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MARINE CORPS MARATHON AND 10K
Sunday Oct. 30, 2011
Run for Vocations invites runners and walkers of all experience levels to join in the upcoming Marine Corps Marathon and 10K. Each year, a group of priests, seminarians and lay people from the Archdiocese of Washington run the marathon and 10K as a way to pray and sacrifice in support of our future priests and our Church. By joining your prayers with theirs, and by making a donation in the name of the team, you can make a difference.
Dear Marine Corps Marathon Participant,
While all the runners in the stadium take part in the race, the award goes to one man. In that case run so as to win! Athletes deny themselves all sorts of things. They do this to win a crown of leaves that withers, but we a crown that is imperishable.
- 1Corinthians 9:24-26
Welcome to the Run for Vocations Team! We had a great season last year and are really looking forward to this year! We raised a significant amount of financial assistance for our seminarians and witnessed a growth in numbers and enthusiasm of our RFV team as well. Have no doubt that your support of priest vocations is an admirable effort and most appreciated.
A few years back I ran the marathon myself and found it to be one of the most difficult, yet rewarding, experiences in my life. For the last two years, I have run the 10K and enjoyed it immensely. I hope and pray that you will enjoy your training and Marine Corps Marathon experience on October 31st.
The seminarians of the Archdiocese of Washington will benefit from your prayers, witness, and financial support. What makes this program unique is a spiritual element that will enable the participants to grow in holiness by offering prayers and sacrifices for the good of our future priests and the Church. Please consider offering prayers not only for an increase in priest vocations but also for those priests who are currently in the seminary as you train for this strenuous program. Remember that any discomforts you incur during your training and the MCM experience itself is a wonderful way to offer up prayers for our seminarians. I am a firm believer in the power of prayer to move hearts to bring us holy priests. Personally, I am absolutely sure I was "prayed" into the seminary.
I am confident that your network of family, friends, and co-workers will be more than happy to support your marathon endeavor for our Run for Vocations cause. I encourage you to raise as many funds as possible with a minimum goal of $500 for the full Marathon and $250 for the 10K. This minimum is significantly lower than the other MCM charities. The Archdiocese provides our seminarians with the basic costs of an education, housing and food, but your fundraising provides for expenses that are not covered, including medical expenses, books, travel expenses to family if an emergency arises, and spiritual enrichment programs.
We have simplified the registration this year by putting a form on line that can be filled out on line and emailed to our office, and we will be putting all the necessary Run for Vocations documents and information on our website.
I look forward to our team gatherings this season and hope you will be able to attend! Be assured of my prayers for you, and thanks for all that you do for our seminarians – our future priests.
Gratefully in Christ,
Reverend Monsignor Robert J. Panke
Director of Priest Vocations and Formation
301-853-4580 – Office
Back to top Register for the Marathon or 10K
All levels of runners and walkers are welcome. A variety of training options are available, and team events are planned.
• Marathon: The registration fee for the marathon is $100. Minimum fundraising requirement is $500.
• 10K Race: The registration fee for the 10K is $5 for the RFV team and $45 for the race itself (you must register with the marine corps marathon as well). The minimum fundraising requirement is $250.
For more information about the Run for Vocations, contact Jenny Mulhare, 301-853-4580 or mulharej@adw.org
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Keys to Developing a Run for Vocations Parish Team
History of RFV
Run for Vocations (RFV) began in 1999 as a program to pray and sacrifice for future priests and the Church. Priests, seminarians, and lay people of all levels of experience were encouraged to join the Marathon and the 10K as runners or walkers and to enlist donations from supporters. In addition to individual participants, in 2009 parishes, with the support of their pastors, began to form Run for Vocations teams.
Fundraising for RFV
RFV is a fundraiser and therefore a means to an end. The Archdiocese of Washington provides each seminarian with an education, housing, and food. Unanticipated expenses occur, however, and that's where the donations made in the name of RFV make such a profound difference in the life of the seminarian. The money raised covers such expenses as medical costs, travel expenses for family emergencies, and opportunities for spiritual enrichment.
Role of the Pastor or Priest
"Ye shall know them by their fruits." (Matt 7:16)
- RFV is a call to service and spiritual growth, and the priest is fundamental to the overall success of the program. He creates a "garden" of the parish with rich soil in which the RFV seed can flourish.
- The pastor should be intimately involved with the RFV activities, guiding the parish team leader and team members by helping them to prioritize and secure donations.
- Any solicitation for funds or notices to the parish bulletin must be approved by the Pastor. Prayer is key!
