Consecrated women and men: Spreading the light of Christ
February 1, 2024 at 12:00 a.m.
A message from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., for World Day for Consecrated Life 2024, which is marked in the Church calendar Feb. 2 and observed in parishes Feb. 3 and 4.
Each year, the Catholic Church celebrates World Day for Consecrated Life. Instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1997, the commemoration is celebrated in conjunction with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas Day recognizing the coming of Christ, the Light of the World, through the symbolic blessing and lighting of candles.
Similarly, consecrated women and men are called to spread the light and love of Jesus Christ through their unique witness of selfless service, such as caring for the poor, the sick and disabled, the contemplative work of prayer, or through their professional careers.
It is a happy coincidence that this day occurs during Catholic Schools Week, a day when we can gratefully acknowledge the historic contribution of countless religious women and men to the work of Catholic education in our country since its establishment.
As Bishop, I celebrate the immeasurable impact that consecrated persons have had on the Church of Trenton. Since its foundation in 1881, the Diocese of Trenton has grown and flourished in countless ways thanks to the presence, prayer and apostolic works of scores of religious women and men who have generously served here in our four counties. We are profoundly in their debt. Our Catholic schools and programs of religious education, our hospitals and nursing homes, our works for the poor, the needy and the elderly, our parishes and diocesan offices could not have succeeded in their mission without the contributions of sisters, brothers and priests in consecrated life.
Along with the prayers and service of consecrated virgins and widows, women and men religious have given the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Trenton a legacy of love and light that endures to the present day. They deserve our grateful prayer and support. With God’s grace, may our Diocese be a source of new vocations to consecrated life, of new and dedicated laborers in the vineyard of the Lord.
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A message from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., for World Day for Consecrated Life 2024, which is marked in the Church calendar Feb. 2 and observed in parishes Feb. 3 and 4.
Each year, the Catholic Church celebrates World Day for Consecrated Life. Instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1997, the commemoration is celebrated in conjunction with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas Day recognizing the coming of Christ, the Light of the World, through the symbolic blessing and lighting of candles.
Similarly, consecrated women and men are called to spread the light and love of Jesus Christ through their unique witness of selfless service, such as caring for the poor, the sick and disabled, the contemplative work of prayer, or through their professional careers.
It is a happy coincidence that this day occurs during Catholic Schools Week, a day when we can gratefully acknowledge the historic contribution of countless religious women and men to the work of Catholic education in our country since its establishment.
As Bishop, I celebrate the immeasurable impact that consecrated persons have had on the Church of Trenton. Since its foundation in 1881, the Diocese of Trenton has grown and flourished in countless ways thanks to the presence, prayer and apostolic works of scores of religious women and men who have generously served here in our four counties. We are profoundly in their debt. Our Catholic schools and programs of religious education, our hospitals and nursing homes, our works for the poor, the needy and the elderly, our parishes and diocesan offices could not have succeeded in their mission without the contributions of sisters, brothers and priests in consecrated life.
Along with the prayers and service of consecrated virgins and widows, women and men religious have given the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Trenton a legacy of love and light that endures to the present day. They deserve our grateful prayer and support. With God’s grace, may our Diocese be a source of new vocations to consecrated life, of new and dedicated laborers in the vineyard of the Lord.