TORONTO - For Sr. Zilda Carvalho, the Year of Consecrated Life served not only as a call for celebration amongst her fellow religious but as a catalyst for conversations with youth about vocations and faith.

Sr. Susan Kidd said the need for consecrated life in the world hasn’t changed, but she admits there was a time when the religious were more visible and it was easier to connect with a sister.

VATICAN CITY - Religious orders and the Vatican congregation that assists them must be bold in assessing whether current structures and practices help or hinder the proclamation of the Gospel, the pursuit of holiness and the service of the poor, Pope Francis said.