North American Benedictine Vocation Formation Conference
Report from the Core Team Chair January 2024
Dear Prioresses,
Greetings! Thank you to all who submitted membership forms and fees and to those communities who donated to the NABVFC Scholarship Fund. If you still need to complete your membership form, consider completing it as soon as possible and submit it to Sr. Maria Victoria Cutaia.
Please continue to contact members of the NABVFC Core Team (See "Core Team" on the website) when you have questions or wonder about dates. You are encouraged to check the NABVFC website (www.nabvfc.org) regularly for notices of new information.
The Benedictine Sisters in Lacey, WA, hosted the NABVFC Core Team meeting on October 1-5, 2024. 3 members attended in person and 3 attended virtually.
The NABVFC Core Team Members include: Sr. Jill Marie Reuber, Core Team Chair; Sr. Ann Muczynski,
Vice-Chair; Sr. Paz Vital, Core Team Web; Sr. Cathy Bauer, Relationship Groups Chair; Sr. Maria Victoria Cutaia, Core Team Treasurer; Sr. Michael Marie Rottinghaus, Core Team Secretary
CBP Liaison
Sr. Anita Louise Lowe
Monastery Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand, IN
We want to inform you of the following matters.
Relationship Groups
As of our fall meeting the relationship groups have been under Wisdom Connections. It was suggested at the Symposium that NABVFC take these groups. With discussion with Sr. Michell Sinkhorn and the Core Team it was decided for the Core team to take over being in charge of the relationship groups. Sr. Jill talked with Sr. Agatha who has been on the relationship committee about her thoughts. Sr. Cathy Bauer will chair the new group. The new committee consists of Sr. Cathy Bauer, Sr. Agatha Muggli, Sr. Laura Swan, Sr. Kathy Persson, and Sr. Suzanne Fitzmaurice. Since our fall meeting this committee has met and a form has been sent to the prioresses about who would be part of the groups.
NABVFC Financial Report
Starting Balance
$65,124.23
Income
$24,761.88
Expenses
$35,952.49
Ending Balance
$53,933.12
Please contact me if you would like a more detailed report.
Membership
As of January 2025, we have 18 members. We have a possibility of 3 more members as we are waiting for replies.
NABVFC Website
The website is continually updated to provide timely, relevant information to all members. All the information can be accessed by the members except for the financial report and the membership directory. These will be e-mailed to each member monastery's Prioress and Contact Person.
Sister Paz Vital is the website coordinator.
Vision Ad
The ad was developed by Sister Jill Reuber for Vision 2024 with the help of Ferdinand’s marketing director. We had a discussion at our fall meeting that is difficult to find vocation directors willing to develop the ad. One suggestion is to have a contest. The Core Team is still in discussion about this ad. We decided to go with a smaller ad and just in English. We will use the same ad. Sr. Maria Victoria will reach out to vocation directors when the time comes.
NABVFC Symposium April 15-19, 2024
The 2024 Symposium was held at St. Benedict Center, Schuyler, NE. The symposium theme will be “Hope for the Future: Trusting God in Uncertain Times.” The speakers were Sr. Lynn Marie McKenzie, OSB, Cullman, AL, Sr. Rosann Ocken, OSB, Norfolk, NE, and Mr. Allen Howie, Ferdinand, IN. There were 24 sisters who attended. We learned a lot from the speakers. We took time during the business meeting to surface ideas to rethink NADI and BSWR as we do not have enough sisters to continue the way we have always done it. Many ideas were surfaced, and the Core team continued the conversation at their fall meeting. We did not have to have a Core Team election as all those who put in their names were needed to fill the positions. There were at least 20 names surfaced by the Core Team and by prioresses. Three sisters were the only ones that left their names to be considered. At the closing prayer we had a blessing of the Core Team.
Wisdom Connections - January 7, 2025
Membership – Total Member Communities: 48
43 communities have paid membership through 2025
3 communities have paid membership through 2026
2 communities have paid membership through 2027
3 communities received scholarship funds totaling $850 from Wisdom Connections
10 communities donated a total of $1,825 to the Wisdom Connections scholarship fund
8 communities were sponsored by AIM
Financials – Account balance is currently $68,950.
Annual Expenses – Sister Michelle’s salary is $27,000 annually, software expenses average
$1,650, and other equipment expenses as needed.
Content – Total number of videos equal 415 with new content is added regularly.
Relationship Groups – The Relationship Committee and activity has moved to a sub-committee of the NABVFC.
NADI and BSWR
The Core Team took the ideas that were surfaced at the Symposium and had some information surfaced by a survey of prioresses and formation directors. A whole afternoon during our fall meeting was given to discuss the possibilities. We looked at the guidelines from NADI and BSWR. Attached you will find a draft of what we are proposing for a Benedictine Initial Formation Gathering to happen every 2 years for novices and temporary professed. An online experience will be offered on the years not having an in person gathering.
We were hoping to offer NADI 2025 at Norfolk, NE. At our January Core Team meeting, we knew of only one novice with the possibility of one other. We decided that it is too much to host NADI for two novices. The Core Team will be putting together an online retreat for 2026. It will be entitled “Pilgrims of Hope.” The dates of this will be May 8-9, 2026.
Other
Should you have suggestions or questions, please contact me or one of the other members of the Core Team. Our contact information is included under “Core Team” on the NABVFC website.
Again, thank you for your support and participation in the NABVFC.
