Religious Men and Women to Celebrate the Consecrated Life Hundreds of women and men religious and their families and friends will celebrate the gift of consecrated life on Tuesday, February 2, at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. Pope John Paul II designated the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, February 2, as "The World Day for Consecrated Life." The Pope said that the day, "offers the opportunity to thank God for the gift of consecrated life, to promote knowledge of the life and to invite consecrated people to celebrate what the Lord has accomplished in them." In response to the call for celebration, Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick has invited 31 communities of men religious, 63 communities of women religious, their families and friends and the pastors and their staffs to join him in evening prayer. Sister Thomas Mary Salerno, Chancellor and Delegate for Religious in the Archdiocese, is coordinator of the event and looks forward to the opportunity to celebrate with her brothers and sisters in Consecrated Life. "It is a blessing to gather each year to thank God and celebrate in a special way the great gift of consecrated life that so many men and women in the Archdiocese share," she said. "It is my hope that this event will encourage all who attend to seek a deeper understanding of our mission in the Church and in the World." Archbishop McCarrick will preside at the Evening Prayer which will be preceded by a candlelight procession comprised of a representative from each of the congregations which serve in the Archdiocese. Archbishop McCarrick has expressed the hope that the celebration will serve to praise and affirm those in consecrated life as well as give everyone present the opportunity to pray for an increase in vocations to the consecrated life. 'We will all join in prayer to give thanks for the consecrated life" he said, "and ask God to send more men and women religious to serve Him in this way of life". A Priest, a Sister and a Brother will share their thoughts on what consecrated life has meant to them. All are invited to participate in the Evening prayer.
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