Bishop Jugis gives thanks for consecrated men and women
CHARLOTTE — People who serve in the Diocese of Charlotte as religious order priests, brothers and sisters were honored during a special Mass on Saturday.
Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated Mass for the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life at St. Vincent de Paul Church. The annual Mass, held in conjunction with the Church’s worldwide celebration, honors religious men and women who serve the Church in the western half of North Carolina.
More than 50 religious sisters ranging in age from the mid-20s to late 80s were present, representing nine religious orders that minister in the diocese. Among them were two 2023 jubilarians: Trappist Sister Genevieve Durcan (Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance) and Franciscan Sister Jane Russell (Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis), who are both celebrating 60 years of professed religious life this year. They currently live with the Sisters of Mercy in Belmont.
Trappist Sister Genevieve Durcan and Franciscan Sister Jane Russell are both celebrating 60 years of professed religious life this year. They are pictured Feb. 4 with Bishop Peter Jugis.Bishop Jugis gave thanks for the gift of their religious vocation and their service to the Church in the diocese.
“It demonstrates to me, and to everyone whom you encounter, that the Holy Spirit is alive and well in the Diocese of Charlotte,” he told them. “The Holy Spirit is inspiring men and women to a total gift of self to God, following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.”
The whole body of the Church gives witness to Christ, the bishop said, yet “nothing can substitute for the special witness that you religious give both to those inside the Church and those outside the Church – a witness to the holiness of the kingdom of Christ, a witness to the holiness of the Church.”
Referring to the day’s Gospel passage from Matthew 16:24-27, the bishop reflected on Christ’s words to His followers: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”
“This is a saying of Jesus that is meant for all Christians regardless of their vocations,” he explained. “Deny oneself, put Christ first, and then follow Him. It’s true for Christian marriage, it’s true for the Christian single life.”
Yet, he added, those who consecrate their lives through religious vows and promises provide a special and powerful witness.
“It’s the way you gain the whole world and finding one’s life in the process,” he said. “The Lord has given you that very special grace of a vocation of leaving everything and following Christ, witnessing to a kingdom that ‘is in the world but not of the world.’”
Established by then-Pope John Paul II in 1997, the World Day for Consecrated Life is held in conjunction with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas, commemorating the coming of Christ, the Light of the World, through the symbolic lighting of candles. The worldwide Church commemorated the day on Feb. 2.
In a statement, Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, said the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life provides a special opportunity for Catholics to give thanks to God for people who choose a consecrated vocation.
“We give thanks to God today for continuing to call men and women to serve Him as consecrated persons in the Church. May each of us be inspired by their example to love God above all things and serve Him in all that we do,” he said.
— Story and photos by SueAnn Howell
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