Sister Mina Kwon, a South Korean nun taking part in this month’s summit of bishops in Rome, has said that as the Church ponders how to better include women in decision-making roles, clericalism must be exposed as an underlying reason they’re not often seen in leadership. A member of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, Kwon is director of the Juniorate in her convent and also director of the Counseling Center in the School of Medicine in the Catholic University of Daegu. In an interview with  Crux , Kwon, participating as a delegate of the International Union of Superiors General in the Oct. 3-28 Synod of Bishops on young people, faith and vocational discernment, said that while the situation for women in the Church has improved, there is still a long way to go - including in synods themselves, where women still are unable to vote or be elected to the drafting committee charged with writing the final document. “Women religious want greater participation...

The youngest continent in the world is making its way into the assembly of bishops. The Salesian psychologist and educator, representative of the International Union of Superiors General: “We had to ask for a place in the synodal assembly” Africa is undoubtedly the continent with the youngest people in the world. In 2015, a young Somali entrepreneur and journalist published a map indicating the average age of its inhabitants for each African state. The graph was then taken up by various international press and travelled around the world, bringing out a very clear reality: in addition to having a very low average age, between 16 and 28 years, Africa hosts the five countries with the youngest population in the world - Niger, Uganda, Mali, Malawi and Zambia - (an average between 15 and 16 years). The figure, especially when compared to Italy - 45 years - and Germany and Japan - 46 - (the three countries exactly at the other end of the scale), is pretty stunning. It is therefore ...

Il continente più giovane al mondo si fa strada all’interno dell’assise dei vescovi. La salesiana psicologa ed educatrice, rappresentante dell’Unione internazionale Superiore generali: «Abbiamo dovuto sollecitare per ottenere un posto nell’assemblea sinodale» L’Africa è senza dubbio il continente con più giovani al mondo. Nel 2015, un giovane imprenditore e giornalista somalo pubblicò una cartina che indicava per ogni Stato africano, l’età media dei suoi abitanti. Il grafico fu poi ripreso da vari organi di stampa internazionali e fece il giro del mondo lasciando emergere una realtà molto netta: oltre a presentare un’età media molto bassa, compresa tra i 16 e i 28 anni, l’Africa ospita i cinque Paesi con la popolazione di età più giovane al mondo - Niger, Uganda, Mali, Malawi e Zambia – (una media tra i 15 e i 16 anni). Il dato, specie se confrontato con l’Italia – 45 anni – e Germania e Giappone – 46 – (i tre Stati esattamente all’altro capo della classifica), fa una c...

Seven women religious are participating in the Synod of Bishops on Young People, and offer their unique take on it, affirming that young people are truly being heard. Sr. Nathalie Becquart from France, Sr. Teresina Cheng Chaoying from China, Sr. Sally Marie Hodgdon from the US, Sr. Mina Kwon from Korea, Sr. Alessandra Smerilli from Italy, Sr. Lucy Muthoni Nderi from Kenya and Sr. María Luisa Berzosa González from Spain are representing women religious at the Synod of Bishops on Young People. They held a press conference on Monday evening. Before fielding questions, two of the English-speaking sisters provided their unique take on what is happening. Listening differently Sr Sally Marie Hodgdon, Superior General of the Sisters of St Joseph of Chambéry observes that those participating in the Synod of Bishops came “wanting to do something new” and there is “a sense of openness to what they were hearing”. In her 4-minute intervention, Sr Sall...

Secondo suor Alessandra Smerilli, docente di Economia e uditrice al Sinodo, la Chiesa è meno Chiesa se non ha uno sguardo sia maschile che femminile “Sono molto grata di essere qui a questo Sinodo dedicato ai giovani: sia perché sono salesiana, sia perché è un’esperienza unica nel suo genere”. Suor Alessandra Smerilli , docente di Economia presso la Pontificia Facoltà di Scienze dell'Educazione Auxilium e membro del Comitato scientifico e organizzatore delle Settimane sociali dei cattolici italiani, partecipa al Sinodo dei giovani come Uditrice e racconta così la sua prima esperienza sinodale ai microfoni di Radio Vaticana Italia.( Ascolta l'intervista a suor Alessandra Smerilli ) Un ascolto non passivo “Ho cominciato senza avere grandi aspettative perché non sapevo come fosse un Sinodo, ma devo dire che fin dal primo giorno ho colto subito la grande passione, il grande amore che la Chiesa ha per i giovani e questo mi ha rincuorata”. “E questo – prose...

Vida Nueva: Entrevista a la Hna. M. Luisa y a unos jóvenes "María Luisa, por su parte, ve la asamblea con esperanza. Pero con la sensación de que la Iglesia se la juega con los jóvenes. Y “yo no quiero hipotecar su futuro”. La realidad empieza el 29 de octubre." Leer más

It is the time for listening and praying. Synod Hall is becoming the place for vital and fruitful listening to the voices – from different ages, languages, cultures, experiences, etc. There is no barrier to communicate here. By the presence of the Holy Spirit, the process of the Synod would become the Pentecost for the Youth, the Church and the world. Sr. Mina KWON (Domina), SPC

The synod experience is actually a gift, I am touched by the fact that the church represented by the synod participants acknowledges the need to be authentic, relational, empathetic and listening. In fact the key word is listening.  "La chiesa può farsi ascoltare dai giovani ascoltando i giovani"  can this be translated to: "The church can be meaningful to the young if it listens to them. Sr. Lucy