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...

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...

I like to share something real and vivid , so I would like to testify the holiness of our young people as a witness.  I stay in CIAM in Urbaniana University with around 40 delegates, a Cardinal, many Bishops, and many young delegates. Today at lunch time, we, the elders including me, were astonished to see unexpected situation. Our lovely four young delegates began to serve the meals for us. Suddenly the atmosphere of our dinning room was filled with joy and happiness. There was no external force from the elders. Other young people also wanted to serve us at that time. Sadly, they were unemployed.  The young declare themselves to be open to spirituality. I would like to highlight the potential young generation have. Especially, volunteer work is a clue to their willingness to take responsibility, and their wish to make the most of the talents, initiative and creativity they have ( Instrumentum Laboris Art. 27) . The free gift of self in love also has a great pot...

Le sei religiose al Sinodo hanno deciso di invitare  a pranzo alla UISG sei giovani provenienti dai 5 continenti per ascoltare le loro storie. Tre ragazzi e tre ragazze provenienti da India, Iraq, Russia, USA, Nigeria e Cile. "Sono cresciuta in una famiglia cattolica a Chicago, sono figlia di immigrati messicani. Questo mi permette oggi di lavorare con le comunità latine e, in particolare, con le ragazze madri, la cui difficoltà è avere la responsabilità di crescere loro stesse e allo stesso tempo essere modello per i loro bambini. Nella mia città un grave problema sono le gangs: è molto facile vedere giovani che si uccidono a vicenda. Mi sono sposata qualche mese fa, e mi fa piacere essere coppia nella Chiesa." Ognuno ha condiviso qualcosa della sua vita che ha, in qualche modo, determinato poi la loro vita come cristiani. In alcuni di loro hanno prevalso gli aspetti dolorosi, in altri esperienze più 'light', ma tutte e tutti hanno in comune una consapevolezza ...

Le sei Religiose al Sinodo al completo. Da sinistra a destra: Sr. Domina (Sud Korea), Sr. Teresina (Cina), Sr. Lucy (Kenya), Sr. Maria Luisa (Spagna), Sr. Sally (USA), Sr. Nathalie (Francia) Le suore Domina, Lucy e Sally sono rappresentanti della UISG

Me gustaría que en la Sala Sinodal hubiera más ojos femeninos,  para que los pocos que tenemos  a disposición no se cansaran tanto de mirar en todas las direcciones,  pero dicho esto ya me he reconciliado y aceptado que somos muy pocas,  poquísimas mujeres y que como soy una de ese escaso número no me lamento sino que estoy procurando dar  lo mejor de mi ser femenino para que esta querida iglesia sea más inclusiva. Y esto en un ambiente varonil y más que clerical,  episcopal y cardenalicio ¡toda una novedad para mí!  y sin duda también para mis compañeros de camino y hermanos en la fe porque el vocabulario continuo es “padres sinodales” y yo tengo que aclarar, una y otra vez,  que soy sinodal pero no padre. No deja de sorprender que de la Unión Internacional de Superiores Generales haya 10 representantes pero ¡¡¡ninguna de la Unión de Superioras!!! ¿alguien podría darme razones para esta diferencia?. Y el grupo de jóvenes, ...

O ne of the women religious attending the worldwide gathering of Catholic bishops told the prelates that young people today are seeking mentorship from both male and female elders. South Korean Sr. Mina Kwon, one of the eight women religious allowed to attend the Oct. 3-28 Synod of Bishops in an advisory capacity, told the 267 prelates taking part Oct. 5 that "young people are sensitive to the issue of inequality and exclusion." Kwon, a member of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres and a trained psychologist, said that one of the reasons Catholicism spread in her country centuries ago was its focus on "equality based on the principle: 'all human beings are children of God.' " "Catholicism brought new opportunities for women to become leaders and teachers," she told the bishops. "In other words, women were given an almost equal place in the initial stage of the Korean Church. It was a new and revolutionary thing."...