Rome (Italy). On 7 July 2023, at the Press Office of the Holy See, the list of participants in the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was presented, the first session of which will be held in the Vatican from 4 to 29 October 2023.
In the list, there are 378 Members with the right to vote: designated ex officio, i.e., for their function, such as the heads of Dicasteries and Patriarchs; ex electione – elected by the Episcopal Conferences or by the Synods of the Eastern Catholic Churches and then ratified by the Holy Father; or ex pontifical nomination, i.e., directly appointed by the Holy Father. Among the ex electione Members, the Pope has established that there are five consecrated men and women.
From a list of one hundred and forty people proposed by the continental bodies, the Pope has chosen seventy non-Bishop faithful. Priests, deacons, lay men and women, consecrated men and women have been identified to guarantee a variety in terms of charisms, vocations, ecclesial experience, age, country of origin, and by virtue of their participation in various capacities in the synodal process. Half are women and half are men. A total of 85 women are present at the meeting, of which 54 have the right to vote.
“We have tried to include a representation of all the people of God”, explained Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod, during the press conference.
Other people who do not have the right to vote also participate in the assembly: 8 special guests and 75 other participants, including 57 Experts and Facilitators. These are Experts, competent people in various capacities on the subject dealt with, to which are added for the first time, some Facilitators. The Experts cooperate with the Special Secretaries according to their competences and among them, the Facilitators will have the task of facilitating the exchange in the working groups (small circles).
Among the Experts and Facilitators, at the service of the dynamics of the synodal assembly, Sister Yvonne Reungoat, Mother General emerita of the FMA Institute, was also nominated.
Mother Yvonne Reungoat was the 9th Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (2008-2021). From 2018 until 4 June 2023, she was President of the Union of Major Superiors of Italy (USMI) and since 2019, she is a member of the Congregation for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. On 13 July 2022, the Holy Father appointed her as a member of the Dicastery for Bishops.
The wishes of Mother Chiara Cazzuola, Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians:
“As we rejoice with Mother Yvonne for this new and precious task entrusted to her by the Holy Father, we assure her of our prayers and our closeness, which will be more intense during the synodal sessions. We feel honored by this significant choice of Pope Francis and we entrust Mother Yvonne to the particular protection of Mary Help of Christians and our Holy Founders.
We also wish a good mission to Fr. Andrea Bozzolo, Salesian of Don Bosco, Rector Magnificus of the Salesian Pontifical University, chosen like Mother Yvonne to be among the Experts and Facilitators; to Msgr. Timothy John Costelloe, Archbishop of Perth (Australia), among the President Delegates; and to the other SDB Bishops nominated as Members”.
To learn more and download the Instrumentum laboris of the First Session:
Che bello, sono contentissima, attendevo questa notizia molto fiduciosa che Madre Yvonne sarebbe stata una partecipante a questo ulteriore interessante Sinodo, tutto sia a lode di Dio e per la diffusione del Suo Regno.
Grazie a papa Francesco per tale scelta, a Madre Yvonne che sempre accoglie le proposte ecclesiali e di Istituto; grazie a madre Chiara che sostiene e diffonde la notizia.
Congratulations Dear mother Yvonne. Our prayers are with you.
felicitaciones la apoyamos con nuestra oración.
Felicitaciones a nuestra querida madre Yvonne! Dios y su Espíritu le acompañen en esta Misión. Nuestra oración y Cariño
Félicitations chère Mère Yvonne, nous, nous assurons notre prière. Que l’Esprit Saint soit le Grand présent dans l’Assemblée Synodale. Bon courage, tout est grâce. Avec toute mon affection.
Congratulazioni Madre Yvonne! Grazie molte anche per avere introdotto la Causa di Madre Rosetta Marchese. Una bellissima e luminosa testimonianza di Consacrazione. Ho seguito tutto il Simposio dedicato a Madre Marchese: fantastico! Molto bella e significativa anche la Sua testimonianza e la testimonianza della sua Segretaria.
Grazie di cuore. W Gesù
sr. Luigina Ariu