Consecrated women are baptised and practising Catholics who have received a personal call from Christ to follow him more closely in a unique way of living in a Community. Consecrated women commit themselves to the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience. Their lives testify to the values of the kingdom of God. The profession of chastity, poverty and obedience rejects the idolatry of anything created and points to God as the absolute good.

Consecrated women give themselves totally to Christ, through their life of adoration and prayer/intercession for the world bear witness to church’s holiness. This is a driving force that enables each one of them to say, “Every step of my life God has led and I have followed” as our Mother foundress Mother Mary Charles Magdalene Walker would say.

Their service to God’s people and to society in various fields of evangelization – pastoral/social activities, education, care of the sick, the physically challenged, with special options for the poor and the abandoned-make visible the motherly face of the church. Consecrated women also bind themselves lovingly in Christ to all those who suffer deprivation and injustice by being there for them. Therefore, they will go ahead as long as they can trusting in Divine Providence.

Consecrated women also participate in the church’s consultations and decision making as situations may require. Their active participation in the synod has enriched reflection on consecrated life and in particular on the dignity of consecrated women and their collaboration in the mission of the church.

No wonder Pope Francis says that “we still need to create broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the church.” Because “the feminine genius is needed in all expressions in the life of society, the presence of women must also be guaranteed in the workplace and in the various other settings where important decisions are made both in the church and in the social structures.”

Because of the paramount importance of consecrated women’s life in the Catholic Church, in 2014, Pope Francis appointed several consecrated women to the Vatican’s International Theological Commission, an expert advisory body which assists the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in examining the questions of doctrine. Also in 2019, three consecrated women and one lay woman were appointed councillors in the office of synods, which prepares major meetings of world bishops held every few years on a different topic.

Bearing in mind that after all that the Lord has done in the past, they can have no fear of future, (MMCMW, HHCJ) detachment from wealth, power and family ties invites consecrated women from the depths of their being, to give themselves to the mission which strengthens God’s kingdom and extends its borders. Therefore, consecrated women “take the community as their home, as their family and love everybody as they would like to be loved” (MMCMW).

Consecrated women have no choice but to be missionaries. It is an imperative rooted in their configuration to Christ. Obedience to the Father leads consecrated women to unite themselves with Christ’s own mission to save the world and to make themselves one with the church, giving a witness of love to all without discrimination. Sometimes, the charism of their Institute or Congregation will take consecrated women beyond the borders of homeland and the confines of race; but no matter where their assignment, their very being will always move them to accompany the apostolic work of their sisters with prayer and sacrifice. That is why a consecrated woman can boldly say, “I must put all personal feelings aside now, and only consider the work of souls” (MMCMW)

To conclude, the roles of consecrated women in the Catholic Church cannot be overemphasized. Thus, three images capture the three fold-roles of consecrated women profoundly such as: “Mother” (to give birth to a new culture), Mystic (to contemplate God in all of reality), Prophetess (to construct an alternative future for the Church and society). By being fully who they are, consecrated women build up the Church and society. These Sisters, fully consecrated and fully women, are the true, authentic answer to the challenge of the present day.

References:

Consecrated Life; A Sign of the Church’s Vitality. Final Message of the 1994 World Synod of Bishops.

Writings, Sayings, Instructions, Maxims of Mother Mary Charles Magdalen Walker, (MMCMW) Foundress of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ).

Pope John Paul II, (1996), Vita Consecrata

Pope Francis, (2013), Evangelii Gaudium

Neo, Julma D.C. (2001) “The Role of Consecrated Women in the Church and in the Society Today: A Reflection,” Vincentiana: Vol, 45: No. 4, Article 15.

– By Sister Calista Ebe, HHCJ