A radical “yes”: Those embracing consecrated life represent a great gift to the Church

By Mary Powers

On Sunday, February 4, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone celebrated the Mass for Consecrated Life, honoring the many religious jubilarians of the Archdiocese and thanking the consecrated men and women present for their witness to the Church of the existence of God and the communion we will have with Him after death if we follow His commands.

“To our dear consecrated religious, and especially those of you celebrating milestone anniversaries of your consecration this year, we express to you a resounding and emphatic thank you to match the resounding and emphatic yes you gave to Jesus Christ in accepting this extraordinary call in your life,” said Archbishop Cordileone.

The Mass, held at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, was filled with religious from different congregations in the Archdiocese and lay faithful who came to support the jubilarians and other consecrated men and women.

During the Mass, the jubilarians renewed the vows made at their professions and the lay faithful responded with a prayer of blessing and a promise of continued prayers and support.

The vocation to consecrated life is more of a witness of being rather than of doing, Archbishop Cordileone said in his homily.

“The very presence of consecrated persons in the life of the church is the greatest gift. It goes far beyond what they do for others, which is so great indeed, but as great as it is, it goes beyond that. It is who they are. Consecrated to Jesus to repeat in their lives, his very being as the poor, chaste, and obedient one.”

The Archbishop went on to explain that consecrated men and women, through their radical “yes” to the call of God in their lives, are also sign of the existence of God and what is to come.

“But consecrated persons are there as a constant reminder,” said Archbishop Cordileone. “There is no hiding from God. The radicalness of their decision to set all aside to pursue Jesus Christ and to proclaim and live His gospel free of charge and without any encumbrance is a stimulus for all of us to seek greater perfection in Him through our own proper vocation.”

The Mass was followed by a reception and lunch honoring the jubilarians.

2024 Jubilarians

75 years
Sister Aileen Bermingham, SND de Namur
Sister Emma Fernandez, RSCJ
Sister Marion Irvine, OP
Sister Mary Patricia Rives, RSCJ

70 Years
Sister Sally Brady, OP
Sister Lucy Hayes, RSCJ
Sister Rita Jovick, PBVM
Sister Noreen Morgan, SND de Namur
Sister Terese Perry, RSM
Sister Maire Sullivan, PBVM
Sister Marianna Torrano, RSCJ

60 years
Sister Gloria Avila, RSM
Sister Madonna Marie Bolton, RSM
Sister Victoria Brady, RSM
Sister Mariann Burke, RSCJ
Sister Kathleen Dolan, RSCJ
Sister Jean Evans, RSM
Sister Patrick Mary Kearney, OP
Sister Ann McGowan, RSCJ
Sister Brigid Noonan, OP
Sister Celeste Nuttman, RSM
Sister Melanie O’Brien, RSM
Sister Katie O’Hanlon, RSM
Sister Paula Tak, SND de Namur
Sister Magdalena Yang, SND de Namur

50 years
Sister Margaret Diener, OP
Sister Irene Wright, FSP

40 Years
Sister Darylynn Costa, OP
Sister Abby Newton, OP