Year of Consecrated Life

Written on: October 8, 2014

(Click on the black bar above to hear the song)

The Diocese of Brooklyn, the Diocese of Rockville Centre, the Vincentian Family and St. John’s University have collaborated in planning a series of Retreat Days during the “Year of Consecrated Life.”  These gatherings, on the second Saturday of each month from December 2014-January 2016, (14 sessions) are posted to their website shortly afterwards for those unable to attend. CLICK HERE  to view the podcasts and for more information about attending future Retreat Days.  The podcasts would be helpful to anyone for private prayer, retreat Sundays or other small group gathering. Each talk is about one hour long.

On Sunday May 3, Vocation Directors in the Philadelphia area participated in a collaborative event in celebration of the Year for Consecrated Life.  The day focused on serving at outreach ministries located in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, especially those staffed and supported by religious congregations. Sisters were joined by young adults in prayer, ministry and fun.  Check out some pictures from the day!

On Sunday April 20, the Grey Nun Associates in the Yardley area hosted a Tea with the Sisters.  Pictures from the afternoon are available on our Flickr page.

The Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart marked their opening of the Year of Consecrated Life on February 2. This date was established as the World Day for Consecrated Life  by Saint Pope John Paul II in 1997. It coincides with the Feast of the Presentation, and Candlemas Day. Most important to the Grey Nuns it is the day we remember the Original Commitment made by Marguerite D’Youville and a small group of sisters. From that tiny group came the six autonomous congregations of Grey Nuns. Each Sister will be provided with small candle to use throughout the year as a reminder of  that original “spark” which she followed through her commitment to consecrated life, and of the light she brings to the world through her life as a Grey Nun of the Sacred Heart.

Candles were blessed at the Motherhouse Mass on February 2 and distributed throughout the Congregation. Sisters are invited to light the candle one time each week and to renew their vows at that time or say a special prayer.

Pope Francis announced that the year 2015 will be dedicated to consecrated life, as he met with the Union of Superiors General in November 2013. During 2015 the worldwide Church will focus on Consecrated Life. Pope Francis is asking the church’s religious sisters, brothers and priests to “Wake The World“ with their testimony of faith, holiness and hope

The Vatican has begun to announce plans for celebrating the Year of Consecrated Life, which will open with Mass on November 21, 2014 marking the 50^th Anniversary of the Vatican II document “On the Church in the Modern World” (November 21, 1964).  The events will conclude on the 50th anniversary of the promulgation of the Second Vatican Council decree “Perfectae Caritatis” on the renewal of religious life. “We are convinced that the council represented the breath of the Holy Spirit not only for the entire church, but in a particular way for consecrated life,” Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz  said. He also noted that, “a key challenge of being Christian and being a religious is looking toward the future with hope. “

With the theme of  “Wake up the world!”—inspired by Pope Francis’ call to action to men and women religious—the logo, (designed by the National Religious Vocation Conference and Vision Magazine) celebrates and promotes consecrated life.

The Year of Consecrated Life will focus on:

• renewal for men and women in consecrated life,
• thanksgiving among the faithful for the service of sisters, brothers, priests, and nuns,
•  invitation to young Catholics to consider a religious vocation

 The GNSH will be celebrating this special year in various ways both as a Congregation and in collaboration with others. We will keep you informed as details are finalized.

This entry was posted in News and tagged: celebration, Perfectae Caritatis, Pope Francis, Religious life, Second Vatican Council, Vatican, Wake up the World, Year of Consecrated Life