what it takes to run a vocation office today, effective modes of recruiting men as well as bonding together and greater networking between ESC provinces. Friars from England, Ireland, Malta and Canada did not participate in the conference. "Living together, working together, praying together and socializing together brought about a bond that could not be accomplished in any other way," Charlie said of the conference.

During their time in Rome, the vocation directors had the opportunity to meet with General Minister Giacomo Bini to discuss vocation recruitment. "He was very pleased with the amount of collaboration already happening in the United States," Charlie said. "He sees that need in the Order."

Charlie said that the General Minister laid out his vision that we should view the work of vocations as belonging to a global community and not stay focused solely on the Provincial unit.

Dennis and Charlie were impressed with the vision presented by Bini. They had an opportunity to meet with him and the English Speaking General Councilor Sean Collins.

"We were impressed immediately because of his concern for individual friars of the Order, and the need for fraternity as a priority, that no ministry should take precedence over fraternity," Charlie said. "He spoke at length about his time as provincial in Africa and how working with the youth is essential to work of friars and calling of youth together for rallies was a great way of encouraging vocations."

"The General also stressed need for everyone to realize we are all vocation directors and called to promote and nurture vocations," Dennis said. Charlie and Dennis could not praise enough the value of this conference. "We shared our successes and failures. We had 12 hours of meeting over and above the renewal program, but spent many hours together in smaller groups just discussing different issues and procedures and hopes and dreams for the future of the office," Charlie said.

Ten vocation directors participated in the conference representing every province of the United States with the exception of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province due to an illness.

In comparing the work of our Vocation Office to that of others, Charlie and Dennis discovered some differences. "We are more thorough," Charlie said. "We are more strict than any other province in initial contact and procedures for admission. Some provinces put an emphasis on novitiate as being the time of more detailed discernment and involvement of the provincial. Our Provincial is involved in the process from the beginning."

In the midst of these differences, though, there is also similarity. "We all look for basically the same things, but have different approaches," Charlie said. The most valuable aspect of the month-long conference though was the relationships established between vocation offices. "What we learned was the value of being able to call other vocation directors and get their opinion on situations and we've done that already," Charlie said.

The Vocation Directors also came away with hopes of doing a vocation event in light of the coming millennium. "For the year 2000, people within the vocation conference are looking to do something with youth - a Franciscan type of gathering sponsored by English speaking vocation directors," Dennis said.

The Renewal Program brought the directors to various holy spots in Italy with the aim of putting them on fire with the Franciscan charism as seen particularly in Franciscan places. Their original itinerary was somewhat limited though due to the devastation of the earthquakes in Italy.

Charlie and Dennis were also touched by the hospitality shown them and the other friars by our own guys at Convento San Francesco, "Staying at our own house in Rome was nice," Dennis said. "The guys were very welcoming. Gilbert was gracious host."

The year has been going well for Charlie and Dennis. They continue to hold vocation discernment weekends; they have had a normal number of inquiries and have been involved visiting different places in the Province.

The team have developed new vocation posters, revised the discernment weekends to include a view of the Franciscan tradition beyond the First Order, including Second Order, Third Order Regular and the Secular Order. They've also contacted over 60 colleges and are getting calls from them. They've also had a good number of inquiries from the Newsletter Web site and through email. They will present a new vocation video at the Provincial Chapter in June.

the above information was received at our office
today Thursday, January 29, 1998

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Created / Updated Thursday, January 29, 1998 at 09:18:44
by John Abela ofm for Communications Office - Rome
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