Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, December 05, 2003 Canal Fulton woman to become ‘Consecrated Virgin’ Dec. 8 By Susan K. Virgalitte CANAL FULTON – The consecration of a virgin lay woman is an ancient tradition in the Catholic Church restored during the Second Vatican Council. It is becoming popular again today with women who feel the call to dedicate their entire lives to God while living and working in the world. About 1,000 women in the United States have consecrated themselves to Jesus in a special way through their diocesan bishops and with the help of a spiritual director and formation director. Eileen Rohr, 47, daughter of Deacon Thomas and Pat Rohr of Canal Fulton, will become a Consecrated Virgin at a rite conducted by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin during the 7 p.m. Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at SS. Philip and James Parish here. The Consecration of a Virgin is one of the oldest sacramentals in the Catholic Church, mentioned in ancient writings as early as the first two centuries of Christianity. Consecrated virgins living and working in the world embody a definitive vocation. They attend Mass daily, pray the Divine Office, and spend time in private prayer. Through their prayer, they support their bishop and clergy spiritually, although they are not obligated to take on any particular work or apostolate. At no time is their diocese responsible for their support. A candidate for Consecration must undergo a period of preparation specified by her diocesan bishop. She must never have been married or lived in public or open violation of chastity. She must give proof, through letters of recommendation, of her maturity and character that will give her bishop assurance she will be able to persevere in a life of chastity. Usually, candidates have lived a “private promise of virginity in tranquility for some years” before seeking Consecration, according to a brochure developed by the United States Association of Consecrated Virgins in Oregon. Finally, a candidate for consecrated virginity must be able to support herself and provide her own healthcare. Miss Rohr lived in a large lay community called “L’Arche” (pronounced “larsh”) for people with disabilities and their caretakers for more than four years. She was an assistant, somewhat like a housemother, who helped the disabled members of the community with daily living skills, cooking, budgeting, shopping, vocational goals and “social pursuits.” One of the requirements for L’Arche assistants is that they have a mentor who accompanies them spiritually in their work. Miss Rohr’s mentor was Maggie Conrad of Cleveland. In the course of their conversations, she learned that Miss Conrad was a consecrated virgin in the Diocese of Cleveland. “I had already made a private commitment in 1995 to stay single for the Lord,” Miss Rohr said. “When I expressed that to Maggie, I didn’t know she was a consecrated virgin. She asked if I had ever thought about making that commitment public. That was the first I heard about it. When I read the Rite [for the Consecration of a Virgin], I was convinced that was the life I was called to.” Miss Rohr began to make inquires about becoming a consecrated virgin in 1999. She has worked with Bishop Tobin, Oblate Sister Joyce Candidi, director of the diocesan Office of Vowed Religious, Miss Conrad as her formation director, and a spiritual director in Stark County since that time. Miss Rohr, who has worked with the handicapped since high school, is now foster mother to a 16-year-old boy, Mohammed, who has multiple handicaps and spent his first 14 years in hospitals and a nursing home. Miss Rohr has known Mohammed for years and hopes to adopt him eventually. In addition to her duties as a foster mother, she also works at the Medina County Achievement Center, a vocational center for persons with disabilities. She volunteers at a medical clinic for the poor and is part of the music ministry at her parish. “I think this is going to be a beautiful experience for the parish,” Miss Rohr said about her consecration. “I am thrilled. People in the parish are aware of it, and I’m very pleased with the response. People are happy to know about it.” “Bishop Tobin and Sister Joyce have been very helpful,” she continued. “This has been a wonderful process. I felt very much held in their thoughts and prayers. I am very touched by Bishop Tobin’s pastoral concern, and Sister Joyce has really tried to keep me involved in the diocese with religious women. All along the way, they have been very attentive.” In an Exponent interview, Sister Joyce discussed what Miss Rohr’s consecration will mean to the diocese. “By virtue of her consecration, Eileen takes on the responsibility to pray for our diocese and our clergy,” she said. “Every time we have someone who dedicates their life to doing that, it is extremely encouraging to me and something the diocese should know. It’s another bit of ‘good news.’ We are blasted with bad news all the time. This is one of those small lights. This is new to our diocese, and we are very happy that Bishop Tobin has been so welcoming and open to this very special kind of vocation.” Miss Rohr is giving witness that she is responding to the vocation God has called her to, Sister Joyce said. “Her vocation is to give her life totally to Christ, to belong solely to Jesus and still live in the world. That is a vocation, a special calling by God aimed at building up the Body of Christ. It may be little-known, but it is very important to the Church. It is good that people know about it and that they pray for her and with her during this special moment in her life.”   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2003   ‘The Universal Declaration of Human Rights’…how are we doing?   