Vocation Pathway

A comprehensive strategy to increase priestly vocations in your diocese

DIRECTION FOR VOCATION DIRECTORS

Be All You Can Be

Vocation Pathway lays out a clear plan so you can be the Vocation Director you want to be: focused, efficient, and effective.

  • Focus on what matters
  • Know exactly what to do
  • Lead a competent team
  • Connect directly with men
  • Work fully funded
  • Deliver more priests for your diocese
Schedule a Meeting
Contact Us
OVERVIEW OF VOCATION PATHWAY

Increase Priestly Vocations

Vocation Pathway is a highly focused strategy to help Vocation Offices increase priestly vocations.

It begins with forming and training a robust Vocation Team, then identifying faithful young men and accompanying them as they discern their vocations.

Vocation Pathway is a self-sustaining effort that funds itself, as well as contributing to the cost of seminarian formation.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE PATHWAY

Laser-Sharp Focus on What Works

  • Form a small team of well-trained priests
  • Create an established “pipeline” of faithful young men
  • Ensure robust attendance at in-person events
  • Follow up consistently, gently, and relentlessly. No man left behind!
  • Greatly increase the number of applicants and seminarians
  • Fund the entire effort
  • Repeat to create an established pathway to priesthood
DIRECTION FOR VOCATION DIRECTORS

Be All You Can Be

Vocation Pathway lays out a clear plan so you can be the Vocation Director you want to be: focused, efficient, and effective.

  • Focus on what matters
  • Know exactly what to do
  • Lead a competent team
  • Connect directly with men
  • Work fully funded
  • Deliver more priests for your diocese
Schedule a Meeting
Contact Us
OVERVIEW OF VOCATION PATHWAY

Increase Priestly Vocations

Vocation Pathway is a highly focused strategy to help Vocation Offices increase priestly vocations.

It begins with forming and training a robust Vocation Team, then identifying faithful young men and accompanying them as they discern their vocations.

Vocation Pathway is a self-sustaining effort that funds itself, as well as contributing to the cost of seminarian formation.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE PATHWAY

Laser-Sharp Focus on What Works

  • Form a small team of well-trained priests
  • Create an established “pipeline” of faithful young men
  • Ensure robust attendance at in-person events
  • Follow up consistently, gently, and relentlessly. No man left behind!
  • Greatly increase the number of applicants and seminarians
  • Fund the entire effort
  • Repeat to create an established pathway to priesthood

Harvesting, not planting seeds

Vocation Pathway is not an awareness program that “plants seeds.” Rather, it is focused on working directly with young men to harvest the crop that God has already planted.

Harvesting, not planting seeds

Vocation Pathway is not an awareness program that “plants seeds.” Rather, it is focused on working directly with young men to harvest the crop that God has already planted.

OVERVIEW OF VOCATION PATHWAY

People-Focused & Encounter-Driven

Vocation Pathway “cuts the fat” and focuses on getting men to in-person events. You likely already conduct some version of these events–but we’ll help you re-tool, re-focus, and in some cases, start fresh. In the end, you’ll whittle down your “core list” to a handful of key encounters:

  • Discernment Groups
  • Seminary Visits
  • Vocation Camps
  • Discernment Retreats
  • Liturgical Events
  • Other established in-person encounters
SUPPORT IN DISCERNMENT

Young Men on the Vocation Pathway

  • Recognized by the community as a man of faith
  • Invited by the bishop to consider the priesthood
  • Accompanied by Vocation Team members
  • Welcomed into a community of discerners
  • Offered the gift of spiritual direction
  • Shown the power of the priesthood
  • Guided in principles of discernment
  • Helped to overcome fear of unworthiness
  • Drawn closer to Jesus in the process
  • Supported no matter what vocation he chooses
NO MAN LEFT BEHIND

Consistent Follow Up

Probably the single greatest challenge for Vocation Directors is consistent follow up.

What happened to that guy who came to the retreat? Did you ever call the man your priest friend recommended? What about the student who said he wanted to apply?

A huge part of Vocation Pathway is consistent, gentle, and relentless follow up. We’ll set up your custom DiscernerBase app, train your team how to accompany young men, then walk with you month by month. No man left behind!

NO NET COST TO THE VOCATION OFFICE

A Self-Sustaining Approach

Vocation Pathway includes a specialized appeal that funds the entire program and contributes toward seminarian formation. This is conducted in a way that does not conflict or compete with the annual diocesan appeal or your other fundraising efforts. And in fact, the strategy we use further promotes vocations throughout the diocese.

