The Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious (LACCR) invited in a message to continue “looking to the future with hope, counting on God’s faithfulness and the strength of His grace, and with the synodal sum of our charisms, being light where Consecrated Life is present.”
In a press release published Tuesday, February 1, the LACCR sent a message to the men and women religious for the World Day of Consecrated Life, which will be observed today, Wednesday, February 2.
Give Thanks for the Multiplicity of Ways and Charisms
The LACCR’s Presidency, united to the 26th World Day of Consecrated Life, thanks God for the multiplicity of ways and charisms,” it said, adding that “all of us are sisters and brothers called to mutual help and reciprocal support. Sincere congratulations were expressed to those that “with their life dedicated to such a noble vocation, make the walking of many sisters and brothers more joyful and hopeful with our prayer, fidelity, closeness, friendship, creativity and perseverance in living our own charisms.”
Contemplative nuns and monks, women and men religious dedicated to the apostolate, members of the Secular Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life, consecrated virgins and hermits give witness, with our existence, of the love of Christ in all the fields of ecclesial and social life,” they stressed.
The LACCR pointed out that in our “Daily life we go maturing until we become a proclamation of an alternative way of living to that of the world, and that of the prevailing culture.” So, they explain, “our lifestyle and search for the absolute offers a spiritual therapy for the evils of our time. Very significant is both the active presence of new generations of consecrated persons that make Christ’s presence alive in the world and the splendor of ecclesial charisms, as well as the hidden and fruitful presence of consecrated women and men who experience old age, loneliness, sickness, and suffering” (CIVCSVA, Walk from Christ, 5-7).
Live the Present Time Intensely
Likewise, the LACCR points out that “we find ourselves living the present time intensely, encompassed by uncertainty and trying to generate answers to the many questions that surround us. We feel ourselves protagonists of a time that shakes our securities, when new strains emerge and install themselves, shading the path. We feel ourselves tireless women and men seekers of new paths to continue advancing, routes that widen our gaze and gift us the renewed beauty of the scenery.”
At the same time, we are premiering and learning a new way of being Church, synodal traces that relaunch us to recover prophecy, having the Gospel as the sole rule of life.” Likewise, “we continue walking decidedly to the configuration of a Religious Life with an Inter-Congregational, Inter-Cultural and Itinerant face, guided by a love, always brand new, which transforms us daily in women and men disciples or missionaries going forth, in total willingness to go where love takes us,” they highlighted.
Practice of Synodality
They also pointed out in the press release that “acknowledged in the First Ecclesial Assembly of Latin America and the Caribbean, was that the Latin American Confederation of Religious has contributed for a long time to generating a growing mentality and practice of synodality in our Church.”
This knowledge confirms our commitment to creating entities to promote talks among our Bishops, priests, deacons, religious and laity to share, create trust and carry out joint tasks in face of life issues, having only one soul and heart oriented to God,” they added.
At the end of the message, the LACCR invited to “continue looking to the future with hope, counting on God’s faithfulness and the strength of His grace, and with the synodal sum of our charisms, being light where Consecrated Life is present,” and exhorting: “We have a great story to remember and tell, and a great story to build!” (VC, 110).
Translation by Virginia M. Forrester
