Diocesan News

Religious Gather to Celebrate Vocation and Dedication to Consecrated Life

Bishop Robert Brennan blesses those of consecrated life for being witnesses of hope every day. (Photo: Alexandra Moyen)

JAMAICA — On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the first Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, marking the start of Jubilee 2025. With the “Pilgrims of Hope” theme, he emphasized reconciliation and forgiveness for Catholics worldwide.

According to Bishop Robert Brennan, this means displaying empathy in hearing and actively listening to the other side, which is what those who have sworn to a consecrated life live up to daily.

“One of the things that’s on a lot of our minds these days is walking together through the jubilee year, that we are walking together as pilgrims of hope, and the sisters and brothers are a great example of what that means,” Bishop Brennan said. 

“It means to walk and listen to one another, to be attentive to where God is leading them,” he added, “and the religious have a tremendous heritage of doing exactly that.” 

Over 100 religious filled the pews of St. Thomas More Church at St. John’s University for the Mass for World Day of Consecrated Life on Feb. 1 celebrated by Bishop Brennan.

Sister Maryann Seton Lopiccolo, the episcopal delegate for religious in the Diocese of Brooklyn and a Sister of Charity-Halifax, organized the Mass and a discussion that followed on ways they can take future pilgrimages. 

She said she was pleased with the day’s turnout, noting the diverse “cross-section” of the diocese and its many new faces. 

“I get excited because I think we are such a vibrant diocese — always diverse, always the ‘Diocese of Immigrants’ — but to have it right here in this room and to see it is just so exciting,” Sister Maryann said. 

Sister Julia Upton, provost of liturgy and sacramental theology at the university and a member of the Sisters of Mercy, was the keynote speaker for the event. Her presentation, titled “Packing for the Pilgrimage of Hope,” discussed Pope Francis’ message of walking together in hope, the anchors of hope around her, and the importance of intention when on a pilgrimage. 

After her speech, Sister Julia opened the floor for questions. One sister asked if it’s the destination or the spiritual intent that makes a pilgrimage.

“Sometimes intentionality sort of catches you by surprise. Sometimes you weren’t intending to do something, and it happened, but you were available,” Sister Julia said. “That’s the most important thing — to be available, to keep ourselves open.”

After Mass, Sister Julia told The Tablet that discussing Pope Francis’ message of hope in her speech was important because “there isn’t enough hope in the world.”

“People are teetering on despair all the time and don’t talk enough about the things in life that give them hope,” she said. 

During her speech, Sister Julia recounted a time when she was helping Daisy Girl Scouts with their faith pinnings at St. William the Abbot. She told The Tablet that children are a great example of hope. 

“The kids were so little, and they dreamed of everything. Everything is possible in their world,” Sister Julia said. “They haven’t been jaded by [life] … and it’s good to remember when we were like that. 

“It’s still in us.”