The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) has already laid significant groundwork for implementing the Synod on Synodality, according to Bishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa CMM, who described the continental preparatory meeting in Addis Ababa as a valuable moment of discernment, evaluation and planning for the Church in Africa.

Speaking at the conclusion of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) first Preparatory Seminar for the 2028 Ecclesial Assembly, Bishop Mbuyisa said the gathering brought together representatives from across Africa, Madagascar and the islands to reflect on how the synodal journey is taking root in local Churches while receiving guidance from the General Secretariat of the Synod in Rome on the road ahead.

“The last two days were intense but also very fruitful,” he said. “It was an opportunity to come together, evaluate what is happening in our Episcopal Conferences and regional structures, receive the roadmap from the General Secretariat, and discern together the way forward for the Church in Africa.”

The Vice Chairperson of the SACBC Commission for Synodality described the meeting as a space marked by prayer, dialogue and shared reflection, allowing participants to exchange experiences and identify priorities for the continental implementation phase leading to the Ecclesial Assembly scheduled for October 2028.

Reflecting on the situation in Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini), Bishop Mbuyisa expressed satisfaction with the progress already made within the SACBC.

“I am pleased to note that in the SACBC region we have already done quite a lot when it comes to implementing the Synod and synodality,” he said.

Among the initiatives already underway, he highlighted the establishment of the SACBC Commission for Synodality dedicated to the implementation of synodality, the creation of diocesan synodal teams across much of the conference territory, and ongoing formation initiatives.

The Local Ordinary of Kokstad Diocese also pointed to efforts to make the Final Document of the 2024 Synod more accessible to ordinary Catholics. The conference has prepared a simplified summary of the document to help parishes, families, ecclesial movements and small Christian communities engage more easily with its contents. Work is also progressing to translate these materials into various local languages so that they can reach a wider audience.

In addition, workshops are being conducted across the SACBC region to deepen understanding of the synodal process among different groups within the Church.

“Clearly there is a great deal that has already been done,” Bishop Mbuyisa said. “We are conducting workshops for various groups in our region, and I am happy because we are moving forward with purpose.”