DETROIT — Hundreds of religious men and women gathered Jan. 17 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament to celebrate the closing of the Year of Consecrated Life.

The special Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, was followed by a reception and displays hosted by religious congregations from across the archdiocese.



In his homily, Archbishop Vigneron stressed the importance of consecrated life for the well-being of the Church.

“It’s so easy to misunderstand what it means to live and serve in consecrated life,” the archbishop said.

“The worth of your consecration cannot be measured by some merely secular standard of civic improvements that are accomplished, though you are involved in great works of civic improvement,” he said, such as education, health care, concern for the poor and working to restore ecology. “The world understands that, but that’s only seeing the surface of the mystery that you live.”

The archbishop said more than works of charity, consecrated life is about living the mystery of Jesus.

“We, the members of the Church, are not the fan club of Christ. We reciprocate his self-gift. We receive his gift and give ourselves back openly in return,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “And then we begin to glimpse the meaning of your consecration — what it is to be a sister, a brother, a priest in the vowed life.

The archbishop added that works of mercy are a critical part of consecrated life when done in the spirit of Christ.

“It’s about Jesus, and you’re a member of Jesus in the classroom, in the hospital, in the clinic, in the center, at the soup kitchen,” he said.

Before Mass, representatives of more than a dozen religious orders joined in a procession to the altar led by the Knights of Columbus honor guard while carrying items representing each of their congregations.