The World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life, traditionally observed by the Church on Feb. 2, was celebrated in diocesan parishes the weekend of Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 this year.
Bishop Earl Fernandes presided at a 5:15 p.m. Sunday Mass at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral on Feb. 1. Nearly 20 priests serving in the Columbus diocese concelebrated with the bishop.
The Mass was preceded by a Holy Hour for Peace in the Cathedral that included Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Mass was followed by a dinner reception in the cathedral undercroft. Consecrated religious sisters celebrating a jubilee year were recognized during the reception.
Sister Ave Maria Hayes, a Dominican Sister of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist and second grade teacher at Worthington St. Michael the Archangel School, celebrated 25 years in her vocation.
Sixteen consecrated religious belonging to the Dominican Sisters of Peace were honored as jubilarians.
Sisters Miriam Hazy and Bernadine Robinson celebrated 80 years.
Recognized for her 75 years was Sister Mary Edmund Gibson, and celebrating 70 years in order, Sisters Joan Arceneaux, Barbara Catalano and Christine McManus.
Five consecrated religious celebrated 65 years: Sisters Judith McManus, Mary Dominic Savio Estorge, Mary Ignatius Rozario, Maria Ciriello and Marguerite Chandler.
Sisters Jeanne Conrad, Janice Bachman and Rebecca Nolan celebrated 65 years. Celebrating 50 years in the order were Sisters Anne Lythgoe and Carol Ann May.
In addition to the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist and the Dominican Sisters of Peace, several religious orders of women were present for Mass: Order of the Most Holy Savior of St. Bridget (Bridgettine Sisters); Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters); Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception; and the Children of Mary.
Other orders present included the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – FIH; Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – FIHM; Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity; Dominican Sisters, Immaculate Conception Province; Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters; Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Kilimanjaro; Apostolic Sisters of St. John; and Daughters of Holy Mary of the Heart of Jesus.
Several women in the diocese who belong to the vocation of consecrated virginity living in the world were also present.
Clergy at Mass, in addition to diocesan priests, represented various religious orders: Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap.); Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy (O. de M.); Heralds of Good News (HGN); Apostles of Jesus (AJ); Vallambrosian Benedictine Order (OSB); Congregation of Clerics Regular ((Theatine Fathers) CR); Fathers of Mercy (CPM); Society of the Catholic Apostolate ((Pallottine Fathers) SAC); and the Order of Preachers (OP).
The World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life was instituted by Pope St. John Paul II in 1997 for men and women in the vocation. The celebration coincides with the feast of the Presentation of the Lord on Feb. 2, also known as Candlemas, in which candles used in churches are blessed.
The World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life was transferred to Sunday to highlight the gift of consecrated people for the Church.