Très Saint Père, pères synodaux et autres participants, chers frères et sœurs en Christ 1. Je voudrai d’abord vous exprimer toute ma gratitude pour ce magnifique cadeau du synode. Je rends profondément grâce pour ce souffle qui traverse notre assemblée, souffle de l’Esprit, souffle du Concile Vatican II, souffle des jeunes qui renouvelle l’Eglise quand elle les met au centre. Oui, la synodalité est vraiment la clé de l’évangélisation des jeunes aujourd’hui. 2. Je souhaiterai ici aborder l’enjeu du travail en équipe pour la mission auprès des jeunes en lien avec les paragraphes 198-199 de l’Instrumentum Laboris à propos de la communion comme style missionnaire. En effet, le travail en équipe diversifiée m’apparait comme un défi majeur pour rejoindre et accompagner les jeunes pluriels de notre monde pluriel. 3. Nous en sommes souvent témoins, les jeunes aiment le travail en équipe, ils valorisent la diversité. Pour avancer ils ont besoin de rencontrer sur l...

   Women attending this month’s Synod of Bishops have said that while they believe the process, and the Church as a whole, need to be more inclusive of their presence, they are optimistic about the future, believing progress has been made. Sister Sally Hodgdon, superior general of the Sisters of St. John of Chambery, said that when she first arrived in Rome from the United States eight years ago, “I found it to be less women-friendly than it is now.” Having worked with the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and various Vatican offices, called dicasteries, during her tenure so far, Hodgdon said “there are more women in the diasteries and the congregations helping to make decisions.” “Is there a woman cardinal? No. (A woman) who would be the prefect of a congregation? No, they’re all cardinals. But, are they the ones who are working the ideas and getting things done and bringing those to the cardinal-prefect and archbishop-secretary? Yes. And are they being re...

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...