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WASHINGTON (September 21, 2001) -- Materials for the celebration of the 2002 World Day for Consecrated Life have been distributed to dioceses.
The annual event will be marked February 2-3 in dioceses nationwide.
Materials, in both English and Spanish, were sent to bishops, vicars for religious, diocesan youth ministers and heads of orders of men, women and secular institutes throughout the country.
This year's theme is "Be Seekers of the Lord," from the Book of Zephaniah 2:3.
The celebration, which is called for by the Vatican, is an effort to highlight the role of the consecrated life in the Church. Materials in this year's packet include a vow formula, background on the consecrated life, a report on recent research on young Catholics, profiles and photos of six young men and women who are pursuing the consecrated life, current statistics on religious life, ideas for noting the occasion in parishes and with youth groups, and homily suggestions.
"Every diocese should promote this event in parishes," said Capuchin Bishop Sean P. O'Malley of Fall River, Massachusetts, chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Consecrated Life.
"The contribution of institutes of consecrated life in the Church must be noted and held up for all to see. It's hard to imagine that there are many Catholics whose lives have not been
touched in some way by the men and women who have publicly committed themselves entirely to God's service, be it in a public life of ministry or hidden life in a monastery. The weekend of February 2-3 offers an opportunity to note the meaning of the consecrated life for the entire Church," Bishop O'Malley said.
Materials for the 2002 World Day for Consecrated Life may be found on and downloaded from the Web at www.usccb.org/vocations