Twenty priests and brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross from around the world joined with thousands of other consecrated men and women in Rome as pilgrims in the Jubilee of Consecrated Life from 8-12 October. Holy Cross’s participation, which was one of the largest groups of male religious at the jubilee, was organized by the Congregation’s Commission for Consecrated Life and Heritage.
“I went to Rome for the Jubilee of Consecrated Life with different expectations than all my previous trips, which were primarily for meetings with a little tourism on the side,” said Br. Kenneth Haders, C.S.C., Superior of the Midwest Province.“I came to Rome as a pilgrim, with both anticipation and expectation. I was ready to be inspired, and I was....Being with almost 4,000 other religious and experiencing the large crowds of people who had all come to Rome for the Holy Year gave me great hope that my faith was shared in such a demonstrable way with so many others."
The pilgrims from the Congregation gathered at the Holy Cross Generalate on the afternoon of Tuesday, 7 October. They represented 14 of the Congregation’s 16 jurisdictions from around the world. Also participating in the group was Sr. Renée Daigle, M.S.C., Congregational Vicar, who is a member of the Congregation’s Commission for Consecrated Life and Heritage.
During that initial gathering, the religious shared about the present state of consecrated life in their regions, talking about both the challenges as well as the opportunities. Then the prilgrims expressed their hopes for their days of pilgrimage in Rome. The group then shared a Mass and dinner with the Generalate community to open officially Holy Cross's participation in the jubilee.
On Wednesday morning, 8 October, the Holy Cross group began its day at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where, after passing through the Holy Door, they prayed at the tomb of Pope Francis, who opened the Year of Jubilee on 25 December 2024. Then it was on to the Papal Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, before ending the day at Saint Peter’s Basilica. There, they joined with thousands of other consecrated men and women in making the pilgrimage up Via della Conciliazione, reading from the Scriptures and praying the Rosary, before passing through the Holy Door and attending the Opening Prayer Service.
“Participating in the Jubilee for Consecrated Life was a deeply spiritual experience, lived in an atmosphere of joy, prayer, and communion,” said Fr. Jomon Kalladanthiyil, C.S.C. “From the very first day, I could feel the breath of the Spirit in the air. Different languages and cultures were present, yet there was one faith, one Lord, one hope. The moments of prayer and celebration were of rare intensity.”
Explore a vocation to Holy Cross
On Thursday morning, 9 October, the group attended the Mass with the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square. In a great honor, one of Holy Cross’s pilgrims, Br. Evans Mensah, C.S.C., from the Province of West Africa, was chosen to greet the Holy Father before Mass as one of the representatives of consecrated life from around the world.
“Meeting the pope was a real shock and something I have never ever dreamt about,” said Br. Mensah. “I carried with me in my heart my brothers in the Congregation of Holy Cross, my family, and my friends who did not have the opportunity to come to Rome. After greeting and briefly speaking with the pope, I experienced in myself a renewal of my life. My joy for coming for the jubilee was complete. I still see this event as God-ordained miracle in my life.”
That same afternoon the three-day program organized by the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life began in Paul VI Audience Hall. Friday, 10 October, was dedicated to the theme of hope, with the main speaker being Fr. Giacomo Costa, SJ, Consultor of the General Secretariat of the Synod.
In keeping with the jubilee's theme of “Pilgrims of Hope on the Way of Peace”, Saturday, 11 October, focused on peace. Sr. Teresa Maya, CCVI, Former President of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, was the day's main speaker. Following up on the concept of peace-building, the afternoon was a workshop on mediation and conflict management, led by Fr. David McCallum, SJ, Director of the Discerning Leadership Program.
On both days, the sessions in Paul VI Audience Hall included several opportunities for interaction and conversation. In addition to sharing with consecrated men and women from other congregations, the Holy Cross priests and brothers were also able to meet up and interact with the group of the Sisters of the Holy Cross.
In fact, on Friday, the Congregation of Holy Cross hosted all the Holy Cross Sisters, Brothers, and Priests participating in the jubilee for a sack lunch. All four congregations of the Holy Cross Family were represented, giving the moment a true familial flavor and spirit.
Learn about the three patrons of the Holy Cross Family
Another highlight of those days was the audience with Pope Leo XIV on Friday. In his brief address, the Holy Father invited the consecrated men and women“to look to the future with serenity and confidence, and not to be afraid to make courageous choices....My dear ones, continue your journey with this trust!”
The closing prayer for the Jubilee for Consecrated Life was held on Saturday evening, 11 October, at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. After passing through that Holy Door, the Holy Cross pilgrims had completed all four of the Holy Doors in Rome.
The Congregation’s pilgrims gathered at the Holy Cross Generalate on Monday, 13 October, for a day of reflection and conversation. After reflecting on the overall experience, as well as the specific themes of hope and peace, the group concluded by sharing ideas of how to carry the spirit of the jubilee back to their jurisdictions.
“For me, this experience took on a special meaning in the light of our Holy Cross tradition. I often thought of Saint Brother André. Through his simplicity, humility, and absolute trust in God,he remains for us a model of living hope. He teaches us that holiness does not lie in great works,but in daily fidelity: to pray, to serve, to love, and to trust,” said Fr. Kalladanthiyil. “As I left Rome, I felt a call to return to what is essential. We are called to be signs of God’s tenderness, to show that even in the night, the light of Christ never goes out.”
That renewed sense of calling, coupled with a stronger desire to be more faithful witnesses to Jesus Christ, permeated all those who participated in the jubilee from the Congregation.
“To walk the ancient stones of Rome during the Jubilee Year of Consecrated Life was to feel history and eternity embrace. Each step, each prayer, each shared moment of faith became a breath of grace, renewing my heart in the light of Christ,” said Fr. Gnanam, C.S.C., of the Province of Tamil Nadu in India. “Standing among countless hearts united in purpose, I felt the beauty of our shared calling: to serve with joy, humility, and unwavering love.”
Fr. Gnanam continued, “I return home with a renewed spirit a pilgrim of peace, carrying the hope that our faith and fraternity may continue to illuminate the world, one loving act at a time.”