World Day for Consecrated Life ends year of the same name
The B.C. Catholic
Everyone should strive to imitate the humble lives of religious people, said Father Joseph Nguyen.
“As we celebrate the closing of the Year of Consecrated Life, we contemplate the humility and obedience” that these religious have, said Father Nguyen, the vicar general of the Archdiocese of Vancouver. “We thank God for the gift of consecrated life, which beautifies and enriches the Church.”
Religious and lay people came together to pray for the cause of consecrated life on the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life in Our Lady of Sorrows Church Feb. 2. At the Mass, attendees lit candles as they renewed their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
“Bishops, priests, religious, and lay people are the stones upon which we are to grow,” Father Nguyen said. “We thank God for the gifts of poverty, chastity, and obedience.”
There are more local religious communities than there have ever been in the past, Father Nguyen said. “Tonight we reflect on the life of the local church, and we look back to the past with gratitude.” The Archdiocese of Vancouver initially had three religious communities, but over the years, the number increased to 57.
“I wanted to be here to honour the men and women who committed themselves to the Lord and the mission of the Church,” Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, said in his opening address at the Mass. “I would ask that you keep praying for the enrichment of the local church.”
The archbishop thanked the religious for their work, and emphasized the need for more religious men and women. “It would be wonderful if one day we had the same number of religious people as priests,” he said. “I encourage you to pray for the growth of consecrated life, and for (those called) to respond to the Lord’s call.”
The need for more vocations was also on the mind of some religious. “The Church needs more people to serve others,” said Sister Marilyn Antonio, SNDS. “It’s really important because there are a lot of people to serve and bring to God, so we need more consecrated people.”
Sister Antonio said Vancouver was lacking in consecrated women, especially when compared to cities in other countries. “Here, we’re just counting (the sisters) by tens, twenties,” she laughed. “In my country, the Philippines, consecrated women congregations are more than 300.”
“Life would be tragic if we had plenty to live on, but nothing to live for,” added Father Nguyen.
