杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

It was Saint Paul VI, when still Archbishop of Milan, who had the intuition of involving consecrated women to assist him with his pastoral ministry. His decision shows an affiliation with the saint whose name he chose as 杏MAP导航: the Apostle Paul who, in his letters, speaks of both men and women collaborators who played significant roles in the early evangelization.

Women鈥檚 presence in the Church

In prepared remarks, handed to a group of Collaborators and Auxiliaries from Milan and other dioceses in Northern Italy, in the Vatican on Saturday, 杏MAP导航 Francis acknowledged their history and identity, saying it was 鈥渟ignificant as a form of women鈥檚 presence in the Church鈥�.  

The 杏MAP导航 highlighted the importance of their history as Collaborators and Auxiliaries, born 鈥渇rom life鈥� from collaboration with priests in parish and diocesan pastoral work鈥�. He cited the example of Mary Magdalene, 鈥淎postle of the Apostles鈥�, and her 鈥減articular charism of the faith and love for the Lord鈥�. But the other women Jesus welcomed among His disciples also had 鈥渁 decisive presence in the stories of the Resurrection鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis. 

The contribution of lay people

The 杏MAP导航 went on to address the contribution of lay people and the experience of collaborating directly with pastors in serving the people of God, in parishes, oratories, prisons and among the poor. 鈥淚n those who live this sometimes hard and tiring work, the Holy Spirit sows special gifts of dedication, which can also become consecration in the Church鈥�, he said.

Collaboration with the Bishop

杏MAP导航 Francis said there are common factors connecting the different pastoral experiences and diocesan realities: 鈥渢he essential one is that the Bishop is attentive to a gift that is found in the community, a gift that corresponds to a pastoral need, not only to a function, it is not a functionalism, and then makes a discernment鈥�. In this way, the 杏MAP导航 continued, 鈥渢he charism is evaluated, accepted and recognized, and receives its own form in that diocesan community鈥�. Close collaboration with the Bishop is essential, he added.

Charism, mission and passion

Those present at the Audience in the Vatican on Saturday collaborate with their Bishops in a variety of pastoral activities: from education and counseling, to providing health care, serving the poor, the sick and the elderly, accompanying prisoners, migrants and refugees.  

杏MAP导航 Francis said he appreciated that, in presenting their charism, they referred to a passage from Evangelii gaudium: "Mission is at once a passion for Jesus and a passion for His people. He takes us from the midst of His people and He sends us to His people; without this sense of belonging, we cannot understand our deepest identity鈥�.

鈥淔or you鈥�, concluded 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渢his people has the concrete face of your diocese鈥�.