Sr. Jill Marie Reuber, OSB
NABVFC Core Team Chair
[email protected]
812-367-1411 x2830 (office)
812-639-4968 (cell)
Report from the Core Team Chair January 2024
Dear Prioresses,
Greetings! Thank you to all who submitted membership forms and fees and to those communities who donated to the NABVFC Scholarship Fund. If you still need to complete your membership form, consider completing it as soon as possible and submit it to Sr. Maria Victoria Cutaia.
Please continue to contact members of the NABVFC Core Team (See "Core Team" on the website) when you have questions or wonder about dates. You are encouraged to check the NABVFC website (www.nabvfc.org) regularly for notices of new information.
The Benedictine Sisters in Lacey, WA, hosted the NABVFC Core Team meeting on October 1-5, 2024. 3 members attended in person and 3 attended virtually.
The NABVFC Core Team Members include: Sr. Jill Marie Reuber, Core Team Chair; Sr. Ann Muczynski,
Vice-Chair; Sr. Paz Vital, Core Team Web; Sr. Cathy Bauer, Relationship Groups Chair; Sr. Maria Victoria Cutaia, Core Team Treasurer; Sr. Michael Marie Rottinghaus, Core Team Secretary
CBP Liaison
Sr. Anita Louise Lowe
Monastery Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand, IN
We want to inform you of the following matters.
Relationship Groups
As of our fall meeting the relationship groups have been under Wisdom Connections. It was suggested at the Symposium that NABVFC take these groups. With discussion with Sr. Michell Sinkhorn and the Core Team it was decided for the Core team to take over being in charge of the relationship groups. Sr. Jill talked with Sr. Agatha who has been on the relationship committee about her thoughts. Sr. Cathy Bauer will chair the new group. The new committee consists of Sr. Cathy Bauer, Sr. Agatha Muggli, Sr. Laura Swan, Sr. Kathy Persson, and Sr. Suzanne Fitzmaurice. Since our fall meeting this committee has met and a form has been sent to the prioresses about who would be part of the groups.
NABVFC Financial Report
Starting Balance
$65,124.23
Income
$24,761.88
Expenses
$35,952.49
Ending Balance
$53,933.12
Please contact me if you would like a more detailed report.
Membership
As of January 2025, we have 18 members. We have a possibility of 3 more members as we are waiting for replies.
NABVFC Website
The website is continually updated to provide timely, relevant information to all members. All the information can be accessed by the members except for the financial report and the membership directory. These will be e-mailed to each member monastery's Prioress and Contact Person.
Sister Paz Vital is the website coordinator.
Vision Ad
The ad was developed by Sister Jill Reuber for Vision 2024 with the help of Ferdinand’s marketing director. We had a discussion at our fall meeting that is difficult to find vocation directors willing to develop the ad. One suggestion is to have a contest. The Core Team is still in discussion about this ad. We decided to go with a smaller ad and just in English. We will use the same ad. Sr. Maria Victoria will reach out to vocation directors when the time comes.
NABVFC Symposium April 15-19, 2024
The 2024 Symposium was held at St. Benedict Center, Schuyler, NE. The symposium theme will be “Hope for the Future: Trusting God in Uncertain Times.” The speakers were Sr. Lynn Marie McKenzie, OSB, Cullman, AL, Sr. Rosann Ocken, OSB, Norfolk, NE, and Mr. Allen Howie, Ferdinand, IN. There were 24 sisters who attended. We learned a lot from the speakers. We took time during the business meeting to surface ideas to rethink NADI and BSWR as we do not have enough sisters to continue the way we have always done it. Many ideas were surfaced, and the Core team continued the conversation at their fall meeting. We did not have to have a Core Team election as all those who put in their names were needed to fill the positions. There were at least 20 names surfaced by the Core Team and by prioresses. Three sisters were the only ones that left their names to be considered. At the closing prayer we had a blessing of the Core Team.
Wisdom Connections - January 7, 2025
Membership – Total Member Communities: 48
43 communities have paid membership through 2025
3 communities have paid membership through 2026
2 communities have paid membership through 2027
3 communities received scholarship funds totaling $850 from Wisdom Connections
10 communities donated a total of $1,825 to the Wisdom Connections scholarship fund
8 communities were sponsored by AIM
Financials – Account balance is currently $68,950.
Annual Expenses – Sister Michelle’s salary is $27,000 annually, software expenses average
$1,650, and other equipment expenses as needed.
Content – Total number of videos equal 415 with new content is added regularly.
Relationship Groups – The Relationship Committee and activity has moved to a sub-committee of the NABVFC.
NADI and BSWR
The Core Team took the ideas that were surfaced at the Symposium and had some information surfaced by a survey of prioresses and formation directors. A whole afternoon during our fall meeting was given to discuss the possibilities. We looked at the guidelines from NADI and BSWR. Attached you will find a draft of what we are proposing for a Benedictine Initial Formation Gathering to happen every 2 years for novices and temporary professed. An online experience will be offered on the years not having an in person gathering.
We were hoping to offer NADI 2025 at Norfolk, NE. At our January Core Team meeting, we knew of only one novice with the possibility of one other. We decided that it is too much to host NADI for two novices. The Core Team will be putting together an online retreat for 2026. It will be entitled “Pilgrims of Hope.” The dates of this will be May 8-9, 2026.
Other
Should you have suggestions or questions, please contact me or one of the other members of the Core Team. Our contact information is included under “Core Team” on the NABVFC website.
Again, thank you for your support and participation in the NABVFC.
Sr. Jill Marie Reuber, OSB
NABVFC Core Team Chair
[email protected]
812-367-1411 x2830 (office)
812-639-4968 (cell)
