Parishes Plan Celebrations For Consecrated Life Day
WASHINGTON (January 2, 2004) -- Parishes across the country are organizing celebrations for the eighth annual World Day for Consecrated Life, to be marked Sunday, February 8.
Plans for celebrating the work and lives of the men and women vowed religious and members of secular institutes involve a variety of activities. They include special liturgies and dinners, broadcasting the Mass for Consecrated Life Day on diocesan TV channels, and articles in diocesan newspapers focusing on consecrated life.
The Archdiocese of Chicago has scheduled over 30 priests, brothers and sisters from religious communities in the archdiocese to speak at Sunday Masses. The diocese will send out a mailing including bulletin announcements for World Day for Consecrated Life, a liturgy planning guide, general intercessions, and homily notes for this special liturgy. Cardinal Francis George, a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate religious congregation, will celebrate a Mass at the city's Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, followed by a panel discussion on the challenges and rewards of consecrated life.
The Diocese of Venice, Florida, will celebrate by inviting the religious priests, brothers and sisters of the diocese to a liturgy and dinner. At this celebration, all jubilarians celebrating 25, 50, 60, and 75 years in religious life will be honored with a "This Is Your Life" program.
The parishes in the Archdiocese of Omaha will honor the consecrated men and women in the community during the Masses on February 8. The Knights of Columbus will help with the celebration.
Additional celebration suggestions including downloadable, printable brochures, photos, frequently asked questions and profiles of individuals pursuing the consecrated life are available online at www.consecratedlife.org.