There are three states in life vocations in the Catholic Church: ordained (bishops, priests and deacons), laity (married and dedicated single) and consecrated. The Church refers to the state of consecrated life as a particular call stemming from one’s baptismal consecration. It is a call that involves the setting aside of a particular person as one who is to live as Christ himself, chaste, poor and obedient. The witness of consecrated life includes religious sisters and brothers, cloistered nuns, religious order priests, members of secular institutes and societies of apostolic life, consecrated virgins and diocesan hermits.
Many are surprised to learn just how richly blessed we are in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis with the presence so many consecrated women and men and the various expressions.
For example, can you name the 55 different communities of consecrated life of the 447 consecrated women and men presently living and serving in the archdiocese?
Since June 2023, I have had the privilege to serve as Archbishop Hebda’s Delegate for Consecrated Life. It is an honor to help tell the stories of our consecrated women and men and highlight the various forms of consecrated life and communities enriching our local Church.
This past year I was edified as pastors, Catholic school principals, parish staff members and Serra Club members reached out – all seeking to learn more about consecrated life in our archdiocese, promote consecrated life vocations and learn how to get connected with local communities. I also had the privilege to sit with and listen to women and men taking the first steps to discern their vocation but did not know where to begin.
My hope is that all of them and you find our new webpage: Who are our consecrated, to be educational, informative and resourceful. May this page be explored and shared!
In Saint John Paul II’s 1996 Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata (On Consecrated Life), he wrote: “To you, consecrated women and men… I appeal with trust: live to the full your dedication to God, so that this world may never be without a ray of divine beauty to lighten the path of human existence… You know the one in whom you have put your trust: give him everything!” (109).
Let us pray in gratitude for the gift of consecrated life in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. May our consecrated women and men always witness for us this ray of divine beauty to lighten the path of human existence. May each of us do our part in nurturing and supporting consecrated life vocations and more young women and men hear God’s invitation and respond with courage and without to delay.
Nicole Bettini, Consecrated Virgin
Delegado para la Vida Consagrada
