In the liturgical calendar, February 2nd is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. In 1997, Pope Saint John Paul II chose this date to institute a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. On this occasion, Br. Louis Cinq-Mars, OFM Cap, CRC President, addressed a message to all Women and Men Religious in Canada.
Religious Life in Canada in 2019
CRC Members
73% Women Superiors
27% Men Superiors
Communities that are primarily francophone: 72%
Communities that are primarily anglophone: 28%
Prayer for our Sisters and Brothers in Consecrated Life
Heavenly Father, you call women and men to follow Jesus,
in poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Help them grow as witnesses of your love and mercy,
by embracing the Gospel and journeying with your people.
Fill us with gratitude and joy
for the variety of gifts made so abundant
through the consecrated life in Canada.
Help those on this path of holiness
to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying
to the Church and the world today.
Give them unwavering hope
that they may embrace the future
with confidence and boldness.
Let the beauty and holiness of consecrated life
continue to shine forth in our Church.
May Mary, endowed with every gift of grace,
be for your people the model of love and service
for God and neighbour.
Through Christ your Son, Our Lord.
Amen.
Approved by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Canadian Religious Conference.
Prayer: © Concacan Inc., 2015. All rights reserved.
Celebrations in some Canadian Dioceses
Below you will find information about activites and celebrations organized in different Canadian Dioceses to celebrate the World Day for Consecrated Life.
ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. JOHN’S (NL)
Special Mass on Saturday February 2nd at 5:00 p.m. in St Teresa’s Church.
DIOCESE OF QUEBEC
Diocesan Feast celebrated on Sunday, Feb. 3, from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. at Saints-Martyrs-Canadiens’s Church around the theme “A Big Disruption” (« C’est un grand dérangement »).
DIOCESE OF SAINTE-ANNE-DE-LA-POCATIERE
Day of celebration on Monday, Feb 4 with Bishop Pierre Goudreault at the Provincial House of the Sœurs de l’Enfant-Jésus at Rivière-du-Loup from 10:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Eucharistic celebration will be at 2:15 p.m.
ARCHDIOCESE OF MONTREAL
Eucharistic celebration presided by Archbishop Christian Lépine on Saturday, Feb. 2, at 10:30 a.m. at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral followed by a brunch (registration required mrochette@diocesemontreal.org)
ARCHIDIOCESE OF OTTAWA
Diocesan celebration for the Consecrated Life presided by Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, SJ, on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi followed by a brunch.
ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO
Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick will preside a special Mass on Sunday, February 3, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Basilica.
DIOCESE OF SAINT BONIFACE
Taizé prayer service for World Day for Consecrated Life on Saturday evening, February 2 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Boniface Cathedral.
Witness of Sr Aurise Delaurier, SGM, on her consecrated life
ARCHDIOCESE OF EDMONTON
Eucharistic celebration at 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 2, at St. Joseph Basilica, with Archbishop Richard Smith as celebrant. Reception after Mass in the church hall.
ARCHDIOCESE OF VANCOUVER
Mass presided by Archbishop Michael Miller, CSB, on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 12 noon at St. Patrick’s Parish. Reception after the Mass hosted by the CWL and Serrans.
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1800602906718613/
