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Abbot Francis Michael Stiteler, OCSO, leads a prayer before a dinner on World Day of Consecrated Life, Feb. 2. The abbot and 30 monks welcomed 100 people in consecrated life to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit for evening prayer, a reception and dinner. Abbot Stiteler received the abbatial blessing as the seventh abbot of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery on the feast of St. Benedict, July 11, 2004. (Photos by Michael Alexander)

Dominican Sister Marie Sullivan, foreground, is executive director of The Sullivan Center, a nonprofit organization with the mission of helping people remain self-sufficient, while providing help to families and individuals in a dignified manner facing a “stability crisis.” Its primary goal is the prevention of economic inequality, homelessness and poverty. Sister Marie made her final vows in 1951.

Sister of Mercy Peggy Fannon, foreground, joins others during the evening liturgy of praise to celebrate the gift of consecrated life. Sister Peggy is a nurse educator at Saint Joseph Hospital, Atlanta. Sister Peggy made her final vows in 1986 at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Atlanta, and she’s the second person in the Sisters of Mercy to make her vows outside the community and in her home parish.

The Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge participate in the Divine Office of Vespers (evening prayer) at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers. (L-r) Sister Maria Valdez took her final vows in 1998, Sister Olivia Cardenas took her final vows in 1963 and Sister Martha Herrera took her final vows in 1961. All three sisters professed their vows in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Our Lady of LaSalette priests Father Thomas Reilly, left, and Father Joseph Aquino, right, join Cistercian monk Brother Guerric Riopel during the reception. Father Reilly, pastor of the Church of St. Ann, Marietta, was ordained in 1972. Father Aquino, the parochial vicar and a huge Boston Red Sox fan, was ordained in 1969. Both were ordained at the Shrine of Our Lady of LaSalette, Ipswich, Mass. Brother Guerric made his vows March 25, 2006.

Conventual Franciscan Father Gregory Hartmayer, foreground, sings the opening hymn “Jesus Calls Us.” Father Hartmayer entered religious life at the age of 17 in 1969. He was ordained in Albany, N.Y, in 1979. He is currently the pastor of St. Philip Benizi Church, Jonesboro.

(L-r) Congregation of Our Lady of the Retreat in the Cenacle Sister Barbara Young and Sister Susan Arcaro and Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales Father John DeVore sing the closing hymn, “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.” Sister Barbara and Sister Susan work in a ministry of retreat and spiritual development. Sister Barbara took her final vows in 1970 in Massachusetts. Sister Susan took her final vows in 1969 in Connecticut. Sister Susan Arcaro is the distant cousin of the late jockey Eddie Arcaro, the only rider to win the Triple Crown twice. Father DeVore was ordained in 1986 at St. Patrick Church, Norcross, by the late Archbishop Eugene Marino.