Br. John Eustice, CSV, speaks from the heart when he invites young people to consider religious life. He has been involved in vocation ministry since 2014 and has served has as Coordinator of Vocation Ministry for the Viatorians for the last five years.
This week, Br. John is one of four presenters during an orientation program for new vocation directors, hosted virtually by the National Religious Vocations Conference in Chicago. The online workshop runs through Saturday and will cover more than 70 topics for new vocation ministers.
Officials with the NRVC say supporting new vocation directors is key: “There are still significant numbers of women and men who are responding to a call to religious life,” they say, “and (we) are hopeful about its future.”
The orientation program to provide some of the practicalities of contemporary vocation ministry. Topics include covering the foundational elements of vocation ministry; assessment of inquirers and discerners; application and admission process; vocation promotion, ethics and boundaries, resiliency and self-care of the vocation director.
Br. John brings years of experience in youth ministry to the conference. He has an undergraduate degree in education from UNLV and holds a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, Chicago. He has served as in campus ministry as well as in youth and young adult ministry. He also served as a parish pastoral associate in Central America, and most recently, as vice president of mission and identity at Saint Viator High School.
Currently, Br. John is a full-time student at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, pursuing a Master’s in Divinity, in preparation for ordination.