Responsibilities of a Parish Team Leader
Managing a Team
"On their return, the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with Him and withdrew privately." (Luke 9:10)
- The team leader, in particular, should stay engaged with the team by supporting and encouraging them via personal phone calls or emails.
- Put gentle pressure on each team member to fundraise. This cannot be done only individually but by group activities, including bake sales, car washes, and rummage sales. Enlist the help of local restaurants by asking them to donate a portion of their sales during a designated period of time.
- Remind people that all donations are tax deductible.
- Be sensitive to other's financial abilities to donate. Find benefactors in the parish.
- Keep up with group and individual fundraising, and don't wait until the last minute.
Fostering Team Mentality
"You shall reap what you sow!" (Gal 6:7)
- Encourage training groups and training partners.
- Suggest group fundraising as a great way to
build team spirit.
- Plan team social events in order to enlist others.
- Encourage runners and walkers to recruit friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
- Set membership goals: "Let's see if we can get 5, then 10, then 20, then 30!"
Recruiting
"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (1 Cor 9:25)
- Advertise via personal invitation, church bulletins, informational meetings, phone calls, and subtle arm-twisting.
- Make it personal, using a seminarian's name: "Run for Martino!" or "Run for Dan!"
- Take the Bucket List angle: I'd always wanted to run a marathon or 10K…"
- If someone says, "I'm out of shape," assure them that this will be a wonderful way to get into shape!
- If someone says they are too busy to train, encourage them to walk the 10K.
- If someone can neither run nor walk, ask them to sponsor another runner or walker.
Delegating
"And He appointed twelve, whom He also named apostles, to be with Him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message." (Mark 3:1-4)
- Delegating builds team mentality, reduces the workload, increases overall efficiency and productivity, and encourages responsibility and accountability.
- Avoid micromanaging. Encourage others to use their gifts and skills, and then let them loose.
- Hold others accountable, but remember the team leader is ultimately responsible.
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Run for Vocations Fundraising Ideas
- Write a letter or an email to family, friends, colleagues, faithful Catholics, school contacts, and parishioners to enlist their support.
Here is a sample fundraising letter.
- Advertise in your parish bulletin to solicit donations from the advertisers in your church bulletin.
- Invite family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues to a RFV fundraising party!
Consider a wine tasting event, a ladies' fashion show or luncheon, an afternoon tea, a scotch and cigar party, Casino Night, a raffle, a car wash, a golf or tennis outing, a jewelry or bridge party, a cooking class, a jewelry show, a Spring Triple Crown Horse Race, or a yard sale.
- Organize a Catholic School Tag Day by seeking approval from the Day School principal to devote one of their Tag Day (out of uniform day) charities to benefit the seminarians during the Marathon season.
- Sell donuts after Mass or before school.
- Church Collection. Seek your pastor's approval to have a special weekend collection for a $1 donation to the RFV marathon. Last year, we had great success in soliciting funds from the parishes. You may want to ask your pastor to make an announcement to say that you will be asking for donations in the vestibule after Mass.
But, above all, don't forget to talk it up! Share your Marathon quest with everyone you know and, depending upon their ability to give, ask for donations for such a worthy cause.
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Important Run for the Vocations Dates to Remember
May 21 Kick-Off Meeting
(Saturday) 5:30 p.m. Vigil Mass
6:30p.m. reception in the
Parish Council Room
St. Patrick - DC
619 10th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
May 25 Kick-Off Meeting
6:00 p.m.
(Wednesday) Archdiocese of Washington Pastoral Center
5001 Eastern Avenue
Hyattsville, MD 20782
July 15 RFV Get-together – 6-8 p.m.
(Friday) Our Lady of Lourdes
7500 Pearl Street
Bethesda, MD 20814
TBA Party for Marathon Runners
Carol and Kevin Flannery
3601 King William Drive
Olney, MD 20832
October 28 Shirt Pick-up/Money Delivery
(Friday) 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Blessed John Paul II Seminary
145 Taylor Street, NE
Washington, DC. 20017
October 29 Shirt Pickup and Money delivery 2-5 p.m (Rectory)
(Saturday) 5:30 p.m. Vigil Mass
St. Patrick (DC)
619 10th Street. NW
Washington, DC 20001
OCTOBER 30 MARATHON!
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Donations
How will your donation help? Fundraising directly affects the seminarians and the work of vocations in the Archdiocese of Washington. The archdiocese provides each seminarian with an education, housing and food. Yet, other unexpected expenses occur, and that’s where donations made in the name of the Run for Vocations team come in. In the past, they have covered seminarian medical costs, travel expenses in the event of a family emergency, and spiritual enrichment opportunities. Donate now!
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