Pope Francis has declared that 2015 will be a year dedicated to the celebration and promotion of consecrated life in the Church.
This “Year of Consecrated Life” actually begins on 30th November 2014 and ends on February 2nd 2016, the annual World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. The Pope is asking the Church’s religious sisters, brothers and priests, together with other forms of consecrated life, to “wake up the Church” with their testimony of faith, holiness and hope. The year will be an opportunity for religious congregations to reflect on their particular charisms, the challenges they face today and on their continuing contribution to the mission of the Church.
Here in Westminster Diocese, we are marking The Year for Consecrated Life by dedicating all of our monthly Vocations Discernment Group meetings for young adults to reflections /discussions with members of different religious congregations. We begin on Friday 24 October with Fr Matt Blake, a Discalced Carmelite, on St Teresa of Avila, and a month later, on Friday 28 November, Fr Gianni Notarianni, an Augustinian, on St Augustine. Each speaker will reflect on why they have personally been inspired by this particular saint of their own congregation and what they feel the saint and their congregation have to offer the Church and those discerning their vocation today. It promises to be a really inspiring journey across the diverse and rich landscape of consecrated life, celebrating its continuing relevance and fertility for the world today.
The Westminster Vocations Discernment Group is for young adults (18-30’s) seeking to know God’s will for their lives. We meet from 7-9pm on the fourth Sunday of each month in the Hinsley Room, Morpeth Terrace next to Westminster Cathedral.
For more info and a full programme of the group’s meetings during The Year of Consecrated Life, see www.rcdow.org.uk/vocations or contact Fr Richard at richardnesbitt@rcdow.org.uk
