The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life together with the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops sent a letter to the Major Superiors of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, USG, UISG and CMIS on January 17, 2022 with information regarding their participation in the synodal journey. "[C]onsecrated men and women, and the communities themselves, according to their own charism and to the extent granted by their Constitutions, should actively participate in the synodal journey of the particular Churches in which they live out their charism and exercise their pastoral ministry," write Cardinal João Braz de Aviz and Cardinal Mario Grech.
At the same time, the Unions, Federations and Men's and Women's Conferences of Institutes of Consecrated Life, Societies of Apostolic Life (cf. EC 6, 2) and Secular Institutes, in the same way that the Associations of the Faithful (cf. EC 6, 3), who intend to initiate an internal consultation must send, "by 30 June 2022, a single contribution directly to the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and not through the National Conferences as previously communicated. By 15 August 2022 the Congregation will then forward a summary of the contributions received to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.”
The letter also states, "General Governments will also reflect on the exercise of governance within the individual Institutes and the relationships between the different Institutes. UISG, USG and CMIS will collect these contributions, and they will send a summary to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops by 15 August 2022 (cf. EC 7, 1)."
Finally, the letter specifies that " right to send contributions directly to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops remains intact (cf. EC 7, 2) but always in an extraordinary way."
The Letter is also available in DEU - ENG - ESP – FRA – ITA – POL - POR