Office of Consecrated and Apostolic Life (Religious)
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The purpose of the Office of Consecrated and Apostolic Life (Religious):To maintain a bond between the Bishop of Austin and members of Religious Institutes, Secular Institutes, Societies of Apostolic Life, and other forms of Consecrated life.
What the Office Does:The ministry of the director is primarily one of service to the Bishop of Austin accompanying those in Consecrated and Apostolic life and the ministry to which they’ve been called and assigned. The director, appointed by the bishop, serves as his liaison and offers pastoral ministry, provides appropriate resources, and facilitates collaborative structures for leaders and members of the various forms of consecrated and Apostolic Life for the enrichment of their ministry and vocation within the Church, particularly the Diocese of Austin. The director also serves as a resource for those women discerning a vocation to the consecrated and apostolic life, collaborating with the Office of Vocations.
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Contact Us
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Sr. Silvia Tarafa, SCTJMsr-silvia-tarafaaustindiocese.orgDirector of the Office of Consecrated and Apostolic Life
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Religious Institutes, Secular Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life of
Men and Women -
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Upcoming Events
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Saturday, February 7, 12:00 PM
The Consecrated Men and women of the Diocese of Austin are invited to celebrate World Day of Consecrated Life with our Bishop Daniel Garcia on February 7, 2026, at St Mary’s Cathedral.Read More
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On The Consecrated Lifeexcerpts
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“The life consecrated through the profession of the evangelical counsels is a stable form of living by which the faithful, following Christ more closely under the action of the Holy Spirit, are totally dedicated to God who is loved most of all, so that, having been dedicated by a new and special title to His honor, to the building up of the Church, and to the salvation of the world, they strive for the perfection of charity in the service of the kingdom of God and, having been made an outstanding sign in the Church, foretell the heavenly glory.”
- Canon 573 §1
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The Consecrated Life, deeply rooted in the example and teaching of Christ the Lord, is a gift of God the Father to his Church through the Holy Spirit. By the profession of the evangelical counsels the characteristic features of Jesus — the chaste, poor and obedient one — are made constantly "visible" in the midst of the world and the eyes of the faithful are directed towards the mystery of the Kingdom of God already at work in history, even as it awaits its full realization in heaven.
In every age there have been men and women who, obedient to the Father's call and to the prompting of the Spirit, have chosen this special way of following Christ, in order to devote themselves to him with an "undivided" heart (cf. 1 Cor 7:34). Like the Apostles, they too have left everything behind in order to be with Christ and to put themselves, as he did, at the service of God and their brothers and sisters. In this way, through the many charisms of spiritual and apostolic life bestowed on them by the Holy Spirit, they have helped to make the mystery and mission of the Church shine forth, and in doing so have contributed to the renewal of society.Vita Consecrata, 1
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