North American Benedictine Vocation Formation Conference
2021 Report from the Core Team Chair
January 22, 2021
Dear NABVFC friends,
I have chosen a quote from Teilhard de Chardin that best describes the Core Team’s many frustrating attempts in planning in 2020; “Trust in the slow work of God. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.”
Thank you to all who submitted membership forms and fees, and to those communities who donated to the NABVFC Scholarship Fund. We do have scholarship money available so if you know of a community that has chosen not to be a member because of financial concerns, please notify Sr. Karen Lortscher.
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 information in this letter will be posted on our website by the end of January 2021.
NADI 2021
BSWR 2021
NABVFC Symposium Update
It was difficult to plan for the May 2021 symposium because of our current issues with the pandemic. Our intent was to hold the 2021 Symposium virtually. I consulted with our CBP liaison, Sr. Maribeth Wentzlaff to discuss concerns about holding the symposium virtually. The symposium platform provides an opportunity for sisters in the vocation ministry and sisters that are responsible for formation within their communities to dialogue, share ideas, give support, and provide speakers that share their wisdom on current issues in these ministries. Part of the symposium is devoted to a business meeting. One function of that meeting is to elect new core team members. This year we have two core team members whose terms expire. We felt it was important to delay the symposium for a year. This will give us the opportunity to meet in person. The election of new core team members will be delayed until May 2022.
Sr. Maribeth Wentzlaff asked if Sr. Mary Colleen Schwarz and Sr. Eileen Brick would consider extending their term for one more year. Both have agreed to honor this request.
Set your calendar the 2022 Symposium will be held at Sophia Center in Atchison, May 2-6.
NABVFC Financial Report
The financial report as of January 7, 2021 indicates a positive balance of $74,126.39.
NABVFC Website
The website is continually updated to provide timely, relevant information to all members. All the information is available to the members except for the financial report. The membership directory is posted on our web site.
Sr. Patricia Seipel is our website coordinator. ( www.nabvfc.org)
Mentors
Does this look familiar? It is on the membership form.
BE A MENTOR! Would you be willing to companion a new formation director or vocation director and share your experience with her? Yes _______ No ________
Your Name _________________________________________
Role _______________________________________________
We have had sisters respond to this request. Sr. Karen Lortscher has complied a mentor resource list with contact information. She will be distributing this list by email to the membership communities.
NABVFC T4
Membership statistics
· T4 Members Monasteries - 47
· Countries – 6 - Australia (1), Canada (2), Ireland (1), Micronesia (1), Nigeria (1), U.S. (41)
· Women’s communities – 37
· Men’s communities - 10
· Paid through 2021 (45) 2022 (2)
· Total number of community members – 1,685
· Have members in initial formation – 27 communities.
· Total number of members in initial formation - 71
· Average number of members in initial formation - 3 (Nigeria has 11)
· Participate in Relationship Groups - 37
· Average number of members in a community - 36 (Largest 177 - smallest 2)
· Youngest community member - 21
· Oldest community member - 104
Video Statistics
· T4 Video Library - 348
· T4 Oblate Video Library - 304
· Number of presenters – 44
Relationship Groups Statistics
· U.S. initial formation members participating – 38.
· Number of groups - 7
· Formation directors participating – 28.
· Number of groups - 5
Financial Information - Current
· Bank account balance - $61,645
· Sister Michelle’s Salary - $27,000 a year (for three days a week, as agreed upon in 2018 by NABFVC)
· Yearly software fees - $1,300
· Other possible expenses – $1,000
· Possible new equipment expenses - $2,800
A request from the Core Team in September was to ask Sr. Michelle Sinkhorn to create a scholarship form that included the new NABVFC logo. The requests for scholarships will be approved by the Core Team. Details of those transactions are listed below.
3 scholarships for a total of $850 of the $3,000 set aside by NABVFC T4.
$1,525 was donated to the scholarship fund by T4 members.
Total left in the NABVFC T4 scholarship fund is $3,675.
Should you have any 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 website. ( www.nabvfc.org)
Thank you for your participation and continued support of NABVFC.
Sister Mary Colleen Schwarz, OSB
Benet Hill Monastery, Colorado Springs, CO
Email: smarycolleen@benethillmonastery.org
Office phone: 719-633-0655 ext.134
Cell Phone: 719-209-4630
2021 Report from the Core Team Chair
January 22, 2021
Dear NABVFC friends,
I have chosen a quote from Teilhard de Chardin that best describes the Core Team’s many frustrating attempts in planning in 2020; “Trust in the slow work of God. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.”
Thank you to all who submitted membership forms and fees, and to those communities who donated to the NABVFC Scholarship Fund. We do have scholarship money available so if you know of a community that has chosen not to be a member because of financial concerns, please notify Sr. Karen Lortscher.
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 information in this letter will be posted on our website by the end of January 2021.
