WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE IN CLUJ-NAPOCA

- THE JOY OF SAYING “YES” TO GOD -

Consecrated persons from the religious Orders and Congregations pertaining to the Eparchy of Cluj-Gherla have celebrated, together with the Catholic Church, the World Day for Consecrated Life, Friday and Saturday, February 1st and 2nd 2019, in the feast of The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Întâmpinării Domnului la Templu.

The schedule dedicated to this event, coordinated by Fr. Anton Crișan, vicar for consecrated persons, had its debut at the Mother of God Monastery in Cluj-Napoca with a prayer and vigil evening together with the eparchy bishop HE Florentin Crihălmeanu, Fr. Cristian David, chancellor and chaplain of CMG, Fr. Ioan Pop, adviser and chaplain of OSBM, other priests and consecrated persons from different religious orders and congregations. It was a time of elevating moments, of giving glory to God through prayers and psalms, Eucharistic adoration, as well as a spiritual guided meditation by Fr. Olivo Bosa from the Society of Jesus.

The next morning, the Bishop, priests and consecrated persons, monks, sisters and consecrated lay people together, in a procession, with lit candles in their hands and the light of prayer in their hearts, entered the “Transfiguration” cathedral, proceeded towards the altar where they laid-down their candles and bowed to the presence of God. The procession was followed by the Holy Mass, preceded by the Bishop. The solemn liturgical celebration, with the liturgical answers sung by the sisters from CMG and OSBM conducted by Sr. Dominica, was a feast of joyful encounter with the Lord for all those present, with a grand participation of lay people. The Holy Mass, as the entire anniversary programme of the World Day for Consecrated Life had a very well defined purpose this year: a strong prayer for new vocations in consecrated life as well as a witness of the beauty of this way of life, less and less present in the secularised world we live in.