By Sr Elaine Penrice (NOV Religious Life Promoter)

Members of religious congregations from all over the UK came together in March for a conference in Liverpool which was inspired by Pope Francis and the book of an interview with him, “God is Young.”

Some one hundred participants came from Scotland, Ireland and England & Wales in a collaborative gathering,  with the conference being the first time the offices of vocation in the respective countries had organised such an event. It was a great success!

The Vatican has brought out a document called Christus Vivit (“Christ is Alive”) addressed to young people, the result of the Synod on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment last year. In this letter, the Pope encourages young people to grow in holiness by seeking friendship with Jesus, and he provides guidance on how they can discern their vocation.  The Pope also addresses the Church as a whole, reminding of the youthfulness the Church should embody, as well as the importance of listening to young people.  Please click here to read the document. The printed document is available to order from www.ctsbooks.org/christus-vivit.

“The Strength of a Vocation: Consecrated Life Today” is an excellent book for religious to read.  In this interview with Pope Francis, Spanish Claretian Fernando Prado draws out the Pope’s thoughts and reflections on the call to live out consecrated life today with an ever-new vitality.

The interview gives insight into the dynamic path of a consecrated vocation. It gives compelling reflections on the Church’s witness and outward reach, reveals the power of consecrated life in the Catholic Church, and shows care for the spiritual good of religious men and women who accept a consecrated vocation. To order your copy, please click here.

Find out about Women at the Well in this short video, a service run primarily by religious sisters located in Kings Cross, dedicated to supporting women whose lives are affected by or at risk of being affected by prostitution. Sister Lynda Dearlove, the founder, explains how religious working together can make a huge difference.

You can also read about the art therapy provided there by Caritas Bakhita House in this account written by one of the religious sisters, in order to help heal these women.

Vocations Sunday will be celebrated on 12th May 2019. This day flows from the broader culture of vocation, and is when the universal Church asks the Lord to send more labourers to the harvest.

You can now download resources for Vocations Sunday, which can be used in your parish, school or community. Please click here to view the resources.

Ever wondered if there’s more to life? The BBC have created a documentary following three young people living an alternative lifestyle, one of them being 27-year old Brother John, who is a Benedictine monk at Downside Abbey in Somerset.

To watch the insightful documentary and find out about what life is like in a monastery, please click here.