NEW YORK — To coincide with the academic calendar, Holy Name’s Vocation Office recently concluded its “spring semester” by planning vocation weekends for the 2009-2010 term and finalizing the content of its promotional video.
The Vocations Committee is also developing a strategic plan for vocations for the Province, said vocation director Brian Smail, OFM.
“We are planning two discernment retreats for interested men considering a vocation. These weekends are for those who may not be ready to participate in a ‘Come and See’ weekend, but rather, wish to deepen their discernment process by participating in a retreat weekend.”
He added: “The weekends consist of a series of talks, sharing and quiet time. One weekend is scheduled for Boston and another at the St. Francis Springs retreat house in North Carolina. Basil Valente, OFM, is also organizing an overnight retreat at Mt. Irenaeus that I will participate in.”
In addition, Brian and the staff are considering new advertising opportunities and completing the edits on the promotional vocation DVD.
“The DVD will be completed shortly, and will be used for a variety of purposes,” he said. “It can be mailed to those who contact the Vocation Office for information about vocations, used for ‘Come and See’ weekends and shown at parish vocation events.”
In addition to Brian, Michael Carnevale, OFM, Michael Harlan, OFM, Daniel Horan, OFM, Anthony LoGalbo, OFM,and Frank Sevola, OFM, participated in the video, speaking about their Franciscan life experiences.
The Vocation Office’s “Life Shift” ad has appeared in a variety of media outlets since its first apeparance on theh New York subways in December; recently, it was published in a special vocations section of the May 22 issue ofThe Pilot, the publicaton of the Archdiocese of Boston.