“A new style of leadership is crucial” Sr. Nathalie Becquart at the UISG Plenary Assembly 2022
During the week of May 2nd, the Union of International Superior Generals (UISG) of women religious, celebrated the plenary Assembly 2022 with more than 500 participants, and had as a central theme “Embracing Vulnerability on the Synodal Journey”. The Assembly, which lasted 5 days and had very rich contributions and times for sharing, included an Audience with the Pope, and a presentation by Sr. Nathalie Becquart, xmcj, Undersecretary of the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, and Fr. David McCallum SJ, Executive Director of the Discerning Leadership Program.
Sr. Becquart and Fr. McCallum addressed the topic: “The Synodal Journey – How Will It Change Religious Life? How Can Religious Life Contribute?”. Sr. Becquart said that a “synodal Church is is a listening church and a synodal church is a learning church, a church in which we are learning from one another”, and indicated that “another style of leadership is crucial” for the Church today. Fr. McCallum expressed his hope of the Church to learn “from the margins”, and shared personal experiences of dialogue and listening with Indigenous groups in the US. He also highlighted the importance of a personal conversation to “become servants” in these times of creating a Synodal process together, and in particular to men.
For a more extended information, you can consult the Article from the Global Sisters Report “Stay grounded in tradition while taking chances, biblical scholar tells UISG” by Chris Herlinger.