The Year of Consecrated Life is being celebrated from the vigil of the First Sunday of Advent, November 29, 2014, until the World Day for Consecrated Life, February 2, 2016. Pope Francis had announced in November 2013 this special initiative which will focus on the consecrated life. Extending throughout all of 2015, the year is an opportunity for the Church to reflect on and celebrate the unique role and importance that consecrated life has in the Church.
The consecrated life includes all men and women who vow or promise to consecrate their lives to God and to provide a unique public witness as members of religious communities, apostolic societies, secular institutes, and consecrated virgins.
Dioceses and religious communities in Canada and throughout the world are organizing events and initiatives as part of the year, in addition to the international celebrations and meetings which will be held in Rome. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has invited the Canadian Religious Conference (CRC) to establish a joint committee that will recommend possible ways to celebrate the Year for Consecrated Life in Canada. In this special webpage, the CCCB announces news on the work of the joint committee and provides links to the websites of the Holy See, the CRC and religious communities in Canada, as well as to help publicize diocesan celebrations from across Canada.
- Link to the Apostolic Letter of Pope Francis To ALL CONSECRATED PEOPLE
- Message by the CCCB President on the consecrated life, February 2, 2015
- Link to the logo
- Link to the letter “Rejoice” by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
- Link to the letter by the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada
- Joint CCCB-CRC Ad hoc Committee
- Link to the website of the Canadian Religious Conference
- Activities and diocesan celebrations across Canada:
–Letter by Bishop Dorylas Moreau of Rouyn-Noranda (in French only)
–Letter by Archbishop Anthony Mancini of Halifax-Yarmouth
–Letter by Archbishop Christian Lépine of Montreal
–Pastoral Letter by Bishop Ronald Fabbro, C.S.B., of London
–Archdiocese of Vancouver: monthly days of silence and prayer will take place throughout the Archdiocese.
–Archdiocese of Montreal: 24 HOURS FOR CONSECRATED LIFE (January 31 – February 1)
–Archdiocese of Toronto: Special Mass – World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life (February 1)
–Archdiocese of Ottawa: Special Mass with consecrated women and men, January 31, 2015, St Paul University Chapel
- Activities in the religious communities across Canada
–Jesuits – English Canada Province: Taizé Prayer and Panel discussion, February 2, 2015, at 7:00 pm., Regis College, Toronto - Lives and spirituality of a number of Canadian Saints and Blesseds:
Saint Brother André Bessette:
Link to the biography of Saint Brother André (PDF)
Link to CCCB catechetical resources in English
Links to OCQ catechetical resources in French and English
Link to Salt + Light TV resources in English and French (PDF) Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys:
Link to the biography of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys (PDF)
Link to catechetical resources in English
Link to the Website of the Congregation of Notre Dame - Other links
–Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the Consecrated Life and its Mission in the Church and in the World – By Saint John Paul II, March 25, 1996
