Leaders announce special ‘Days with Religious’
WASHINGTON, D.C.—As the Catholic Church prepares to celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life, Sister Marcia Allen took part in a news conference this morning to announce three special “Days with Religious” initiatives in 2015.
Sister Marcia, president of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, represented the Leadership Conference of Women Religious at the news conference. She was named president-elect of that organization in August. Also taking part this morning were Sister Marie Bernadette Thompson, representing the Conference of Major Superiors of Women Religious; Rev. James Greenfield, representing the Conference of Major Superiors of Men; and Bishop Michael F. Burbridge of Raleigh, N.C., representing the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations.
The news conference was telecast live via the internet from USCCB headquarters in Washington.
Pope Francis proclaimed 2015 a Year of Consecrated Life, starting on the First Sunday of Advent, the weekend of Nov. 29, 2014, and ending on Feb. 2, 2016, the World Day of Consecrated life. The year also marks the 50th anniversary of Perfectae Caritatis, a decree on religious life, and Lumen Gentium, the Second Vatican Council’s constitution on the Church. Its purpose, as stated by the Vatican is to “make a grateful remembrance of the recent past” while embracing “the future with hope.”
“The ‘Days with Religious’ activities will represent great opportunities for families and adults to look at the many ways men and women serve Christ and the Church while answering the call to live in consecrated life,” said Bishop Burbidge.
Catholics are invited to join activities that will be promoted in collaboration all the organizations represented.
The events planned are as follows:
• Feb, 8, 2015: Religious Open House. Events will be coordinated to also celebrate the World Meeting of Families to take place in Philadelphia and will include tours, open houses, receptions, family activities, and presentations on the history of religious communities at convents, abbeys, monasteries and religious houses.
• Summer 2015: Day of Mission and Service with Religious. Events will include joining religious in their apostolates or special service projects, such as assisting the elderly, ministering to the poor and homeless, and caring for the less fortunate.
• Sept. 13, 2015: Day of Prayer with Religious. Events will include vespers, rosary or holy hours in convents, monasteries, religious houses, parishes and churches.
— Compiled from information provided by the USCCB