LEWISTON — Fr. Daniel Greenleaf, pastor of Prince of Peace Parish in Lewiston, invites all to gather on Wednesday, Feb. 2, for a celebration on the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life.

The gathering at the Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul on 122 Ash St. is scheduled to begin with witness talks at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Mass at 11 a.m. and a luncheon provided by St. Mary’s Health System at noon, according to a news release from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.

There are three ways that people from around the state can join the celebration: in person at the Basilica, on Microsoft Teams by visiting princeofpeace.me or by watching on livestream at princeofpeace.me or facebook.com/PrinceOfPeaceME.

“It is important that we give thanks to God for the different aspects of our faith, and the gift of consecrated life to the Church and to our culture ranks high on the list,” said Greenleaf.

Instituted by St. Pope John Paul II in 1997, the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life is celebrated in conjunction with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas Day, which commemorates through the blessing and lighting of candles that Christ is the light of the world.

“Our Church in Maine has been touched by the many women and men in consecrated life who have offered prayers for the people of the diocese in monastic chapels and ministered to all in education, healthcare, social services, pastoral ministry, and religious education within parishes, healthcare facilities, schools, and social service agencies,” said Bishop Robert Deeley.

A recent survey of last year’s religious profession class conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate revealed that nine in 10 were encouraged by someone to consider a vocation to religious life.

For more information about discerning a vocation, visit portlanddiocese.org.