13 RELIGIOUS MILESTONES
World Day of Consecrated Life gives pause to my journey as a religious By Sister Anna Hang-Nga Nguyen, SCC Diocesan office of the delegate for religious
phases of joys, difficulties and suffering we, too, commit to a total following that would not be for a day or for a period of time, but for life. It’s that radical. “This then is the consecrated life…[the] prophetic vision that reveals what counts.” (Pope Francis, Homily on Feb. 2, 2019) As lofty as the call to follow Jesus may sound, many of us are humbled by our calling knowing full well our weaknesses and struggles. In close circles of friends, we often share examples of how we are unlikely candidates and undeserving of the Kingdom of God. Giving up everything to follow Christ is not about how good we are. It is about how awesome God is. We never cease to be amazed at what God can do in our lives. God continues to reveal himself in new and surprising ways, creatively designed for each person he has chosen. For a young woman to leave ‘the world’ for the convent or a young man for the seminary may be understood as loss. This negative view can only be reversed when family and friends can see how joyful it is to embrace Christ and his way to holiness. What we give to God is but a drop in the ocean when compared to what God gives to us. Persons in consecrated life spend their lives giving witness to the joy, peace and love of God that is unfathomable and unending. Let us all express our deepest gratitude to the women and men who have consecrated their lives to God and live to serve among us each day. We are truly blessed because of them. Please pray, too, for more vocations and for the grace for us in consecrated life to be faithful in good times and in difficult ones. Only then can we say, “Yes, Lord,” […] “you know that I love you.” [Jn. 21:15]
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT FEBRUARY 6, 2020
This past Sunday, Feb. 2, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the Church celebrated World Day for Consecrated Life. Hearts were lifted in prayer and gratitude for all those who have dedicated their life to Christ. Pope Saint John Paul II instituted this day in 1997 to recognize nuns, monks and hermits who lead a contemplative life, as well as to show appreciation to religious sisters and brothers, and consecrated virgins who live an apostolic life. Those who lead a contemplative life focus on silence and prayer. Religious in apostolic life are in ministry. All forms of consecrated life, be these contemplative or apostolic, are characterized by their commitment to the evangelical counsels [the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience] and to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, the common prayer of the Church. The religious in apostolic communities are engaged in works of charity locally or globally. Many of these religious orders often serve in response to a need of the local Church within their diocese. Other apostolic religious minister to Catholics in countries around the world. Some communities here send brothers or sisters to places that are in crisis. Case in point, there are religious providing services in Australia, the Philippines and Puerto Rico. The Diocese of Metuchen is fortunate to have nearly 300 religious in contemplative as well as apostolic communities. They minister throughout the four counties which comprise the Diocese of Metuchen and daily give of themselves in prayer and in
ministry. They serve in many fields became aware of their calling, what including spirituality, healthcare, made them say, “yes” and most imporeducation, legal and social services, tantly, what helps them through tough prison and parish ministries. Others times. lead their congregations on leadership Each person’s experience of enteams, and still others work in dioc- countering the Lord is unique and is esan offices. I, for example, am the somewhat of a mystery. No one can religious delegate in our diocese. explain their relationship with the It is interesting to note that one invisible God fully. But all in conseof the first things people say about crated life would say that once they religious sisters and brothers is, “They have decided to be a sister or brother are so happy!” I couldn’t agree more. there is peace and joy. They can speak Joy was what first attracted me to dis- to the deep meaning, something fresh cern my vocation and new, that they with the Sisters found in a life of Christian Chardedicated to prayer ity in Mendham. and service to the World Day for Joy has been what Church. Religious I hear repeatedly of today take pride Consecrated Life is yet whenever I have in being set apart another reminder of the an opportunity to by God for a spejoin the vocation cial purpose even reality that Jesus conteam of the diocese in this challenging tinues to call women to give vocation time. awareness talks at “What reand men to follow him various parishes ally is God’s call, and schools. Vosome might ask?” as he did the apostles. cation directors, When all is said This day is also a time being aware of and done, it is a the decline in men call to love-- love for the laity to learn and women enterGod and love your more about those who ing religious life, neighbors. “…Do dedicate much enyou love me more have responded to ergy toward raising than these?...” awareness among Jesus asks Peter God’s call. youth and young [Jn. 21:15] during adults that there is one of the final joy in response to moments before God’s call. Jesus returns to World Day for Consecrated Life heaven. Normally, life’s options for is yet another reminder of the reality young people could include a family that Jesus continues to call women of their own, a house, a rewarding job, and men to follow him as he did the a nice car, and perhaps more. It takes apostles. This day is also a time for the courage to leave all of these life oplaity to learn more about those who tions that the world offers to follow have responded to God’s call. “What the Shepherd’s voice. Their ‘fiat’ is can they tell us?” The women and men like that of our Blessed Mother. Just in religious life can speak to how they as she journeyed in life through all