Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Love them! They're my friends.
In July 2003, Cardinal Edward Egan, current archbishop of New York, submitted to the Holy See's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life documents outlining the purpose and governing structure of the community. Approval has now been granted and Cardinal Egan officially has established the Sisters of Life as a religious institute of diocesan right, or diocesan religious order. The sisters, their friends, relatives, and benefactors, plus a large contingent of media celebrated with a Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral, attended by 1,200 people.
The Sisters of Life have managed to overcome the perception that women's religious orders are dying because young women are not interested in joining religious communities. The so-called vocations crisis is, for them, a housing crunch as more and more young women join them in their work. Their ministry is counseling, giving adoption resources to women, and following "a philosophy of non-abandonment." A woman who needs the sisters has them for as long as they need and want.
The Sisters of Life have managed to overcome the perception that women's religious orders are dying because young women are not interested in joining religious communities. The so-called vocations crisis is, for them, a housing crunch as more and more young women join them in their work. Their ministry is counseling, giving adoption resources to women, and following "a philosophy of non-abandonment." A woman who needs the sisters has them for as long as they need and want.
