Australian religious were represented at a global gathering of consecrated people in Rome to prepare for the Church’s Jubilee Year in 2025. Source: Catholic Religious Australia.
Imagine a night visit to the Sistine Chapel, with lights illuminating the magnificence and beauty of this sacred place, and over 200 consecrated men and women from 63 countries erupting in spontaneous song: Laudate Dominum, Laudate Dominum, Omnes Gentes, Alleluia!
That’s one of the memorable moments recalled by Sr Philippa Murphy FDNSC, leader of the OLSH Sisters in Australia, who attended the February 1-4 gathering.
“It was a powerful, soul-felt moment,” she said. “In our diversity we experienced authentic communion, a symphony of prayer.”
Hosted by the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the gathering engaged religious and other consecrated men and women in four days of reflection on what it means to be “pilgrims of hope” on the road to peace, in preparation for the Jubilee Year 2025.
Sr Philippa, who is vice president of Catholic Religious Australia (CRA), was joined by other participants from Australia including CRA president Fr Peter Jones OSA, Monica Vaughan of the Company of St Ursula – Secular Institute of St Angela Merici, and CRA national executive director Anne Walker.
Consecrated persons from religious institutes, secular institutes and the ordo virginium were welcomed into a discussion about the effect of the Jubilee Year on their vocational calling. Participants were invited to consider deeply the joys and pains of living as consecrated persons in their personal and community life, church life and as part of our wider society.
“A clear takeaway message from the four-day gathering was that consecrated life is alive and spirited around the world,” Ms Walker said.
“Pope Francis has reinforced that 2024 is to be a ‘symphony of prayer’ for all the faithful in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee.”
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Australian Religious at global gathering to prepare for Jubilee 2025 (Catholic Religious Australia)
