WASHINGTON—The Catholic Church continues to celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life, which began Nov. 29, 2014, and will continue through Feb. 2, 2016.

In Atlanta, on Monday, Feb. 2, on the Feast of the Presentation, a vespers service will be celebrated for the religious of the archdiocese at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, led by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory. The event begins at 4 p.m. A formal dinner will follow.

Across the U.S., the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has planned three observances during 2015 to heighten awareness of this special time.

Religious open house on Feb. 8

Religious communities, convents, abbeys, monasteries and religious houses across the nation will open their doors to the public on Feb. 8 for tours, family activities and presentations.

“We are excited to highlight this unique opportunity to participate in the Year of Consecrated Life,” said Sister Marie Bernadette Thompson, OP, the council coordinator of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious. “Religious houses around the country will be opening their doors for everyone to come and meet their ‘brothers and sisters.’ We welcome all families, parishioners and those who are not part of our church, and all of our friends and neighbors.”

The goal of the Feb. 8 event is to open the doors of religious life to provide an encounter with the local communities they serve in their everyday ministries.

Local religious sisters will be on hand to offer tours and answer questions about customs, traditions, and religious life overall. Over 100 convents will be involved, and each local convent will be publishing specific times and events via social media and their local Catholic diocese. The sisters of the CMSWR communities represent 125 communities nationwide with approximately 6,000 sisters.

In Atlanta, the Hawthorne Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home are hosting an Open House with the Community on Sunday, Feb. 8, from 1-4 p.m. For further information or reservations, contact the vocations director, Sister Alma Marie, OP, at 845-745-1319 or email her at sralmamarie@aol.com. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home is located at 760 Pollard Boulevard, SW, Atlanta.

More events to come

During summer 2015, a Day of Mission and Service will take place as religious communities will plan and invite the public to join them for service projects specific to their ministries.

On Sept. 13, a Day of Prayer with Religious is planned. Convents, monasteries, religious houses, parishes and churches will offer vespers, rosary, holy hours and other prayer experiences.

Local dates will be announced as information becomes available.