By Ryan Pillay – Port Elizabeth Diocese Communication Officer

From November 24 to 26, 2025, the clergy of the Catholic Diocese of Port Elizabeth gathered at St. Luke’s Retreat Centre for the annual Clergy Plenary: three days of reflection, fraternity, shared wisdom, and pastoral planning. Guided by the theme “The Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission,” the plenary was led by Bishop Mduduzi Zungu, OFM.

According to Bishop Zungu, “the plenary is a space where we learn again what it means to walk together, in humility, in listening, and in genuine communion. A synodal church journeys with its people, listens before it speaks, and discerns before it decides.”

This year’s gathering brought together sixty-five priests and deacons, who engaged in what the Bishop called “synodal listening,” an approach rooted in deep attentiveness, patience, and openness. Clergy were encouraged not to listen merely to respond but to listen to build, shaping the conversations, debates, and brainstorming sessions that unfolded over the three days.

Bishop Zungu highlighted that this model of engagement should be brought back to every parish in the Diocese, where priests and deacons are invited to lead their communities with the same spirit of shared discernment and participation. 

The programme began on Monday afternoon with fellowship, followed by the Holy Hour and Evening Prayer. The evening concluded with a social gathering that allowed clergy to reconnect in a relaxed, supportive environment. 

The methods used at the plenary can also be applied in parish settings, such as listening circles, small groups, and meetings with individuals who are often unheard. The call for a synodal church is to listen deeply, discern together, share responsibility, include everyone, and walk together in Christ.

Tuesday’s sessions started with the Bishop’s Address on the State of the Diocese, followed by a focused discussion on diocesan finances. The afternoon included a session by the Pastoral Development Office (PDO) that provided updates and reflections on the current pastoral landscape. The work of the PDO was connected to the current Jubilee and the synodal church. 

On Wednesday, Bishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa CMM gave a detailed presentation on the “Synodal Church.” He explained the Synodal process of listening, encountering, dialoguing, and discerning. Additionally, he provided more insight into Phase 3: the implementation of a Synodal Church, which will conclude in October 2028 with the Celebration of the Ecclesial Assembly in the Vatican.

The synodal process led by Bishop Mbuyisa guided the clergy through “A way forward for the Synodal Church: Conversation in the Spirit,” with its main objective for 2025 and 2026 being to establish implementation paths in local churches and their groupings.  

These onboarding sessions aimed to deepen the clergy’s understanding of the synodal theme by exploring how communion, participation, and mission influence diocesan life. These discussions helped shape the pastoral direction for the upcoming year, ensuring that parishes stay rooted in listening, collaboration, and shared responsibility. 

May the spirit of synodality deepen and reach out with love and impact, creating a new church filled with continued hope and joy.