Vocation Pathway

A comprehensive strategy to increase priestly vocations in your diocese

SAMPLE TIMELINE

The Vocation Pathway

JULY
JULY

Planning

  • Diocesan Assessment
  • Vocation Plan
  • Plan core events
  • Refine current candidate list
  • Work with bishop to choose
    Vocation Team members

August
August

Vocation Team Formation

  • In-person planning meeting
  • Review Art of Accompaniment
  • Discernment Group leadership training
  • Training on DiscernerBase app
  • Establish calendar of monthly meetings

September
September

Communications

  • Build/Refresh Vocation Office Website
  • Social Media Strategy
  • Seminary Poster
  • Events card with 9-12 months of dates
  • Other critical communications

October
October

Fall Discernment Groups

  • Target: One group per region
  • Enroll all men in DiscernerBase
  • Invite members to next event: retreat or seminary visit

October
October

Presbyteral Workshop

  • Pre-workshop meeting of Vocation Team
  • Inspiration for all priest to be inviters
  • Presentation of Vocation Plan
  • Clear tasks for all priests

November
November

Called by Name

  • Leadership phase in key communities
  • Priests tell vocation stories at Mass
  • Gather names in pew and online
  • Complete contact info for men
  • Follow up from bishop
  • Enroll in DiscernerBase
  • Invitations to events
  • Personal follow up with best candidates
  • Facilitate spiritual direction
  • Send weekly Discernment text

December
December

Discernment Retreat

  • Intense promotion
  • Personal invitations via Vocation Team
  • Well-planned & well-attended
  • Follow up with invitations to Discernment Groups

January
January

Spring Discernment Groups

  • One group per region
  • Enroll all men in DiscernerBase
  • Invite members to next event: retreat or seminary visit

March
March

Seminary Visit

  • Led by Vocation Team Members
  • Personal accompaniment
  • Follow up in days/ weeks afterwards

June
June

Seminarian Media Day

  • Photos and video
  • Brief training for appeal
  • Discernment Group mini-training

June
June

Summer Vocation Events

  • Robust promotion
  • Enroll attendees in DiscernerBase app
  • Invite to Discernment Groups / Seminary Visits

July
July

Formation Appeal

  • Diocesan wide mailing
  • Seminarians visit key parishes
  • In-pew appeal
  • Promote upcoming events

July
July

Reporting & Planning

  • Review year together
  • Reporting on number of candidates
  • Reporting on results of appeal
  • Create plan/timeline for next year

Get Started

Contact Us Now

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

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