On January 24, 2026 the consecrated women present in the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia gathered for a meeting with Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia.

The encounter, held around the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life, February 2, has by now become a regular annual appointment for the consecrated women of the Vicariate.

About 30 among the religious from different congregations and lay consecrated women came together at St. Mary’s Parish, Dubai, for a time of prayer, sharing and fellowship.

The meeting began with the parish Holy Mass, presided over by the Bishop. It was a moment of prayer lived within the heart of parish life, fully immersed in the faith and prayer of the People of God. The parish priest, fr. Leny Escalada, welcomed them, expressing his gratitude for their presence and witnessing.

Reflecting on the Gospel account of the call of the first disciples, the Bishop spoke of consecrated life as “an example of evangelical life” and “a great sign of hope in the Church,” calling all the faithful “to encounter Christ and to live their Christian vocation with intensity.” 

He also encouraged parents to help their children “discover their vocation and support them in making courageous choices,” invited young people “not to be afraid” if they sense God’s call, and asked the whole Christian community to pray for vocations to consecrated life and the priesthood.

In the second part of the morning, the Bishop offered a reflection on the meaning and value of consecrated life in the light of the homily delivered by Pope Leo XIV on the occasion of the Jubilee of Consecrated Life on October 9, 2025.

Quoting the Pope, the Bishop recalled: “Through your religious profession, you have committed yourselves to being a prophetic sign, because living your vows means abandoning yourselves like children into the arms of the Father.” This is, the Bishop said, “the very identity of consecrated life: the radical trust of a child who abandons himself into the arms of the heavenly Father.”

In that homily, Pope Leo also indicated two tasks that flow from this identity: to point out the centrality of God in human life, and to be a sign of the great hope of eternal life.

The Bishop then invited the consecrated women to share experiences, challenges, desires, and suggestions related to living their vocation in this part of the world—reflecting on how to strengthen bonds among themselves, support one another, and make their voice heard within the universal Church.

The dialogue that followed unfolded in a truly fraternal atmosphere and was rich in contributions. It revealed the freshness, joy, commitment, and deep significance that consecrated women bring to the life of the Vicariate and to the Catholic faithful—not only through their works, but above all through their “being a presence” as the bishop underlined, marked by closeness to people, attentive listening, shared struggles, and a lived witness that life has meaning and purpose.

Sr. Fairuz, of the Chaldean Sisters’ community in Sharjah, and Sr. Reema, of the Carmelite Sisters of St. Teresa in Abu Dhabi, were asked to coordinate the group for communication with the Vicariate and possible common initiatives.

The meeting concluded with a shared meal, a simple and joyful moment of fellowship, gratitude, and renewed strength in the shared call to serve the Church.