April 17, 2009
Ferdinand workshop helps religious communities gain new members
For the sixteenth year, the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand are welcoming representatives from a diversity of religious communities to their popular workshop on gaining new members.
This year, 55 participants are attending “Awakening: A Re-birth of Enthusiasm in Voca-tions,” which continues through Sunday, April 19. The participants come from 17 states, and Canada, Ireland and India; they represent 25 religious communities that are seeking ways to attract new members.
Since 1993, more than 1,600 women and men from 39 countries and hundreds of religious communities have come to Ferdinand for the workshop.
Those attending hear how the Ferdinand Benedictines have worked to strengthen and revitalize their own vocation program and have committed themselves to having a future. (In the last 15 years, they have welcomed 41 new members.)
Past participants have hailed the workshop for both its content and spirit. Their evaluations have included appreciation for such aspects of the workshop as “the practical, down-to-earth information,” “the enthusiasm for vocations shown by the presenters and the entire Ferdinand Benedic-tine community,” recognizing “the need to invest in appropriately trained personnel,” and “seeing that vocations can be gotten by a proactive commitment.”
Many express appreciation to the Benedictine sisters for, in the words of one participant, their “willingness to share with us their materials, resources, expertise, and challenges.”
The annual workshop has made the Ferdinand Benedic-tines well known among religious communities internationally. Some communities have sent participants over several years so more of their members are exposed to the workshop ideas. Religious com-munities in Australia, England and Ireland have even invited sisters from Ferdinand to present condensed versions of the workshop in those countries.
The Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand are 169 religious women who minister in schools, parishes, church institutions, retreat centers, health care facilities and social service agencies. They currently serve in Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Maryland, Italy and Peru. More information is available at their web site: www.thedome.org