NADI 2021
- 2021 NADI will be held at Sacred Heart Monastery, Cullman, AL.
- Director: Sr. Mary Colleen Schwarz, Benet Hill Monastery, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Co-director: Sr. Karen Lortscher, Sacred Heart Monastery, Cullman, AL.
- Fees increased: $1200 for first person; $1000 for each additional person.
- The novices that were scheduled to attend in 2020 are welcomed in 2021.
- DATE IS PENDING: Unknown when retreat center will be opened.
- IT WILL BE HELD!
BSWR 2021
- 2021 BSWR will be held at St. Benedict Monastery, Bristow, Virginia.
- Director: Sr. Andrea Westkamp: Co-director; TBA
- DATE IS PENDING. Unknown when retreat center will be opened.
- IT WILL BE HELD!
NABVFC Symposium Update
It was difficult to plan for the May 2021 symposium because of our current issues with the pandemic. Our intent was to hold the 2021 Symposium virtually. I consulted with our CBP liaison, Sr. Maribeth Wentzlaff to discuss concerns about holding the symposium virtually. The symposium platform provides an opportunity for sisters in the vocation ministry and sisters that are responsible for formation within their communities to dialogue, share ideas, give support, and provide speakers that share their wisdom on current issues in these ministries. Part of the symposium is devoted to a business meeting. One function of that meeting is to elect new core team members. This year we have two core team members whose terms expire. We felt it was important to delay the symposium for a year. This will give us the opportunity to meet in person. The election of new core team members will be delayed until May 2022.
Sr. Maribeth Wentzlaff asked if Sr. Mary Colleen Schwarz and Sr. Eileen Brick would consider extending their term for one more year. Both have agreed to honor this request.
Set your calendar the 2022 Symposium will be held at Sophia Center in Atchison, May 2-6.
NABVFC Financial Report
The financial report as of January 7, 2021 indicates a positive balance of $74,126.39.
- A donation of $125 will be given to Mount St. Scholastica for maintaining and updating our archives.
- BSWR held virtually in October. $1,800 stipend was given to both directors.
- $5,418 was given to Beach Grove retreat center for loss of income for not hosting BSWR.
- The financial report will be e-mailed to the prioress and contact person of each member monastery.
NABVFC Website
The website is continually updated to provide timely, relevant information to all members. All the information is available to the members except for the financial report. The membership directory is posted on our web site.
Sr. Patricia Seipel is our website coordinator. ( www.nabvfc.org)
Mentors
Does this look familiar? It is on the membership form.
BE A MENTOR! Would you be willing to companion a new formation director or vocation director and share your experience with her? Yes _______ No ________
Your Name _________________________________________
Role _______________________________________________
We have had sisters respond to this request. Sr. Karen Lortscher has complied a mentor resource list with contact information. She will be distributing this list by email to the membership communities.
NABVFC T4
Membership statistics
· T4 Members Monasteries - 47
· Countries – 6 - Australia (1), Canada (2), Ireland (1), Micronesia (1), Nigeria (1), U.S. (41)
· Women’s communities – 37
· Men’s communities - 10
· Paid through 2021 (45) 2022 (2)
· Total number of community members – 1,685
· Have members in initial formation – 27 communities.
· Total number of members in initial formation - 71
· Average number of members in initial formation - 3 (Nigeria has 11)
· Participate in Relationship Groups - 37
· Average number of members in a community - 36 (Largest 177 - smallest 2)
· Youngest community member - 21
· Oldest community member - 104
Video Statistics
· T4 Video Library - 348
· T4 Oblate Video Library - 304
· Number of presenters – 44
Relationship Groups Statistics
· U.S. initial formation members participating – 38.
· Number of groups - 7
· Formation directors participating – 28.
· Number of groups - 5
Financial Information - Current
· Bank account balance - $61,645
· Sister Michelle’s Salary - $27,000 a year (for three days a week, as agreed upon in 2018 by NABFVC)
· Yearly software fees - $1,300
· Other possible expenses – $1,000
· Possible new equipment expenses - $2,800
A request from the Core Team in September was to ask Sr. Michelle Sinkhorn to create a scholarship form that included the new NABVFC logo. The requests for scholarships will be approved by the Core Team. Details of those transactions are listed below.
3 scholarships for a total of $850 of the $3,000 set aside by NABVFC T4.
$1,525 was donated to the scholarship fund by T4 members.
Total left in the NABVFC T4 scholarship fund is $3,675.
Should you have any 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 website. ( www.nabvfc.org)
Thank you for your participation and continued support of NABVFC.
Sister Mary Colleen Schwarz, OSB
Benet Hill Monastery, Colorado Springs, CO
Email: smarycolleen@benethillmonastery.org
Office phone: 719-633-0655 ext.134
Cell Phone: 719-209-4630
