Washington, D.C. Archbishop Donald Wuerl at the dedication Mass for the Knights of Columbus Incarnation Dome.

Vocations are the life blood of the Church, and over the past several decades we have placed a growing emphasis on encouraging and financially supporting vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Since the RSVP program began in 1981, it has provided more than $41 million to nearly 66,000 men and women to enable them to pursue their vocations. Last year, 4,731 seminarians, postulants and novices received a total of more than $2.7 million in support from 2,590 councils, assemblies and circles.

In addition, the Father Michael J. McGivney and Bishop Thomas V. Daily scholarship programs, established by the Supreme Board of Directors in 1992 and 1997, support more than a hundred seminarians in their studies this year. McGivney scholarships are awarded based on need, and during the past academic year, we selected 34 new recipients and renewed 59 more. The Bishop Daily scholarships are based on merit and academic excellence, and during the year just ended, we chose 11 new recipients and renewed 20 who are continuing their studies. Washington,