The 2nd of February every year for the past 21 years the Church celebrates the gift of “Consecrated Life” in the life of the Church.
During Covid, we had been unable to meet. However this year, we offered to “host” once again this annual meeting of the Religious of the Diocese of Leeds for this day.
It was a day of prayer and reflection as well as sharing.
Nearly all the Religious communities in the Diocese were represented and we were 35 gathered together.
Sr Catherine of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace very kindly brought and arranged the Display on Peace that was the focus point of the Meetings in the Auditorium. The materials used were in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, and the lovely flowers and candles as well as the symbols of peace helped all to focus.
We celebrated the Eucharist together at 11am, our Bishop Rev Marcus Stock kindly joining us as Chief celebrant. We began with the Procession from Reception with lit candles following the blessing of Candles on this Feast of the presentation in the Temple of Jesus. Fr Kevan, our chaplain, an accomplished musician kindly played the organ for the occasion and “The light of Christ” resounded as we processed into the Chapel.
The Gloria, from Lourdes united all in praising loudly our God and his goodness to us.
The Homily was given by Fr Bede OSB (from Ampleforth North Yorkshire) He led us to reflect on the role of all consecrated persons to be witnesses to prayer, but all creating paths, safe ways, by our example and way of life, that others can safely follow as a clear path to encounter Christ.
After mass, a time of Silent Adoration was an intense time of prayer together, 35 persons totally consecrated to the Lord, there together in silent prayer before Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. You could feel the intensity of prayer.
A lovely lunch had been prepared by Mark the Chef Manager and the Kitchen Team, and indeed everyone did justice to the Chicken and Chick pea curry, Ratatouille and lovely rice, cold meats and salads. Fresh fruit and petit fours. Each table was a mixture of various religious orders and Congregations and it was lovely to see how all shared and chatted just like old friends.
Time came for the afternoon reflection which was led by Father Bede.
It was a Lection reflection on the Story of the Canaanite woman who asked Jesus to heal her daughter. Fr Bede had a great gift in helping us all explore and dig deeper into this passage and to relate it to our lives and various missions in the Church.
The day was not quite over, as there was still afternoon teas. Specially made homemade buns had been baked and iced, and each bun had a pure white small candle. We lit the candles and shared “the light “ this symbol of the Lights of the Feast of Candlemas, of the Light of Christ, of the Light which is each Consecrated Religious there present.
Cards received in the post after the event are unanimous in saying how much they are grateful for this day of sharing, and for the hospitality they received here at the Little Sisters.
What a joy it was that day to share with others, this most beautiful Feast of Consecrated Life.
