Vocations Committee

Chariman: M Alan Ladwig

Vocations Chairman reports to the Church Chairman Initiate and manage projects in support of religious vocations. E.g. actively support the priests and deacons of the parish. Support those who are pursuing the priesthood or other religious life. Initiate and coordinate annual clergy dinners. Information from Supreme for this committee:

• Establish a vocations committee for your council. Activities can include: celebration of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations Day in April or May; special observance of Vocations Awareness Week in January; regular prayers for vocations at every council meeting, family meal and other suitable times; attendance at regular Masses for vocations; cooperation with the family life committee in getting the vocations message into homes; and participation in the Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP).
• Join the Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP). Through RSVP, councils receive incentives for providing an individual seminarian or novice with meaningful financial and/or moral support. This encourages direct interaction and gives council members a better understanding of men and women who pursue religious vocations. Under the program, at the end of the fraternal year, councils in: United States and Canada For every $500 given to an individual, the Supreme Council will refund to the council or assembly $100. The maximum refund a council or assembly can receive is $400 per individual supported. Philippines For every $250 given to an individual, the Supreme Council will refund the council or assembly $50. The maximum refund a council or assembly can receive is $400 per individual supported. Those councils that also provide significant moral support (letters, visits, parish activities in support of vocations, etc.) can apply to receive a special plaque award. More information about RSVP is avail- able in the Vocations Handbook (#1942), on the Order’s Web site at www.kofc.org or from the Supreme Council Vocations Committee.
• Obtain and distribute vocational materials. Vocations booklets, posters, prayer cards and other supplies are available from the Supply Department.
• Invite a seminarian or novice to council meetings and events. Make him or her the guest of honor at a council dinner. Include seminarians and novices in religious appreciation dinners. Remember seminarians and novices in council prayers.
• Hold a vocational fair. Ask the religious orders in your area and your diocesan vocations director to participate, and invite the young people of your parish or community to attend and learn more about the religious vocations opportunities available to them. Have each order give a short presentation to the group, describing the major works of the order.
• Arrange for local boys, particularly altar servers and Squires, to visit a nearby seminary, meet some of the seminarians and get a feel for what it means to prepare for the priesthood. Make sure that the possible priests of tomorrow understand and are comfortable with the seminarians of today.
• Recognize newly ordained priests by presenting them with a personalized congratulatory note or cer- tificate (consider using the multi-purpose certificate [#2898]) available from the Supply Department.