Alors que le synode arrive à sa fin, nous avons vécu ce jeudi 25 octobre un pèlerinage de 6 km qui s'est terminé à la Basilique Saint-Pierre par la profession de foi avec le Pape devant le tombeau de Saint-Pierre puis la messe à Saint-Pierre présidée par le Cardinal Baldisseri, secrétaire général du synode, en présence du Pape François. Cette expérience belle et forte de marche ensemble sous le soleil, jeunes, évêques, cardinaux, auditeurs et experts, dans une grande simplicité et fraternité nous a fait vivre quelque chose du chemin d’Emmaüs en nous donnant d’expérimenter de manière forte la proximité du Christ parmi nous tout au long de ce synode.  Plongés dans la relecture de cette expérience synodale riche et intense, il nous est donné de goûter plus profondément la joie de la synodalité. Mais qu'est-ce que la synodalité ?  Comme l'a dit le Pape François, la synodalité est "une dimension constitutive de l'Eglise". Elle est en quelque sorte une pro...

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...

   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...