Eleven women and men religious renewed their vows during an annual celebration of and prayer for consecrated life on Wednesday, February 21, at St. John the Evangelist Church in Midtown Manhattan.

Monsignor Joseph LaMorte, vicar general of the Archdiocese of New York, celebrated the Mass.

“It’s always a delight to be able to celebrate in this way, particularly on a day like this when we revere the women and men who live their lives in consecration,” Monsignor LaMorte said. “We love the nuns and we love the brothers because they helped in our formation.”

Monsignor LaMorte said that sisters and brothers play a large role in the formation of so many people through Catholic education.

Concelebrating with Monsignor LaMorte was Monsignor Douglas Mathers, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church.

“Our yearly renewal of vows strengthens each of us in our continued call to follow Jesus as consecrated women and men,” Sister Joan Curtin, vicar for religious of the Archdiocese of New York, told The Good Newsroom.

“It was truly a privilege for us Consecrated Religious who work here at the Catholic Center or in regional offices to renew our vows here with many colleagues and parishioners attending the Mass and supporting us with their prayers. In the Church we need each other: clergy,  laity, and vowed religious. God calls each of us to be witnesses in a world in desperate need of God’s love and light,” she said.

Those who renewed their vows were:

Sister Patricia Anastasio, PBVM
Sister Zelide Ceccagno, MSCS
Sister Joan Curtin, CND
Brother Tyrone Davis, CFC
Sister Pilar De la Cruz, SSC
Sister Nancy Doran, SSC
Sister Anne Massell, PBVM
Sister Teresita Morse, RJM
Sister Mary Grace Walsh. ASCJ
Sister Anne Elizabeth, SV
Sister Margaret Mary Hope, SV.