Sr Mary T Barron at 8th Novemdiales Mass
On Saturday 10 May 2025, during the Novemdiales Mass, Sister Mary T. Barron OLA, our Congregational Leader and President of the International Union of Superiors General, offered a reflection in honour of Pope Francis. In 2024 Sr Mary was appointed by Pope Francis to the Dicastery for Evangelization. Speaking on behalf of consecrated women, she gave voice to a shared sense of gratitude and responsibility.
In her address, Sister Mary acknowledged the Holy Father’s enduring encouragement of religious life and his trust in the presence and witness of women within the Church. She reflected on his invitation to live our vocation with humility, compassion, and openness to the Spirit, and affirmed the commitment of consecrated women to continue walking with those on the margins, in service of the Gospel.
The full transcript and video (in Italian) of her speech are available below.
TRANSCRIPT:
“It is an honor for me as the current president of the International Union of Superiors General to speak today on behalf of consecrated women: today we gather in gratitude and respect as consecrated life to honor the life and legacy of Pope Francis, a humble and compassionate pastor with boundless love. His pontificate has been a light to all. He has invited us out into the world and among all of God’s creation to heal and accompany those most in need. Pope Francis has reminded us again and again of the importance of embracing our frailty not as a limitation but as a source of grace through his teachings he has urged us women religious to lower ourselves in service as Christ lowered himself to wash the feet of his disciples. He inspired us to bring hope and healing to the darkest corners of the world, to bring a friendly smile with a helping hand and a heart filled with the love of Jesus.
Holy Father we remember your encouragement, your unwavering confidence in the vocation of women religious. You recognized our contribution as builders of communion, as custodians of the warmth and maternal tenderness of the Church and reminded us that our presence is indispensable and that without us Mary would have been missed at Pentecost, made us stronger in living our consecration with joy, cultivating a passion for Christ and humanity and to be prophetic witnesses of God’s reign of love here on Earth and to walk together as one family of faith listening to the Spirit, made us active participants in the synodal journey, promoting dialogue and discernment in our communities and the whole church, you envisioned consecrated life as the cornerstone of this journey where young and old, people of different cultures share wisdom and vision, united in the mission of the Gospel. We give thanks for your heart as Pastor, for your vision and for the deep trust you have placed in consecrated women we promise to carry out the mission you have entrusted to us and to be the caress of our loving Creator God especially toward those who suffer.”