What would lead someone to forgo the possibility of having a family and career to serve Christ in total devotion, obedience and even poverty?

World Day for Consecrated Life offers us the opportunity to reflect on this remarkable reality, as many men and women give witness to the deep joy that can be found in a life lived for God through the consecrated life.

It is fitting at this time that we also pray for those who have courageously answered God’s call. Pope Francis describes them as having discovered “the treasure worth more than any good” and says that religious life “means seeing what really matters in life” (Homily for World Day for Consecrated Life, Feb. 1, 2020).

I am particularly grateful to the 200 men and women religious who serve as witnesses of the consecrated life in our diocese, including those living the cloistered life of prayer. We pray for them as well as for the 64 men and women from our diocese who are in formation with religious communities throughout the world, that they be given the strength and clarity to follow the Lord's plan for them.

May men and women continue answering Our Lord’s call to the consecrated life, and may those who have already answered the call experience profound peace and joy in their vocation