{"id":18965,"date":"2025-02-02T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-02T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vedruna.org\/giving-thanks-for-gifts-in-celebration-of-50-years-of-consecrated-life\/"},"modified":"2025-02-04T10:08:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T09:08:25","slug":"giving-thanks-for-gifts-in-celebration-of-50-years-of-consecrated-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vedruna.org\/en\/giving-thanks-for-gifts-in-celebration-of-50-years-of-consecrated-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Giving thanks for gifts in celebration of 50 years of consecrated life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The World Day for Consecrated Life<\/strong> is celebrated on February 2. This feast was instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1997, with the purpose of highlighting the witness of those who commit themselves to live according to the evangelical counsels. <\/p>\n\n

In 2025, the Jubilee Year, this day follows the motto “Pilgrims and Sowers of Hope<\/strong>“. It is precisely this sentiment that resonates behind the words of our Sr. Veronica Hergesell<\/strong>who in January of this year joyfully celebrated 50 years of religious life. Today we share her testimony: <\/p>\n\n

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In living the Baptism of Jesus, I have been transported to the day of my own Baptism, April 18, 1954, a beautiful Easter Sunday, since I was born on Holy Thursday. I grew up in a Catholic family, where expressions of faith and prayers abounded, although participation in the community was limited due to the great distance between our home and the church. I am the first child of five siblings: two girls and three boys. <\/p>\n\n

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Since I was young, I have dedicated my life to study and work, until, at the age of knowing and living with a Religious Community, the Carmelite Sisters of Charity of Vedruna, I began my Postulancy on February 26, 1975.<\/p>\n\n

This month of January 2025, all the sisters of our country gathered together. On January 2, we celebrated my 50 years of consecration with great joy and profound thanksgiving. There are countless reasons why I am grateful for the gift of the vocation I have received. In the first place, I am grateful for the gift of life<\/strong>, because without it I would not have been able to receive other gifts. Next, I am grateful for the gift of my family<\/strong>, which allowed me to leave home to study from the age of 15. I am also grateful for the gift of health<\/strong>, because at the age of 70 I am very well. <\/p>\n\n

I cannot fail to highlight in me the gifts of joy<\/strong>, enthusiasm<\/strong>, fidelity<\/strong>, service<\/strong> and being very proactive<\/strong>. I am also deeply grateful for the missionary presence<\/strong> in which I am engaged, working today with the most vulnerable in society, fighting for their rights to health, education and territory. I am referring to the indigenous peoples of Mato Grosso, in S\u00e3o F\u00e9lix do Araguaia. <\/p>\n\n

For all this, I conclude by saying: I am an enormously graced, hopeful and happy woman. In addition, I highlight the help and vision of the Congregation, with which I have always had a great empathy towards the mission of this religious family. Last but not least, I want to highlight the Consecrated Religious Life in Mato Grosso and in the State of Tocantins, where I have been asked to collaborate in the animation of this work. <\/p>\n\n

Sr. Veronica Hergesell, CCV<\/strong><\/p>\n

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