OVERVIEW OF VOCATION PATHWAY

People-Focused & Encounter-Driven

Vocation Pathway “cuts the fat” and focuses on getting men to in-person events. You likely already conduct some version of these events–but we’ll help you re-tool, re-focus, and in some cases, start fresh. In the end, you’ll whittle down your “core list” to a handful of key encounters:

  • Discernment Groups
  • Seminary Visits
  • Vocation Camps
  • Discernment Retreats
  • Liturgical Events
  • Other established in-person encounters
SUPPORT IN DISCERNMENT

Young Men on the Vocation Pathway

  • Recognized by the community as a man of faith
  • Invited by the bishop to consider the priesthood
  • Accompanied by Vocation Team members
  • Welcomed into a community of discerners
  • Offered the gift of spiritual direction
  • Shown the power of the priesthood
  • Guided in principles of discernment
  • Helped to overcome fear of unworthiness
  • Drawn closer to Jesus in the process
  • Supported no matter what vocation he chooses
SHEPHERDING THE SHEEP

Consistent Follow Up

Probably the single greatest challenge for Vocation Directors is consistent follow up.

What happened to that guy who came to the retreat? Did you ever call the man your priest friend recommended? What about the student who said he wanted to apply?

A huge part of Vocation Pathway is consistent, gentle, and relentless follow up. We have a specialized Discerner Database app, and we’ll train your team how to accompany young men, then walk with you month by month. No man left behind!

NO NET COST TO THE VOCATION OFFICE

A Self-Sustaining Approach

Vocation Pathway includes a specialized appeal that funds the entire program and contributes toward seminarian formation. This is conducted in a way that does not conflict or compete with the annual diocesan appeal or your other fundraising efforts. And in fact, the strategy we use further promotes vocations throughout the diocese.

Why Vocation Pathway?

 

Purposeful

Gain a sense of peace and purposefulness from settling on a unified, rock-solid strategy

 

Fraternal

Get support by collaborating with a team of priest-peers instead of working alone

 

Confidence

Rest assured that “the back end” is being handled by experts at Vianney Vocations

 

Efficient

Cut out wasted efforts on mediocre ideas that don’t bear fruit

 

 

Fully Funded

Focus on outcomes instead of worrying about costs

 

Compatible

Works in concert with your other vocation efforts

 

Communal

Involves the entire diocese in fostering priestly vocations

 

Repeatable

Establishes an annual cycle of men moving toward seminary

 
Schedule a Meeting
Contact Us

Why Vocation Pathway?

Purposeful

Gain a sense of peace and purposefulness from settling on a unified, rock-solid strategy

Fraternal

Get support by collaborating with a team of priest-peers instead of working alone

Confidence

Rest assured that “the back end” is being handled by experts at Vianney Vocations

Efficient

Cut out wasted efforts on mediocre ideas that don’t bear fruit

Fully Funded

Focus on outcomes instead of worrying about costs

Compatible

Works in concert with your other vocation efforts

Communal

Involves the entire diocese in fostering priestly vocations

Repeatable

Establishes an annual cycle of men moving toward seminary

Schedule a Meeting
Contact Us
DOES THIS WORK? HOW MUCH IS IT?

Vocation Pathway FAQs

Does Vocation Pathway work? After 15 years of working with more than 100 dioceses, we are confident that this is the only approach that works (and believe us, we’ve tried out a lot of ideas). Vocation Pathway does not include “all the things.” It doesn’t even use all the resources Vianney Vocations offers. Instead, it is laser-focused on personally working with young men.

Could we do this on our own? Thanks be to God, many dioceses already have in place various components of Vocation Pathway. But to implement the full strategy year after year, most dioceses need help. Vianney Vocations augments your staff to provide the manpower and expertise to run the “back end.” We help everything stay on track and run smoothly so you can focus on what matters most: working with the men. And there will be a LOT of men!

How much does this cost? Vocation Pathway costs roughly the same as one seminarian. But that won’t matter, because our approach not only pays for the program itself, but contributes to the formation of the new seminarians that will result. In the end, the diocese will experience a net gain in funding.

Will this conflict with our current efforts? No. Vocation Pathway doesn’t replace the good things you already have going on in your diocese. Have parish vocation teams? Run a fantastic summer camp? Do an annual fundraiser? Keep doing them! Vocation Pathway unifies your efforts. In some cases, you will naturally let go of ineffective initiatives, but most of the time, Vocation Pathway will complement current strengths.

