Father Jerry E. Hardy, assistant chancellor and director of vocations for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, was elected President of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors.

The election took place at the eighth annual convention held last week in Denver. Father Hardy had served for two years as secretary of the national group before his election to the presidency.

At 32, Father Hardy is the youngest president ever elected by the national membership.

Some 135 delegates, from dioceses and archdioceses across the nation, attended the four-day session, the theme of which was "Service to One Another."

Commenting on the convention, Father Hardy said that it was the most uplifting meeting he had attended during the five years of his association with the group. "I felt there were some real strong and hopeful convictions shared about the ministry and its future," he said.

Also elected to the executive board were Rev. Neal Dolan, vice-president, from the Diocese of San Diego, Rev. Michael Ryan, secretary, from the Diocese of Seattle, and Msgr. Edward Thompson, treasurer, from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Rev. Jack Kinsella from the Archdiocese of Baltimore was named executive secretary by the executive board. Father Ed Baldwin, outgoing president remains as active member of the executive board.

This national group gives the American bishops a current reading of the vocational situation in this country and at the same time provides for corporate action in the vocations apostolate.