Ministry of Consecrated Life

The Retirement Fund for Religious provides support for thousands of elderly Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests.
YOU CAN HELP >>

IMPORTANT NOTE: With any reprint of the lyrics or music of this song, please include the following credit: © Steven C. Warner, 2014. Commissioned by NRVC and VISION Vocation Guide in honor of the Year of Consecrated Life.

The vocation to consecrated life is an invitation from the Lord to live one's baptismal commitment more intensely through an intimate following of Christ in a life dedicated to living the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience. Consecrated life does not belong to the hierarchical structure of the Church, but it is undeniably a part of its life and holiness.

A study of the history of the Church demonstrates that consecrated life has appeared in various forms: the eremitical life, consecrated virginity, religious institutes (monastics, mendicant, apostolic), secular institutes, and societies of apostolic life. Throughout the centuries, these men and women, both clerics and lay have devoted their lives to a contemplative or apostolic lifestyle in service to the Church (LG43-44).
 

Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M.

Historically, religious orders developed in the Church, first because of some particular need that was not able to be met in the Church at the time and, second, because the vision and charism of some particular individuals were able to inspire others to come together and determine how to meet that need.   And, so, religious orders, communities, congregations and societies were born! 
 
Some of these groups of women and men gathered in monasteries where they lived a life of prayer and worked apart from the world, while others pursued an active life of service in the midst of the world and its needs.  Still others have lived their vocation as consecrated virgins, widows or hermits.

The Church approved and fostered their existence and the “rule of life” that governed how they would live and what they hoped to accomplish within and through the Church.  Members took special vows or “evangelical counsels” of poverty, chastity and obedience – and some others made additional vows – to help them fulfill their mission and purpose.  The Church’s canon law made further distinctions among them to guide and govern their religious life and ministry, eager to help them preserve and foster their unique charisms and contributions to the work of the Church...[continue reading]

The vocation to the family and consecrated life

A message by Sister Rose McDermott, SSJ

Ask any brother, sister or priest living a vocation to consecrated life and they will advise you that family life cultivated the seed of their vocation. Early on they experienced the self-donation of their parents to one another and their children in numerous ways in their homes.

As these youngsters entered the broader society, the witness of men and women living consecrated life fostered and nurtured the seed.  Youth encountered these men and women as they served the Church by their own manner of self-sacrifice, not to a spouse and children of their own, but to Christ and his people, as they witnessed lives of prayer and apostolic service in education, healthcare, social services and missionary activities, both in the Church and throughout the world...[continue reading]
 

We are approximately 293 canonical religious, 4 non-canonical members, 3 consecrated virgins and 1 secular institute member that minister in the four counties of the Diocese of Trenton. We represent membership in 34 male/female religious congregations who have dedicated our lives to announce and proclaim the Word of the Lord.
 

Our Ministry

Prior to 1970's, religious served the needs of the Church via education, health care and orphanages. Additional ministries are essential to our service today:

• Social Awareness / Action - Consecrated persons are involved in feeding the poor, visiting the prisoners, providing housing and support in time of crisis and offering rehab for drug/alcohol dependency
• Ecology - Some consecrated persons are actively participating in bringing about an awareness of the needs to conserve the resources of our planet
• Evangelization - Consecrated persons are taking steps to expand the Catholic faith community by extending programs to teach the fundamentals of our religion
• Retreat Houses - These sites offer companions to journey with those seeking an experienced guide to help them listen to God's call
• Contemplative prayer - Sisters devote themselves to a life of prayerful silence that enriches their community and the lives of the people in the Trenton Diocese
• Education - This primary ministry develops a well-rounded individual who respects traditional faith and civic values
• Healthcare - Consecrated persons nurture the wounded members of society that are experiencing mental, emotional and physical handicaps and challenges
• Spanish Ministries - In this global age, consecrated persons continue to reach out to those from different cultures who experience separation because of language and cultural barriers as they attempt to live in the new environment.

While the physical appearance might not be easily recognizable today, the face of God is evident in the many paths and journeys taken daily by those who have dedicated their life to further announce and proclaim the Word of God.