A Mass to celebrate the lives of men and women living a consecrated life in the Regina Archdiocese was held in Regina’s Holy Rosary Cathedral, February 12. The event was organized by Reverend Timothy Scott, Executive Director of the Canadian Religious Conference from Montreal. On the surface, that may look a little unusual but, “It’s a pretty typical thing that we organize these types of activities right across the county,” said Reverend Scott, speaking with the Prairie Messenger. “And, I rather thought that with the installation of Archbishop Bolen, it was an appropriate to time to have a meeting involving him and the religious-consecrated men and women of the diocese.”
Most of those attending were Sisters – members of a community of religious women. Father Scott explained there is some confusion in the terminology that describes who are living a consecrated life. “The original term was religious life and the root of the word ‘religious’ is Latin for rule, so only those living in a congregation of men, like Jesuits, Oblates, etc., or communities of women like RNDMs who live by the rules of their community are considered living a consecrated life.
“Pope John Paul II, after reading Vatican II documents, wrote vita Consecrata using the term Consecrated Life and broadened the original definition. Distinctions remain but they’re not that great, said Father Scott. Most religious are included in the term Consecrated life.
Father Timothy Scott is originally from Regina where he attended St. James Elementary School (now closed) and Campion College high school. He then attended St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan, where he came to know the Basilian Fathers who run the college and decided his vocation was with that congregation.
The Canadian Religious Conference was founded in 1954, and according to its website, it is a voice for the leaders of about 250 Congregations of women and men religious in Canada. The Regina Archdiocese Directory lists seven communities of religious women; two secular institutes of religious women; three Associations of the Faithful with mostly women members; and ten male Congregations.
