Alongside Sr. Margaret, another key speaker at the UISG Plenary Assembly 2025 will be Sr. Shalini Mulackal, an Indian religious from the Sisters of the Presentation, who will speak in the afternoon of May 7.

She currently coordinates the Formators’ Programme at UISG. She taught systematic theology for many years at the Vidyajyoti College of Theology in New Delhi and was the first woman to serve as president of the Indian Theological Association (ITA). She earned her doctorate from the University of Madras, conducting research on the religious and cultural practices of Catholic Dalit women and their potential for empowerment. Actively engaged in various Asian theological networks, she has published numerous articles on social justice, synodality, and the role of women in the Church and society.

In her presentation, Sister Shalini will offer a theological and historical reflection on consecrated life as a gift to the Church, tracing its origins from the early Christian community—with figures such as widows and virgins—through the various forms it has taken over the centuries: eremitic, monastic, and apostolic. Over time, religious life has shown a remarkable ability to adapt and respond creatively to the needs of God’s people.

In particular, in light of the Church’s current synodal journey, Sister Shalini will highlight how consecrated life, especially that of women, with its rich relational and spiritual heritage, can offer a concrete and prophetic model of synodality: a shared path that values co-responsibility, mutual listening, communal discernment, and the recognition of the baptismal equality of all members of the People of God. When lived with authenticity and openness, religious life can become a visible sign of hope, capable of inspiring and guiding the Church’s renewal toward greater fraternity, inclusion, and participation.