The Synod of Bishops on the theme Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment, which Pope Francis opened on 3 October 2018, concluded on 27th of the same month.
At the Generalate of the Daughters of St. Paul in Rome, a meeting was held with guest speaker Fr. Valdir José De Castro, Superior General of the Society of St. Paul, who participated in the Synod. His talk was an important moment in which to retrace the Synod’s work, stages, voices and experiences of life. Fr. Valdir said that the Synod was an opportunity to get out of the routine and fast-paced rhythms of daily life; an invitation to slow down, listen to others and to oneself, and grasp the signs of Providence scattered along each one’s path in life. Presenting the Synod’s Final Document, he reminded everyone that the text takes as its point of reference the episode of the disciples on their way to Emmaus and is divided into the three parts that characterize this circumstance. The first section, entitled He walked with them (Lk. 24:15), seeks to cast light on what the Synod fathers perceived regarding the context in which young people live, highlighting its strengths and challenges. The second section, Their eyes were opened (Lk. 24:31), offers several fundamental keys for interpreting the Synod’s theme. The third section, They set out at once (Lk. 24:33), gathers together the choices for a spiritual, pastoral and missionary conversion.
Fr. Valdir urged the many members of the Pauline Family and of other religious communities in the Generalate area who attended the meeting to look at young people benevolently and open their communities to welcome their enthusiasm and listen to their dreams and vexations. A challenge for the Church and for every religious Institute.
