On October 8, the Jubilee of Hope for consecrated life was celebrated in Rome. Not by coincidence, on that same day we, the consecrated men and women from the region of Judea and Palestine, gathered together in Jerusalem.

It was an experience of diversity, unity, and belonging, lived in communion with the universal Church represented in St. Peter’s alongside the Pope. More than 300 consecrated men and women were gathered, belonging to about 30 religious families, together with our Patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and several auxiliary bishops.

We began with the Eucharistic celebration in the chapel of the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. In his homily, the Patriarch described consecrated life in our local Church—the Church in Jerusalem— as a vocation not of power, but of presence. He encouraged us to “continue loving, trusting, and building, not because we always understand, but because we have been loved.” He concluded with a renewed invitation to all consecrated persons to continue embodying the light of Christ in a world often darkened by mistrust and suffering: “Healing,” the prelate said, “comes through unity, compassion, and the courage to bend down before the wounds of others. This is not impossible: this is our vocation.”

Afterwards, in the auditorium, the Cardinal offered an overview of the diocese and of religious life, presenting some of the current challenges and opportunities, and highlighting the value and importance of the presence of consecrated persons: a presence that is, above all, spiritual and stands as a testimony of hope.

We concluded the conference with a tribute to the religious of three congregations present in Gaza, who have accompanied hundreds of refugees in the parish day after day throughout the entire war. Our gesture was both an acknowledgment of their dedication and an expression of our desire for peace. Although we are not physically there, we remain united in heart and in prayer.

We ended with a simple and fraternal reception. Then each one returned to his or her home, convent, or monastery, carrying a gift of joy and consolation: the joy of having met others who have been captivated by the Love of Christ and who, each day, desire to leave everything to follow Him and to help others discover the One who has transformed their lives; and the consolation of knowing that, amid personal, institutional, or social difficulties or crises, we do not walk alone, but together. And this rekindles the flame of hope.