About Us

The National Office for Vocation is an Office of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales. Our mission is to:

  • Build a culture of vocation in the Church in England and Wales
  • Promote the calls to specific vocations, including priesthood, the diaconate, marriage, the religious life and all other forms of consecrated life.

The inspiration for the creation of the Office came from the Church document of 1997 entitled ‘New Vocations for a New Europe, (In Verbo Tuo.)’ This offers a vision of the Church as a community of the called whose task is to call others.

Chairman: Rt. Rev. Terence Drainey – Bishop of Middlesbrough

Staff

Sr ElaineDIRECTOR
SR. ELAINE PENRICE

Sr. Elaine joined the office in June 2016, working as Religious Life Promoter. Recently appointed the office’s director, Sr. Elaine is responsible for the overall strategy of the office, its interface with vocations directors and its public relations. Sr. Elaine is a Daughter of St. Paul, an international religious congregation of consecrated religious founded to evangelise with the modern means of communication.

RELIGIOUS LIFE PROMOTER
SR. FRANCES KELLY

Sr. Frances is the newest member of the office, having joined in November 2019. She is responsible for supporting the vocations personnel of religious congregations, particularly those setting up discernment groups. She also responds to enquiries from those making initial steps to discern religious life, and assist in promoting a balanced representation of consecrated life on social media. 


VOCATIONS ADMINISTRATOR
JULIET CHIOSSO

Juliet joined the office in 2011. She is responsible for producing the office’s newsletters, keeping the website up-to-date, maintaining the applicants for priesthood database and helps create video materials.