Basilicata Literary Prize to Mother Yvonne Reungoat

Potenza (Italy). On 3 December 2023, during the awards evening at the Cinema Theater Due Torri of Potenza, Sister Yvonne Reungoat, Superior General Emeritus of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, former President of the Union of Superiors General of Italy (USMI) and member of the Dicastery for Bishops, received the Basilicata Literary Prize, section of Spiritual Literature and Religious Poetry.

Various recognitions were awarded by the jury, chaired by Prof. Carmine Manciello, in the 52nd edition of the event sponsored by the Basilicata Region, the Province and the Municipality of Potenza and the University of Basilicata: Narrative, Spiritual Literature and Religious Poetry, Economic Policy and Economic Law, National and European non-fiction, City of Potenza Award.

For the Narrative section, Daniele Petruccioli won the Prize with the novel about Maria, “It is seen that it was not destiny”. A special prize was also awarded to David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament from 2019 until his death in 2022, for his posthumous book “Wisdom and Audacity. Speeches for Italy and for Europe”.

Awarded for her omnia work, for her writings on young people and Consecrated Life, after receiving the plaque on stage, Mother Yvonne Reungoat answered the questions of Fr. Mauro Mantovani, Salesian of Don Bosco, Prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Library and former Rector of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS), member of the Jury of the Prize.

Mother Yvonne defined Consecrated Life, “a precious pearl that in the Church and in society, is a concrete and visible sign of God’s love that translates into love for humanity. It is a great ear that listens to the spoken and the unspoken and tries to respond to the needs of humanity. It is the ferment of humanity that is not always seen, but changes reality.”

Expressing all her charismatic passion, she spoke of young people: “Young people are the passion of our life, the educational passion that always requires of us love, attention, creativity, a lot of listening, and also to journey and to seek with them. Society should be aware that they are the future and that quality education is needed.

A society that does not focus on education will have serious consequences. Young people need adults to accompany them and enable them to develop their abilities, to foster in them hope, that they may be light on their journey. Education takes place in communities that connect young people and adults, institutions and family, education and society, education and the Church, forming a large network that allows young people to build around healthy shared values.”

Young people were the protagonists of the 9th edition of the Literary Competition aimed at students of the Institutes of Upper Secondary Education of Basilicata. The winners, 5 students of the High School of Potenza, were given the “Basilicata” plaque in the afternoon before the award ceremony.

For the first time in the city of Potenza, which she found very well cared for and welcoming, Mother Yvonne appreciated the evening and the different awards “demonstrating vivacity and cultural variety”. She was accompanied by Sister Anna Nasillo, Councilor of the Preprovince Mary Mother of the Church (RMC) and surrounded by the affection of the Community of Mary Help of Christians of Brienza (PZ) of the Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel (IMR) and the Past pupils of the area.

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