World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life
In 1997, Pope St. John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2. This feast is also known as Candlemas Day, the day on which candles are blessed, symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ in a radical way to all peoples.
The consecrated life is one way that women and men live out their baptismal commitment as followers of Christ. We recognize and give thanks for those who have consecrated their lives to God and the Church. Please pray for all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life as a religious sister or brother, and be sure to thank them on their special day.
As a parish family, we are blessed by the presence and witness of several religious sisters who choose to worship with our faith community on a regular basis. Posters of persons currently in formation (consecrated religious, the permanent diaconate, and seminarians) are on display in the narthex. Consider committing one of their names to memory. Pray for them as they continue their discernment in their respective houses of formation, and for those responsible for guiding the spiritual growth of novices, candidates, and seminarians.
Given the occasion, I am pleased to share that shortly after Christmas, I received a handwritten letter and update from Elke White, a daughter of our parish presently discerning a call to consecrated religious life with the Sisters at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Crozet, Virginia. She writes: “Choosing to come here was the very best decision of my life,” and that “every illusion I had about religious life has been shattered. There is so much joy and laughter here, and every day is lived to the full.” She was highlighted in their community Christmas letter which stated: “Elke contributes her very lively and loving presence along with her skills as nurse, organist, gardener, and maker of wonderful jams and jellies!”
God bless her and all those in formation!
Fr. Terry