DOES THIS WORK? HOW MUCH IS IT?

Vocation Pathway FAQs

Does Vocation Pathway work? After 15 years of working with more than 100 dioceses, we are confident that this is the only approach that works (and believe us, we’ve tried out a lot of ideas). Vocation Pathway does not include “all the things.” It doesn’t even use all the resources Vianney Vocations offers. Instead, it is laser-focused on personally working with young men.

Could we do this on our own? Thanks be to God, many dioceses already have in place various components of Vocation Pathway. But to implement the full strategy year after year, most dioceses need help. Vianney Vocations augments your staff to provide the manpower and expertise to run the “back end.” We help everything stay on track and run smoothly so you can focus on what matters most: working with the men. And there will be a LOT of men!

How much does this cost? Vocation Pathway costs roughly the same as one seminarian. But that won’t matter, because our approach not only pays for the program itself, but contributes to the formation of the new seminarians that will result. In the end, the diocese will experience a net gain in funding.

Will this conflict with our current efforts? No. Vocation Pathway doesn’t replace the good things you already have going on in your diocese. Have parish vocation teams? Run a fantastic summer camp? Do an annual fundraiser? Keep doing them! Vocation Pathway unifies your efforts. In some cases, you will naturally let go of ineffective initiatives, but most of the time, Vocation Pathway will complement current strengths.

Involves the Whole Diocese

From identfying faithful young men to funding their formation, the entire diocese is involved. In particular, priests and seminarians play key roles.

Involves the Whole Diocese

From identfying faithful young men to funding their formation, the entire diocese is involved. In particular, priests and seminarians play key roles.

ACTIONS TO HELP FOSTER VOCATIONS

Components of Vocation Pathway

 

  • Vocation Office Assessment
  • Vocation Team Formation
  • Presbyteral Workshop on Vocations
  • Vocation Office Website
  • Called by Name Campaign
  • Discerner Database App
  • Weekly Texts to Discerners
  • Discernment Group Training
  • Targeted Discernment Events
  • Accountability for Personal Follow Up
  • Monthly Team Meetings
  • Seminarian Media Day
  • Diocesan Funding Appeal
  • Essential Communications
  • Benchmark Reporting on Results
PROCESS OVERVIEW

The Vocation Pathway

Form a Vocation Team

Enlist priest-collaborators in every deanery

• Leadership from bishop
• Regional responsibilities
• Assign key roles
• Ongoing training
• Monthly meetings

Identify

Identify a large number of faithful Catholic men

• Refine candidate lists
• Called by Name leadership phase
• Called by Name campaign
• DiscernerBase app

Accompany

Mentor young men in discernment

• Weekly discernment texts
• Spiritual direction
• Discernment groups
• Discernment retreats
• Seminary visits
• Other in-person events
• Seminary Application

Fund

Specialized funding process

• Seminarian Media Day
• Vocation Formation Appeal
• Benchmarks and reporting

ACTIONS TO HELP FOSTER VOCATIONS

Components of Vocation Pathway

  • Vocation Office Assessment
  • Vocation Team Formation
  • Presbyteral Workshop on Vocations
  • Vocation Office Website
  • Called by Name Campaign
  • Discerner Database App
  • Weekly Texts to Discerners
  • Discernment Group Training
  • Targeted Discernment Events
  • Accountability for Personal Follow Up
  • Monthly Team Meetings
  • Seminarian Media Day
  • Diocesan Funding Appeal
  • Essential Communications
  • Benchmark Reporting on Results
PROCESS OVERVIEW

The Vocation Pathway

Form a Vocation Team

Enlist priest-collaborators in every deanery

• Leadership from bishop
• Regional responsibilities
• Assign key roles
• Ongoing training
• Monthly meetings

Identify

Identify a large number of faithful Catholic men

• Refine candidate lists
• Called by Name leadership phase
• Called by Name campaign
• DiscernerBase app

Accompany

Mentor young men in discernment

• Weekly discernment texts
• Spiritual direction
• Discernment groups
• Discernment retreats
• Seminary visits
• Other in-person events
• Seminary Application

Fund

Specialized funding process

• Seminarian Media Day
• Vocation Formation Appeal
• Benchmarks and reporting

Get Started

Contact Us Now

Sam Alzheimer
sam@vianneyvocations.com
229-316-0280

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