Two consecrated as Brides of Christ in Christchurch

Miss de Roo and Miss Hancock are parishioners of St Peter Chanel, Waimakariri and Holy Family, Christchurch West, respectively.

Consecrated virginity is a distinct vocation and one of the oldest forms of consecrated life for women in the Catholic Church, existing since apostolic times. The consecrated virgin receives the title “Bride of Christ”, and she becomes a sacred person, but remains living in the world in the secular state, providing for her own living and witnessing to God by her virginal life given exclusively to Jesus Christ, whose bride she is.

She lives her vocation in her own way according to her discernment as guided by her spiritual director and diocesan bishop. 

In a Facebook post, Canterbury Catholic Brendan Malone noted that Miss Hancock is a ward nurse who has publicly advocated for the culture of life and served many faithful years as one of the leaders for the ACTIV8 Pro-Life Training Week.

“All of this will continue for her, only now she serves Christ and his Church in the world dedicated to a life of prayer and celibacy for God.”

Mr Malone noted the ancient prayer for consecrated virgins prayed by Bishop Gielen on June 13 dates back to the fourth century.

FULL STORY

Weekly Notices 14 June 2026 (Catholic Diocese of Christchurch)

Vocations (Catholic Diocese of Christchurch)

Facebook (Brendan Malone)