Year of Consecrated Life Closing Liturgy ~ Chicago

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Friar Arturo Scotus-Maria Felix, OFM Conv. (Deacon) flanked by student friars from Marytown, IL

Archbishop Blase J. Cupich of Chicago closed the Year of Consecrated Life on Sunday, January 24, 2016, at a 2:15 p.m. Mass at Holy Name Cathedral, in Chicago. Together with consecrated men and women from religious communities, lay ecclesial movements and consecrated virgins, the Archbishop gave thanks for the graces and opportunities throughout the Year at the public Mass, marking a year that began on the first Sunday of Advent, November 29, 2014, and officially ended on February 2, 2016. The Year also marked the 50th anniversary of Perfectae Caritatis, a decree on religious life, and Lumen Gentium, the Second Vatican Council’s constitution on the Church. The purpose of the Year, as stated by the Vatican, was to “make a grateful remembrance of the recent past,” while embracing “the future with hope.”

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Our Lady of the Angels Postulants: Jason DeMartini and Jason Byrum serving as ushers. (Not pictured: Ky Bui who served as Crosier Bearer.)

Our Postulants currently in formation at the St. Bonaventure Friary Postulancy in Chicago participated in the closing Mass. Mr. Jonathan Byrum and Mr. Jason DeMartini served as ushers, Mr. Ky Bui was the Crosier Bearer and other student friars from Marytown were altar servers. Friar Giles Michael Gilbert, OFM Conv. and Friar Arturo Scotus-Maria Felix, OFM Conv., of the St. Bonaventure Province, served as deacons. Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Br. Paschal Kolodziej, OFM Conv. (Guardian of the friary and Postulancy Director) represented our Order in the procession of the various Religious serving in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Please continue to pray for those called to Consecrated Life; “the many branches which sink roots into the Gospel and bring forth abundant fruit in every season of the Church’s life,” (Vita Consecrata, 1996 Saint John Paul II) including Monastic Life, the Orders of Virgins, Hermits, Institutes Devoted to Contemplation, Apostolic Religious Life, Secular Institutes, Societies of Apostolic Life, and New or Renewed Forms of the Consecrated Life.

Prayer for the Year of Consecrated Life

O God, throughout the ages you have called women and men
to pursue lives of perfect charity through the evangelical counsels
of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

During this Year of Consecrated Life, we give you thanks
for these courageous witnesses of Faith and models of inspiration.
Their pursuit of holy lives teaches us to make a more perfect offering of ourselves to you.

Continue to enrich your Church by calling forth sons and daughters who,
having found the pearl of great price,
treasure the Kingdom of Heaven above all things.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.