Religious congregations vital to faith renewal – primate

Archbishop Eamon Martin said renewal of faith in Ireland will be “nourished” by religious congregations

Archbishop Eamon Martin has said that the renewal of faith in Ireland will be “nourished and multiplied” by religious congregations.

Celebrating the Day for Consecrated Life in Armagh cathedral, Archbishop Eamon said that he was confident that the renewal of faith in Ireland “will be nourished and multiplied by the prayers and witness of consecrated women and men”.

“Religious congregations – some old, some new – will continue to quietly inspire the peopleof Ireland by selfless lives of poverty, chastity and obedience, offering a humble, yet powerful, counter-witness to the emptiness that so often surrounds us.” 

Also launching the Rise of the Roses, a new initiative which aims to encourage young women to explore whether they might be called to religious life, the archbishop said the Church should not be “disheartened by the ageing population of our religious communities in Ireland”.

He said that young people, “like the Rise of the Roses team, are interested in hearing the stories of sisters, brothers and priests from their parishes who chose the religious life. They are curious to know why someone who was once their age chose to give their whole lives to God.”

Archbishop Eamon said the Holy Spirit might have “new plans for consecrated life in Ireland” and “we must be open to this, asking ourselves what are the charisms and apostolates that the spirit desires for the renewal of faith in Ireland”.  

Meanwhile, a four minute video prepared by a group of young Irish nuns, sisters and brothers has clocked up over 8,000 views on YouTube.

“The reaction to the video has been incredible,” said Bro. Conor, who features in the video. “Teachers who’ve shown it in schools are telling us their students are genuinely interested and curious in our way of life. This is a great chance to tell people what we are about.”

See: http://www.irishcatholic.ie/video/year-consecrated-life