Vatican City, 29 November 2013 (VIS) 

The Union of Superiors General held its 82nd General Assembly in the Salesianum in Rome from 27 to 29 November. The story of three experiences provided the basis for reflections and encounters focusing on the challenges of leadership in the light of the Magisterium and following the example given by Pope Francis. The Holy Father chose to meet with the Superiors for three hours, rather than the short encounter envisaged: no address was prepared in advance, but instead a long, colloquial and fraternal discussion took place, composed of questions and answers.

The first group of questions related to the identity and mission of consecrated life. A radical approach is required of all Christians, the Pope stated, but religious persons are called upon to follow the Lord in a special way: “They are men and woman who can awaken the world. Consecrated life is prophecy. God asks us to fly the nest and to be sent to the frontiers of the world, avoiding the temptation to 'domesticate' them. This is the most concrete way of imitating the Lord”.

When asked about the situation of vocations, the Pope emphasised that there are young Churches which are bearing new fruit. This naturally gives rise to a re-evaluation of the inculturation of charism. The Church must follow the example of Matteo Ricci in asking forgiveness for and looking with shame upon apostolic failures caused by misunderstandings in this field. Intercultural dialogue must press for the introduction persons of various cultures, expressing different ways of living charism, in the governance of religious institutes.

The Pope insisted upon the importance of formation, which he presented as founded upon four fundamental pillars: spiritual, intellectual, communitarian and apostolic. It is indispensable to avoid every form of hypocrisy and clericalism by means of a frank and open dialogue on all aspects of life: “formation is an artisanal craft, not a form of policing”, he commented; “its aim is to form religious persons with a tender heart, not acid, not like vinegar. We are all sinners, but not corrupt. Sinners are to be accepted, but not the corrupt.”

When asked about brotherhood, the Pope said that this has a great force of attraction, and presupposes the acceptance of differences and conflicts. At time it is difficult to live in fraternity, but without it no fruit may be borne. In any case, “we must never act like managers when faced with a brother's conflict: conflict instead must be caressed,” said the Pope.

A number of questions were asked regarding the relationships between religious persons and the particular Churches to which they belong. The Pope confirmed that he had experience of the possible problems: “We bishops must understand that consecrated persons are not helpers, but rather charisms which enrich dioceses.”

The final questions regarded the frontiers of the mission of consecrated persons. “They must be sought on the basis of the charisms,” answered the Pope. Situations of exclusion remain the first priorities. Alongside these challenges he mentioned the cultural and educational mission in schools and universities. For the Pope, the pillars of education are “transmitting knowledge, transmitting methods, transmitting values. By these means, faith is communicated. The educator must measure up to those he educates, and must give careful thought to how to proclaim Jesus Christ to a changing generation.”

Before taking leave of the 120 Superiors General present, the Pope announced that 2015 would be a year dedicated to consecrated life. He added, “Thank you for what you do and for your spirit of faith and your service. Thank you for your witness and also for the humiliations through which you have had to pass.”

The VISION Year of Consecrated Life Pope Francis Vocation Prayer Card is available here to download and print.

NRVC members also provided translations in Spanish, Polish, and Vietnamese for your use. Download and print as needed.

Find more free vocation prayers from NRVC's VISION Vocation Network here. 

NRVC and its VISION Vocation Network have produced a number of resources for the Year of Consecrated Life thanks to a grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

Resources include a special expanded issue of VISION Vocation Guide, order here, which features a special survey on Consecrated Life, a poster of Consecrated Life through the ages, and a special commemorative hymn, "Wake the World with Dawning Joy," written by Steven Warner, director of the University of Notre Dame's celebrated Folk Choir.

A PARISH PACKET with the above highlighted resources as well as sample homilies, bulletin inserts, vocation lesson plans, and outlines for workshops for clergy, DREs, youth ministers, and parents are being posted on the VISION website as they become available and printed packets showcasing these resources are being sent out early in 2015. 

Click here to download the logo in English, Spanish, French, or Italian.

Click here for more Year of Consecrated Life resources available through VISION Vocation Network.

Pope Francis released an Apostolic Letter on  November 21, 2014, Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It looks at the purpose and expectations for the Year of Consecrated Life. The year started November 30, 2014, first Sunday of Advent. It ends February 2, 2016, World Day for Consecrated Life and Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Click here to read the Letter.

“I want to say one word
to you and this word is joy. 
Wherever consecrated people are, 
there is always joy!”.

Pope FRANCIS

Dear brothers and sisters,

1. “The joy of the Gospel fills the heart and lives of all who encounter Jesus. With Jesus Christ joy is constantly born anew.”(1)

The beginning of Evangelii Gaudium, within the fabric of the teaching of Pope Francis, rings out with surprising vitality, proclaiming the wonderful mystery of the Good News that transforms the life of the person who takes it to heart. We are told the parable of joy: our meeting with Jesus lights up in us its original beauty, the beauty of the face on which the Father’s glory shines (cf. 2Cor 4:6), radiating happiness.

This Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life invites us to reflect on the graced time we have been given to live, at the special invitation that the Pope addresses to those in consecrated life.

To accept this teaching means to renew our existence in accordance with the Gospel, not in a radical way understood as a model of perfection and often of separation, but by adhering wholeheartedly to the saving encounter that transforms our life. “It is a question of leaving everything to follow the Lord. No, I do not want to say ‘radical’. Evangelical radicalness is not only for religious: it is demanded of all. But religious follow the Lord in a special way, in a prophetic way. It is this witness that I expect of you. Religious should be men and women able to wake the world up.”(2) . . . 

.Click here to read the full message.

Year of Consecrated Life logo, specially designed by NRVC and the VISION Vocation Network. Please feel free to download and use on your website and printed resources throughout the Year of Consecrated Life. Click on the file type (e.g., ai, pdf) you desire to begin the download.

Information about important dates and preaching

Click here to see details of dates and preaching aids on NRVC's  VISION Vocation Network.

By Father Donald Senior, C.P.

Noted biblical scholar Father Donald Senior, C.P. outlines the fundamental qualities in the scripture stories where Jesus calls disciples, including the fact that discipleship begins not with a choice but a call. Click here to see his homily.

By Cardinal Timothy Dolan

Cardinal Timothy Dolan passes on the important lessons he learned about the vocations from two sheep herders and the Good Shepherd.

A sample homily for World Day of Prayer for Vocations; readings for Fourth Sunday of Easter.  Adaptable for other vocation-related homilies throughout the year. Click here to see his homily.

The Vatican has begun to announce plans for celebrating the Year of Consecrated Life, which begins in November 2014.  

Three-pronged focus

•   renewal for men and women in consecrated life,
•   thanksgiving among the faithful for the service of sisters, brothers, priests, and nuns,
•   invitation to young Catholics to consider a religious vocation.

Tentative schedule

   
Nov. 29, 2014: Opening Prayer Vigil

Nov. 30, 2014: Opening Mass with Pope Francis

Jan. 22-24, 2015: Meeting of Catholic consecrated men and women and consecrated religious from other Christian traditions (to be held during the week of Christian unity)

Second week of April, 2015: Conference on religious formation around the world

Sept. 23-26, 2015: Event for young men and women in discernment and in the process of joining religious orders

Dec. 18-21, 2015: Separate meetings for members of monastic orders and of secular institutes.
 
Jan. 28 - Feb. 1, 2016: Theological symposium on religious life
 
Feb. 2, 2016: Closing Mass with Pope Francis on World Day of Consecrated Life

Click here for more information about available resources for the Year of Consecrate Life.

POPE FRANCIS called on the faithful to express their gratitude for those in consecrated life. What better way to offer praise and thanksgiving than in song?

That is why the editors of VISION Vocation Guide and the National Religious Vocation Conference commissioned world-renowned composer Steven Warner to write a song in honor of the Year of Consecrated Life. The result, “Wake the world with dawning joy,” celebrates the unique and ancient form of discipleship that is known as consecrated life and, inspired by the words of Pope Francis, urges men and women religious to continue to wake the world with their witness.

We hope you will sing this special song in your parishes and religious communities and incorporate it in your worship and prayer services throughout the Year of Consecrated Life and beyond to remind each of us of Christ’s call to wake up the world and live in a different way—a way of faith, hope, love, and joy! 

—Patrice J. Tuohy (This article first appeared in the 2015 VISION Vocation Guide.)

AUDIO FILES  and MELODY of the song available here throughout the Year of Consecrated Life (closing Mass Feb. 2, 2016). 

Important note: With any reprint of the lyrics or music of this song, please include the following credit: Commissioned by NRVC and VISION Vocation Guide in honor of the Year of Consecrated Life. Copyright © 2014, World Library Publications, 3708 River Road, Suite 400, Franklin Park, IL 60131-2158. All rights reserved.  

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World Library Publications (WLP) was the original publisher of “Wake the World with Dawning Joy.” The piece, scored for two-part choir with descant, keyboard, guitar, and trumpet, which includes the full international version (with French, Italian and Spanish verses), may be purchased by visiting GIA Music at https://giamusic.com/store/resource/wake-the-world-with-dawning-joy-print-007272.

As part of the events planned for the Year of Consecrated Life, the USCCB along with CMSM, CMSWR, and LCWR have planned September 13, 2015 as a collaborative Day of Prayer with Religious. Events will include vespers, rosary or holy hours in convents, monasteries, religious houses and churches. NRVC members are encouraged to plan vocation events in their communities for for this day of collaborative prayer.

Prayers intentions, prayer cards, a video on consecrated life and other resources are available at: http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/consecrated-life/year-of-consecrated-life/index.cfm.