Nathalie Becquart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sister Nathalie Becquart XMCJ |
|
|---|---|
In Versailles, 2015
|
|
| Religion | Catholic |
| Institute | Congregation of Xavières |
| Known for | Among first women consultors to a Holy See general secretariat |
| Education | HEC Paris, Boston College |
| Personal | |
| Nationality | French |
| Born | 1969 (age 55–56) |
| Religious career | |
| Previous post | Director of French Catholic National Service for the Evangelization of Young People and for Vocations |
| Present post | Undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops |
Nathalie Becquart (born in 1969) is a French Catholic nun. She is a member of the Congregation of Xavières, a group of religious sisters. Since 2021, she has served as an undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops.
This means she helps lead important meetings in the Catholic Church. She is the first woman ever to hold this position. She is also the first woman to have voting rights in the Synod. This is a big step for women in the Church.
Before this, in 2019, Becquart was appointed as a consultor to the Synod of Bishops. A consultor is an expert who gives advice. From 2008 to 2018, she worked with young people. She led the National Service for the Evangelization of Young People and for Vocations in France.
Early Life and Education
Nathalie Becquart was born in Fontainebleau, France, in 1969. She studied at HEC Paris, a famous business school. She graduated in 1992, focusing on how to start new businesses.
After college, she volunteered in Lebanon for a year. Then, she worked for two years as a marketing consultant. In 1995, she decided to join the Congregation of Xavières. This is a religious order for women.
She spent time in Marseille and then two years learning about religious life. After that, she worked with Scouts de France. She helped with a program for scouting in poorer areas. She also studied theology and philosophy in Paris. She learned about how societies work by studying sociology.
Helping Young People
When she joined the Xavières, Nathalie Becquart started helping young people. She worked with the Ignatian Youth Network. This group is now called the Magis Network.
She also led a group called "Life at sea, entry into prayer." This group offered spiritual retreats for young people on sailboats. She loved sailing and often guided these trips. In 2006, she became responsible for student chaplaincy in Créteil. This means she provided spiritual support to students.
In 2008, the Bishops' Conference of France asked her to help with student ministry. By 2012, she became the director of a national service. This service focused on helping young people find their faith and their life's calling.
Her work with young people led her to the Synod of Bishops. This was a special meeting about "Young People, Faith, and Vocational Discernment." She helped prepare for this meeting in France and in Rome. In 2018, she helped organize a meeting for young people before the main Synod. She also attended the main Synod meeting as an auditor.
Role in the Synod of Bishops
On May 24, 2019, Nathalie Becquart was given an important role. She was appointed as a consultor to the general secretariat of the Synod of Bishops in the Catholic Church. Four other women and one man were also appointed. This was the first time women had been given this position.
She saw this as part of Pope Francis's plan. He wants to include more voices in the Church's decisions. He also wants to benefit from the important contributions that women can make. Becquart even suggested that a woman should lead a special retreat for Church leaders.
Then, on February 6, 2021, Pope Francis gave her an even bigger role. He appointed her an undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops. This made her the first woman to have the right to vote in the Catholic Synod of Bishops. This is a historic moment for women in the Catholic Church.
See also
In Spanish: Nathalie Becquart para niños
