Page 14 - The Priest, Summer 2015

Sr Acacia MC congratulates Fr Francis Denton after his priestly Copyright © Casamento Photography, 2015. Used with the ordination at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, last July. permission of Catholic Vocations, Archdiocese of Melbourne.
would hope for the same in most parishes, but this is not always the case. Sometimes anyone but religious are asked to help with the distribution of Holy Commun- ion. Having a visible religious in this con- text can assist in upholding the sanctity of the Eucharist. I rmly believe religious should be asked before laity in this role.
The role of religious in being present for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament should also be emphasised. Are they invit- ed? Are they given the idea that their pres- ence can help with the spiritual formation of the whole parish and inspire so many others to do the same? Are Religious ros- tered in the Parish’s ministry? Always ask them rst. This increases the visibility of religious, and can inspire vocations to re- ligious life as long as they are in the habit.
Regarding the habit I quite like what I read in an article in Religious Life:
The religious habit instructs the observ- er that there is more here than meets the eye. This person, this religious, is a professed collaborator with God. The habit says that this person is a channel
of God’s grace... The religious habit If the great challenges which modern tells the onlooker that, all things being history poses to the new evangelization equal, this man or woman is a sign of are to be faced successfully, what is need- God’s mysterious ways in our midst.16 ed above all is a consecrated life which is
continually open to challenge by the re- People respond positively to seeing the vealed word and the signs of the times.17
habit in their parishes. Because they do
not see it too often, they are often curious This can also be experienced with re-
about what the habit is, why it looks the ligious providing spiritual assistance to way it does and by personal experience, groups, the Legion of Mary, etc. With
are always eager to ask “Father/Sister/
life, another area we can encourage the means that as a PP you do not have to
collaboration of religious is in catechesis. worry! Sometimes we see with the laity in- Older clergy and not so older clergy have ternal ghting over leadership, and lack all bene tted from teaching religious. of cooperation and obedience to the PP Now days this is the exception rather than and the Church. Religious can be a bridge the norm. It is up to us to encourage new in this regard. They can be your eyes and beginnings. Religious sisters or brothers ears in these situations.
teaching catechism, RCIA, adult faith for- Women religious also have a way of mation, going into the classrooms, youth helping the parish priest in areas that at
apostolate, visiting the elderly, childcare – times may be delicate. Again looking to this can all be part of the new evangelisa- Vita Consecrata, the Holy Father reminds
tion, which we do read in Vita Consecrata: us:
16 M. Habiger, Religious Life. Jan/Feb 2012. 17 Vita Consecrata, no. 81.
Brother, aren’t you hot in that?!” keep things ‘on the rails’ so to speak,
Apart from the parish’s sacramental in communion with the Church, which
their ecclesial identity religious help to
14 – Summer 2015
the