"Days with Religious" will focus on prayer, service and community

Sister Annette Wagner, IWBS is Director of the Office of Consecrated Life in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

As the Catholic Church prepares to celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations is promoting "Days with Religious" initiatives and resources to help families learn about the consecrated life of religious men and women. Activities will focus on sharing experiences of community life, service and prayer with those living a consecrated life.

The Diocese of Corpus Christi will observe World Day of Consecrated Life at the Corpus Christi Cathedral on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015 with a 9:30 a.m. Mass, followed by reception at St. Joseph Hall in honor of those in religious life with a special recognition of those celebrating their jubilees.

"Our brothers and sisters in Christ living consecrated lives make great contributions to our society through a vast number of ministries," said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president of the Bishops Conference. "They teach in our schools, take care of the poor and the sick and bring compassion and the love of Christ to those shunned by society; others lead lives of prayer in contemplation for the world."

Pope Francis proclaimed 2015 a Year of Consecrated Life, starting on the First Sunday of Advent, the weekend of Nov. 29, and ending with World Day of Consecrated Life on Feb. 2, 2016. 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."

"These '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 Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh, North Carolina, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations.

In the Diocese of Corpus Christi, individual religious houses will be planning their own ways to observe the "Days with Religious" designated on Feb. 8, 2015, during the summer and on Sept. 13, 2015.

In addition, the Office for Consecrated Life will sponsor special projects to celebrate this gift to the Church. Projects already planned include a series of articles in the South Texas Catholic exploring aspects of Consecrated Life and offering personal insights of those living it, and radio spots on KLUX spotlighting the congregations serving the Church in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.