"At a time when Consecrated Life is seeing a reduction in the numbers of vocations, the withdrawal of presences and closure of some houses etc., this pilgrimage with the theological virtue of hope is the only way to allow the Lord to work and save us even in this situation and find us the peace to bring it to the world," say the promoters of the initiative, which primarily involves the Vatican Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (DIVCSVA – Dicastero Vaticano per gli Istituti di Vita Consacrata e le Società di Vita Apostolica).
This Dicastery has planned pilgrimages in various phases for all men and women religious, starting from 2023 and finishing towards the end of 2025. In this journey, men and women religious have been invited to be agents of reconciliation in the current world context – which is marked by countless lacerations and divisions - and proposes to do so by working along three lines of action: listening to the cry of the poor, care and custody of Creation, and the spirit of solidarity towards all brothers and sisters.
In the second half of last year, this pilgrimage included a preparatory phase on the theme "thirst for reconciliation", carried out by all the religious men and women in their respective countries. Now, from 1st to 4th February - that is, on the weekend around the 28th World Day of Consecrated Life (which falls on 2nd February), this same group of religious are invited to participate in the first phase of the journey at Rome, with scheduled meetings and celebrations towards deepening the specific mandate of religious to be "signs of reconciliation among the people". It is in this phase, as mentioned, that the specific Salesian collaboration of the Sacred Heart community now takes place.
This journey will then continue with the celebration of the World Day of Consecrated Life in 2025 - again each in their own country - and will culminate in the Jubilee of Consecrated Life planned for 8th - 12th October 2025 in Rome.
Specifically, to facilitate the next phase, the ground work will begin in the afternoon of Thursday, 1st February, with an initial session on the topic of 'Believing in Hope' and a multi-point discussion on the topic of dialogue, in which various DIVCSVA personalities will participate.
On the morning of Friday 2nd, the participants will be brought into contact through various workshops and sharing of experiences to highlight three challenges and joys proper to their vocation, with the declared aim of "growing in charity". The day will end with a Eucharistic celebration in St Peter's Basilica together with the Holy Father, Pope Francis.
Saturday 3rd February, will be entirely devoted to the pilgrimage "on the road to peace", with departure and arrival at the Salesian Basilica of Sacred Heart next to the Termini Station in Rome. The 400 consecrated men and women will be accompanied, in different groups, on a route map with the theme: "with the strength of faith". The trek will take them through places associated with Mary, of the apostles Peter and Paul and the martyrs. They will stop to visit historical-artistic sites which have spiritual significance for Consecrated Life, with the testimonies of an experiences of consecrated persons in the world and include moments of personal and community prayer. The community Eucharist in the Sacred Heart Basilica itself will seal the day's pilgrimage.
The last half-day of activities, Sunday 4th February, the theme "bearing witness to hope" will resonate through the activities. In addition to the festive Mass, the religious men and women present will experience a moment of restitution and witness a synthesis of what has been experienced through an art form integrated by an artist. The concluding speech by the Secretary of DIVCSVA, Sr Simona Brambilla, and the handing over of the mandate to all those present will mark the conclusion of this stage and will orient everyone towards the next stages of this journey, under the banner of hope and on the path towards reconciliation and peace.
