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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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HE BEST WAY TO KNOW whether religious life is right for you is to meet men and women in vowed life. There are hundreds of ways to do that: Attend a lecture where a sister, brother, priest is speaking, spend time with a community on a discernment weekend or volunteer activity, or make a retreat hosted by a religious order. To find upcoming local or national events, make a habit of checking the VISION Calendar at VocationNetwork.org/opportunities. Below is a sampling of what you will find:
DISCERNMENT
Today’s Catholic Sisters: Who they are. Why we need them. Event Dates Sept. 12, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX Sept. 20, Dominican University, River Forest, IL Oct. 10, Immaculata University, Immaculata, PA Jan. 23, 2016, Mount St. Mary’s University, LA, CA Description These day-long seminars sponsored by NRVC feature the authors (Dr. Mary Gautier, and Sisters Mary Johnson, S.N.D.deN., and Patricia Wittberg, S.C.) of the acclaimed book New Generations of Catholic Sisters: The Challenge of Diversity. Free and open to the public. Come and See Vocation Discernment Weekend Sponsors Sisters of Bon Secours Event Dates Oct. 16-18 Location 11525 Marriottsville Rd., Marriottsville, MD, 21104, US Description Join us for a weekend when single Catholic women come together to learn more about religious life from the women who live it! Meet and talk with Sisters of Bon Secours in a relaxed environment. You’ll be surprised at how much you will get to know about religious life and how much you will enjoy being with the sisters. Meet others exploring too. There is time for prayer, liturgy, group sharing, and relaxation. We begin Friday at 6 p.m. and end Sunday at 1 p.m.
Holy Year of Mercy Dates Dec. 8, 2015 until Nov. 20, 2016 Description Pope Francis proclaimed this Holy Year of Mercy to highlight the Catholic Church’s “mission to be a witness of mercy.” The biblical theme of the year will be “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” The yearlong extraordinary jubilee will include several individual jubilee days, such as for the Roman Curia, catechists, teenagers, and prisoners. Vocations weekend for young women Sponsors Faithful Companions of Jesus, UK Event Dates Jan. 29-31, 2016 Location FCJ House St. Hughs, Wavertree, Liverpool, Mersey, United Kingdom Description A retreat opportunity with time for prayer, reflection, input. The retreat will provide space and time to meet with other young women who are discerning religious life. Contact: Sr. Lynne, FCJ at lynnefcj@hotmail.com. World Day for Consecrated Life Event Dates Feb. 2, 2016 (celebrated in parishes Feb. 6-7) Description This day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This feast is also known as Candlemas Day, the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples. World Day of Prayer for Vocations Event Dates April 17, 2016, Fourth Sunday of Easter Description Also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday,” the
FOR MORE EVENTS AND THE LATEST POSTS, GO TO VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG/OPPORTUNITIES VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2016 | 169
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Year of Consecrated Life Event Dates Began Nov. 29, 2014 Closing Prayer Vigil: Feb. 1, 2016 Closing Mass with Pope Francis: Feb. 2, 2016, World Day for Consecrated Life Location Rome Description A year-long celebration of the unique lives and witness of those in consecrated life, which includes renewal for men and women in consecrated life, thanksgiving among the faithful for the service of religious sisters, brothers, priests, nuns, and others in consecrated life, and invitation to young Catholics to consider a religious vocation.
National Vocation Awareness Week Event Dates Nov. 1-7 Description A week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promote vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations.
