Mass for the Jubilee of Consecrated Life
By Allison Mosier10/20/2025
Joy and reverence filled the chapel of the Sisters of St. Joseph Living Center on October 18, 2025, as religious women and men from across the Diocese of Erie gathered for the Mass celebrating the Jubilee of Consecrated Life. The liturgy, held during the worldwide Jubilee Year of Hope, offered a profound moment of gratitude and renewal for those who have dedicated their lives entirely to God through the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Bishop Lawrence Persico served as the principal celebrant and homilist for the celebration, joined by the Sisters of St. Joseph, clergy and members of other religious congregations from throughout the diocese.
The liturgy began with a warm welcome from Sister Nancy Fischer, SSJ, who expressed gratitude on behalf of the Sisters of St. Joseph for the many religious communities represented. She offered heartfelt thanks to all who have lived their vocation with fidelity and love, describing consecrated life as “a living sign of God’s presence in a world that so desperately longs for light.” Sister Nancy’s message set the tone for the morning — one of thanksgiving, unity and renewed hope.
In his homily, Bishop Persico reflected on the meaningful connection between consecrated life and the Jubilee Year’s central theme. “When Pope Francis called for a Holy Year in 2025,” he said, “he wanted it to be a year of hope. Hope does not disappoint. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring.”
Bishop Persico reminded the congregation that consecrated life itself is an act of hope — a living witness to trust in God’s promises even amid uncertainty. “We gather today,” he said, “to celebrate those who have abandoned their very lives to God — who, despite human doubts and struggles, have handed themselves over in faith. Through your lives, you reveal the face of God to a broken and searching world.”
He described the religious vocation as one of quiet heroism — a call to serve as “living stones” that uphold the church not with bricks and mortar, but with compassion, prayer and perseverance. “For more than 172 years,” he noted, “the women and men of consecrated life in our diocese have helped build the church through your holiness and your singular commitment to the Gospel mandate to serve as Jesus did.”
A moment of solemn remembrance followed, as the names of those in consecrated life who had died during the past year were read aloud. Each name echoed through the chapel as a tribute to a lifetime of service — lives poured out in love and fidelity to Christ.
In closing, Bishop Persico offered words of gratitude and encouragement drawn from Pope Francis’ call for renewal in this Jubilee Year of Hope. “May this holy year be a time to rediscover joy and deepen your intimacy with Christ,” he said. “Through your witness, may the church — and all the people you serve — be strengthened in faith, sustained in love and renewed in hope.”
As the final hymn rose in thanksgiving, the community stood together — a living mosaic of faithfulness and hope. For the Diocese of Erie, this celebration served not only as a tribute to those who have given their lives to Christ, but also as a reminder that consecrated life remains a radiant sign of hope for the church and the world.
View photos from the Mass here.
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