The Year of Consecrated Life began on the First Sunday of Advent 2014 and concluded on 2 February 2016. 

2nd Feb. 2016 - There was a special Mass of the Presentation to mark the closing of the Year of Consecrated Life, at St Joseph's, Gerrard's Cross at 7.30pm.  Bishop Peter's homily preached on this occasion is here. 

Pope Francis invited the whole Church to celebrate this year by giving thanks for the contribution of consecrated men and women to the life of the Church. 

Bishop Peter said: "Recognising the many ways in which religious and those in other forms of consecrated life enrich the Church in our Diocese, may I encourage parishes where there are religious communities to organise a celebration during the year, and may I invite all parishes to pray for vocations to the consecrated life"

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For a link to the UK Religious* website, click here. 

For a listing of the Religious Orders active in our Diocese, click here. 

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CTS, the Catholic Truth Society, have two small books relevant to the Consecrated Life. 

"A Celebration of Consecrated Life 

Recently released by the Vatican, these final documents for the Year of Consecrated Life further examine the calling of consecrated people in the world today. 

Contemplate, the follow-up to Rejoice and Keep Watch, is the third letter for the Year of Consecrated Life which discusses the importance of contemplation and prayer as a rich part of the consecrated life. 

Identity & Mission of the Religious Brother in the Church explores the place of the Religious Brother within the Church-Communion, asking ‘how can we be brothers today?’   "

Hunt them out on the CTS website here. 

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( * In Catholic useage, and in this context, "religious" specifically refers to people who have taken vows to live their lives in a particular way in the service of God. It usually means that they enter a convent or monastery, although there is a range of types, some fully "enclosed" where they never leave the precincts, while some are simply shared homes from where they work in schools or in the local community.  )