Last October, the Diocese of Joliet held a Mass that celebrated consecrated life and jubilee for religious and priests, brothers and sisters living and serving in the diocese. To watch the Mass, you can click here:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEK9uAopbyM

Here’s what the Vision Vocation Guide wrote about consecrated life:

“Since the call of the first disciples, some followers of Jesus have sought a different way to live their faith. In the early church, groups of widows gathered to dedicate themselves to prayer and good works. Others craved solitary prayer, so they fled to the desert to commune with God and guide others in the pursuit of holiness. Monasteries, cloisters, and religious houses eventually came into being, and religious life as we know it began to take shape. Consecrated life—in its diverse expressions around the globe—is a gift to the church and world. Its prayer lifts the entire church. Likewise, good works and the pursuit of justice shape society to more closely resemble the reign of God. A life of chastity, poverty, and obedience gives powerful witness to faith in Jesus without a word being uttered. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, religious communities of men and women rise up, serve a purpose, thrive, and live on or come to an end. This ebb and flow has occurred for 2,000 years and will continue for millennia to come as new members around the world take vows and join their lives to communities to live out the gospel in radical ways.”

To see photos of the jubilarians, click below to see the image gallery:

To see what some of the jubilarians had to share about their lives and ministries, click on the following links:

Jubilarians 1

Jubilarians 2

Jubilarians 3

Jubilarians 4

Jubilarians 5

Jubilarians 6