By Father John Adamski

Father Jerry E. Hardy, Atlanta director of vocations, presided at the opening of the annual National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors held last week in San Diego, California. In stating the theme for the week-long convention, Father Hardy, who is president of the conference, stressed the positive value of personal sharing among the convention participants. He indicated that vocation directors can find new optimism and hope for their work through their willingness to support and assist each other.

Over 100 priests, brothers, sisters and laymen attended the convention, which was held at the San Diego Hilton Inn. Also attending was Bishop Raymond Vonesh, chairman of the American Bishops’ Committee on Vocations, and five other bishops who are committee members. Father Neal Dolan, San Diego vocation director, served as host for the convention.

As celebrant for the opening Liturgy of the Eucharist, Father Hardy stressed the identity of the vocation director. In his homily, he reminded the participants that they must stay in close contact with Christ in order to realize who they are as vocation personnel. Father Hardy insisted that the question of identity is not connected so much with what one does, as much as with who one is in his faith response to God.

Father Hardy conducted the conference business meeting which passed resolutions supporting the sharing of Church personnel between larger and smaller American dioceses, called for the development of a job description for vocation directors and urged the promotion of lay vocations for Church service especially in home and foreign mission areas.

Members of the conference also called their attention to the vocation report which Bishop Vonesh will present at the annual meeting of the American bishops which will take place during November in Washington.