Consecrated Life

Consecrated Life is a Gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church

Those called to consecrated life are invited to follow Christ more closely through the total offering of their entire life to God through the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. They are also dedicated to a life of prayer and charity in the service of the Church.
    
The Diocese of Paterson is blessed with the presence of 40 different institutes of consecrated life dedicated to the following life forms: the cloistered contemplative life, monastic life, hermetical life, and active apostolic life. More than 800 women and men live and serve the people of God here. Their presence expresses the reality of lifelong commitment to the Gospel and to the Church’s mission of evangelization. Their prophetic way of life is a “splendid sign” of the “glory of the heavenly Kingdom.” (Vat II, LG 44)

Consecrated Life of Paterson Website

Pope Francis dedicated the year (Nov 30, 2014 – Feb 2, 2016) to the vocation of consecrated life in the Church. He has invited the entire Church to come to a deeper appreciation of the charisms of sainted founders/foundresses and to draw closer to Religious in their lives of prayer and ministry.

Pope Francis urges us to be "experts in communion."  

Consecrated Life has existed from the very first centuries and has taken a variety of forms through the years.  It is rooted in the sacrament of Baptism, and offers a more radical expression of it.