5 February 2015
Your news from across the Archdiocese of Perth
Edition #17
Year of Consecrated Life inaugurated By Marco Ceccarelli ARCHBISHOP Costelloe has this week echoed the call of Pope Francis to ‘Wake up the World’ in celebration of the Year of Consecrated Life. At a special celebration held at St Mary’s Cathedral on Monday 2 February to inaugurate the occasion, the Archbishop reminded those living consecrated lives that their identity should be focused not only on what they do, but also on what they are called to be, in and for the Church and the world. The Archbishop went on to encourage Perth’s religious sisters, brothers and priests to be strong signs of Christ’s love within the world, drawing on the Apostolic Letter to Consecrated People from Pope Francis released in November last year. “The religious, by virtue of our unique way of life within the community of faith, are consecrated by God to be ‘sacraments’, living signs, of some of the most essential aspects of the Christian life,” the Archbishop said. Reaching into his own Salesian tradition, the Archbishop said that, in a world tempted by atheism and the idolatry of pleasure, possessions and power, one’s religious way of life bears witness, especially to the young, that God exists. “It is not our apostolate alone, but our whole way of life which can give meaning to our place in the Church EDITION #17 | 5 FEBRUARY 2015
Archbishop Costelloe encouraged Perth’s religious sisters, brothers and priests to be strong signs of Christ’s love within the world at the Year of Consecrated Life celebration. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
and in the world. “This is true for every religious. “What is vital for us is the difference which the vow of poverty makes to the way we live our daily lives, the difference which the vow of chastity makes to the way we conduct our relationships
many faithful religious men and women to the church and archdiocese in Western Australia. His statements underscored the urgency of keeping Christ as the foundation stone of every religious life. “If Christ is not at the
The religious are consecrated by God to be living signs of some of the most essential aspects of the Christian life. with others, the difference which our vow of obedience makes to the way we read the signs of the times and how we respond to them,” the Archbishop said. The Archbishop acknowledged the significant presence and contribution of so
very heart of our religious life, both individually and as communities, if Christ is not the Way we follow, the Truth we proclaim and the Life which gives us life, then we must ask ourselves if we have lost our way. Apostolates may change, forms of dress
may change, styles of community life might change, but the central place which Christ must have in religious life must never change,” the Archbishop concluded. This special year dedicated to consecrated life is similar to previous themed years announced by Popes such as Year of the Priest (20092010) or Year of St. Paul (2008-2009). The year also marks the 50th anniversary of “Perfectae Caritatis,” a decree on religious life, and “Lumen Gentium,” the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. Full Text available at
www.therecord.com.au