In 1997, Saint John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2. This feast is also known as Candlemas Day; the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples. The celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life is transferred to the following Sunday in order to highlight the gift of consecrated persons for the whole Church.

 The Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations seeks to foster and encourage the various forms of consecrated life in the Church today. In Vita Consecrata, the 1996 Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Saint John Paul II wrote of the different forms of consecrated life as “the many branches which sinks its roots into the Gospel and brings forth abundant fruit in every season of the Church’s life.” These diverse forms include: Monastic Life, the Orders of Virgins, Hermits, and Institutes completely devoted to contemplation, Apostolic Religious Life, Secular Institutes, Societies of Apostolic Life, and new or renewed forms of the consecrated life (cf. Vita Consecrata, 6-12). Each form is described in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Preparing for Lent

The 2018 Lenten season is fast approaching; and it’s time to prepare how we can make it more meaningful in our daily lives. The parish selected as our theme for this Lenten season the directive – “Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving”.

To help parishioners find some quiet time to spend in prayer, during Lent we will keep the inner doors of the church closed before the start of all weekend Masses; and we ask your support to please abstain from talking and visiting in the main section of church.

Continue to watch future issues of our parish bulletin, for information and ideas on ways to prepare yourself and your family for a more meaningful Lenten season.

– St Valentine Worship Commission