Ecumenical Channel’s holiday programming schedule offers Christmas specials   Speaker: ‘Luke’ anchors Jesus story firmly in human history   Ursuline Preschool marks 40th anniversary of ‘don’t be afraid’ philosophy   Walsh hosts mini-pilgrimages for diocesan school pupils   St. Charles School dedicates, blesses new addition’s ‘holy space’   Fundraiser kicks off campaign for Tanzanian Catholic school   Canal Fulton woman to become ‘Consecrated Virgin’ Dec. 8   Pastor of Alliance Regina Coeli named to Columbus seminary post   For a variety of reasons, high school basketball has changed radically in past 25 years   Walsh names library in honor of first library director   Delegates being chosen for diocesan Vocations Congress next March   16 Leaders of Prayer commissioned at Ursuline Center Nov. 19   Missionaries of Sacred Heart honored at dinner for service   Bishop, speaker challenge law professionals at annual Red Mass   HM Sister Nadine Miller ‘found a new home’ 60 years ago   Diocese wraps up 60th with Mass focused on papal jubilee   Jewish council congratulates diocese; Bishop Tobin responds with letter   Meeting of liturgists marks 40 years of liturgical renewal   Diocesan NCCW reps attend national meet in Minneapolis   Oblate Sister Luigina Spinelli, fund co-chair: ‘The Lord got to me’   Their stories differ, but two couples both celebrate 68 years   Speaker: Call is to embrace life, not merely oppose evils   Charismatic Day speaker: Spiritual survival depends on holiness   Diocesan assignments given to   60th jubilee year to close with Oct. 16 Mass at Canton St. Joseph   People ‘looking for something beyond themselves,’ bishop tells Legatus   121 married couples to be honored Oct. 12 at Canton St. John   Mass, festivities mark 50 years of secondary education in Ashtabula   Missionaries of Sacred Heart sell retreat/renewal center to Diocese   Brewster St. Therese   A Message From Bishop Tobin   Fr. Bryan Hehir to keynote Diocesan Ministry Convocation Oct. 25   Niles St. Stephen Parish celebrates 150 years   Adult Confirmation set at cathedral   Mantua St. Joe parishioners help with Va. repair program   New role for Father McCarthy: Delegate for Retired Priests   Columbiana woman named head of Catholic radio station   It’s home, it’s family   Enrollment stable at 14,600 as diocesan elementaries reopen   Liturgies set, programs/buildings upgraded at high schools   Marian devotion   Diocesan pilgrimage to Carey celebrates DOY’s 60th anniversary   Walsh names Msgr. Lewis Gaetano new campus ministry director   Some observations on Spain   Campbell St. Joseph site of ‘manifestations of faith’ as crowds visit statue   Madrid’s Prado, various churches offer historic   Sr. Kathleen McCarragher chosen Ursulines’ new vocation director   Anita Stothard retires after 30 years at St. Brendan School   Ursulines name Sr. Nancy Dawson Ursuline Center executive director   Bishop from India visits diocese, shares challenges   Montserrat, Sagrada Familia two of Spain’s religious treasures   Marian Congress Aug. 13-16 is next event in 60th celebration   Priests appointed/elected toDiocesan Presbyteral Council   Pilgrims represent diocese at Fatima, other sites   U.S. Bishops’ NFP Week July 20-26 urges ‘Enhance the Romance!’   Catholic homeschooling group in diocese touts benefits   Rice Bowl offerings, guinea pigs and volcanoes: A visit to Quito   New Hope spirit won’t die despite school’s closing   Diocesan Marian Congress for Youth   David Weikart ordained to priesthood in cathedral liturgy   The NEW General Instruction of the Roman Missal   Wedding anniversary celebration to honor 174 couples at St. Columba Cathedral   Dance at Idora Park led Youngstown couple to 68 years of marriage   Three priests named to new assignments; newly ordained receive first roles   Diocese marks 60th with youth-oriented Anniversary Mass   Exponent honored at CPA gathering   Weikart, Celuch to be ordained   ‘Night to Honor Mary’ fills St. Columba   Judy DeSalvo retiring after 26 years as diocesan secretary   Diocesan historical display blessed in chancery ceremony   Clergy assignments   Eleven HM Sisters to mark jubilees May 17 at Villa   Light of Christ is hope after darkness of officer’s death   A pilgrimage/retreat story Mantua pastor visits El Salvador   Blessings and Challenges…Our Readers Respond   Emmanuel Community Care Center creator/director retires   Pastors appointed in Mantua, Nile   Stories differ, hunger for faith same for newest Catholics   Louisville parish delighted with restored painting   Msgr. Fye named to additional post   Shawn Conoboy: Our seminarian in Rome finds Eternal City and the studies (in Italian) to his liking   Diocese creates two special funds to aid Iraq war’s families, victims   New role set for Fr. McCarthy; first pastorate for Fr. Lavelle   Diocese to mark modest 60th   Expo ‘Jubilee’ cookbook sold out;   Readers share ‘Why I Love the Rosary,’ praise new Luminous Mysteries   458 persons prepare to become members of the Catholic Church   New Vienna K of C council launched at banquet   Warren priest, ‘loved, forgiven,’dies in apparent suicide   Revised Child Protection Policy OK’d for diocese   Catholic Exponent ‘puzzle’ comes together 26 times each year   Pro-lifers challenged to reverse ‘Roe’ during 5th ‘Mass for Life’ at St. Dom’s   ORTL educational fund now Center for Life and Hope   Oblate nun remembered   Diocese makes $200,000 grant for Charities’ emergency relief   New assessment tool tests students’ knowledge of the Faith   ‘Making a World of Difference’   Fr. Keehner gets appointment   Dominican Brother T.A. Dolan appointed to lead Missions Office   New president for Walsh University, new schools superintendent top diocesan news in 2002   ‘Christ Renews His Parish’ retreat changes lives   Warren St. Joseph marks 75 years   Lay Ministry Formation Program ready for ’03-‘04 courses   Past Articles From 2002