Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Tuesday, August 23, 2016, Gaudium Press) The “Consecrated Life” is being celebrated in various parts of Brazil in this month of August which is dedicated to the theme of vocations

In the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro, celebrations will carry on into the following month. On September 10, the “Extraordinary Jubilee for the Consecrated Life” will take place at the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian, in down town Rio, staring at 8am.

The episcopal vicar for the Institutes of Consecrated Life, Societies of Apostolic Life, Ecclesial Movements and New Communities, Bishop Roberto Lopes, said the event will also be a great thanksgiving for the canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Considered to be one of the most devoted women of the twentieth century, she will be canonized by Pope Francis on September 4, in Rome.

“We will hold a beautiful event giving witness of the consecrated life. We will honor the one who is a witness, who is called to be a prophet in the world, called to give witness of the love of God and to show his merciful face,” said Bishop Roberto Lopes.

In Rio’s Archdiocese there are presently 100 female congregations, 78 male and 48 new communities.

On the 10th of September, the participants will have the opportunity to go through the “Holy Door” at the Metropolitan Cathedral in company of His Eminence, Cardinal Orani João Tempesta, archbishop of Rio de Janeiro.

On this occasion, the Archbishop will preside over the Mass and lead the unveiling of a statue of Mother Teresa that was donated to this city by the Government of Albania, the birthplace of the founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity.

Bishop Roberto Lopes invites not only congregations, institutions and new communities, but also all the pastoral movements as well as the faithful in general to join in and participate in this great celebration of the mercy of God.

“As Pope Francis remembered, we, the members of the consecrated life, we are called to rediscover every day that we are custodians of all sort of goodness for mankind, everything that will help people to lead a new and better life. The Pope invites us to exercise our gazing form the heart because true love is always attentive and particular in this year in which we are invited to see, to meditate and to experience the Holy face of mercy. On the 10th of September we will be performing a beautiful witness of consecrated life in Rio’s Archdiocese” concluded Bishop Lopes. (LMI)

From the Editor’s Desk at Gaudium Press with information from the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro