Cardinal Tobin celebrates Consecrated women and men
On Saturday, Feb. 4, dozens of religious order priests, brothers, and sisters of the Archdiocese of Newark gathered at Saint Helen’s Church in Westfield to renew their vows during a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, in observance of World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. Despite the bitterly cold weather, approximately 175 people, including 16 concelebrating priests and a deacon, rejoiced inside the church that was aglow by the morning’s sunlit stained-glass windows.
Among the attendees and members of religious congregations and communities who live and minister in the Archdiocese of Newark were the 2023 jubilarians celebrating their years of professed religious life this year. Each jubilarian’s name was called by Sister Patricia Wormann, O.P., the Archdiocese’s Delegate for Religious Life. Honorees came forward and were presented with an envelope from Cardinal Tobin that included a Vocations blessing and prayer from Pope Francis, a personal congratulatory letter from the Cardinal, and a note from Sister Patricia regarding a donation to Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas in honor of this year’s jubilarians.
Pope Francis’ Vocations prayer, adapted from his message at the close of the Year of Consecrated Life on XX World Day of Consecrated Life, encouraged their profession: “GO FORTH! Each of us has a role to play in the Church. Witness and sow well each day, and look to tomorrow with hope. GO FORTH! Grow in love for God so that others will be attracted by the divine light in you….”
In his homily, Cardinal Tobin said, “The whole Church is called to follow Jesus, the whole Church is called to be missionary disciples. What we can do is help point the way…not simply the way to Jesus, but how to hear His voice today.”
Cardinal Tobin concluded his homily by referencing the Mass’s first reading (Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21), which he described as verses that constitute “one of the most beautiful blessings in the New Testament,” as they reference for the first time the Resurrection and refer to Jesus not as the high priest, but as the Great Shepherd.
He recited the blessing, “May the God of peace who brought up from the dead the greatest Shepherd of sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant furnish you with all that is good that you may do His will. May He carry out in you what is pleasing to Him through Jesus Christ, to whom be Glory forever and ever. Amen.”
The World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life was celebrated by the Catholic Church on Thursday, Feb. 2. Parishes had the option to celebrate on the weekend of Feb. 4-5. This year’s theme is “Brothers and Sisters on Mission.”
Instituted by St. Pope John Paul II in 1997, the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life is celebrated in conjunction with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas Day, which commemorates through the blessing and lighting of candles that Christ is the light of the world. Those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples.
To learn more about the Vocations for Religious Life in the Archdiocese of Newark, visit www.rcan.org/offices-and-ministries/vocations.
Sister Mary Agnes Sullivan, OP, and Sister Donna O’Brien OP. (Maria Margiotta)
