The Marriage and Family Life Office of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Lumko Institute and Conference Centre in Benoni, Johannesburg, from May 10 to 11, 2025.

The meeting brought together metropolitan coordinators and representatives from South Africa, Botswana, and Eswatini to reflect on families’ challenges and discern ways forward inspired by the Church’s teachings.

In a wide-ranging interview with the SACBC communication office, Bishop Elias Zondi, First Vice Chairperson of the Department for Formation, Life, and Apostolate of the Laity, emphasized that family life is at the heart of the Church’s mission, because “without marriage and family, there is no foundation for evangelization.”

“The home is where faith is first taught—even if it is unstructured. That is where catechesis begins,” said Bishop Zondi in the Saturday, May 10 interview.

The Auxiliary Bishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Durban also highlighted the need for accompaniment, especially for vulnerable family structures such as single-parent households, child-headed homes, and grandparents raising grandchildren.

On the issue of care for the elderly, Bishop Zondi emphasised that “An African grandparent wants to die at home,’ and that “sending them to old-age homes without family support leaves them feeling rejected.” He affirmed that “the Church must be present in these situations.”

Bishop Zondi also responded to the recent election of Pope Leo XIV, expressing joy and hope. “I am happy with his election. I pray for him daily,” he said, and welcomed the new pope’s emphasis on preaching and dialogue and expressed confidence in the Holy Spirit’s guidance for the Church’s future.

The AGM began with a workshop on Amoris Laetitia, the post-synodal apostolic exhortation of the late Pope Francis. Fr. Tebello Moeti from the Diocese of Kroonstad facilitated the session. In an interview with the SACBC Communications Office, Fr. Moeti said the workshop aimed to interpret Amoris Laetitia in the context of the challenges Southern African families face.

“We looked at how families are struggling with unemployment, single parenting, substance abuse, and caring for children with special needs,” Fr. Moeti explained. “But more importantly, we focused on how the Church can accompany these families in a meaningful way.”

The rationale behind the workshop was to draw insights from Amoris Laetitia to support marriages and families in the SACBC region. Mr. Innocent Maziya from the Diocese of Manzini also addressed the assembly, sharing how families can become synodal—journeying together in mutual listening and participation.

The AGM concluded with metropolitan coordinators presenting reports on their local initiatives, aimed not only to inspire others but also to assist the SACBC Department of Laity in shaping strategies that respond to real family situations on the ground. Ultimately, these insights are intended to help bishops craft more effective and compassionate pastoral responses.

Reflecting on the resolutions adopted, the coordinating secretary of the department said, “It was resolved that every parish and diocese should establish a desk for Marriage and Family Life.”

Fr. Nhlanhla Mchunu went on to say that the marriage and family life ministry must be taken seriously. “We must take this ministry seriously. We also discussed the need for training facilitators using the handbook developed last year,” he said.

As the SACBC region continues its synodal journey, the outcomes of the AGM underscore a firm commitment to nurturing family life in all its complexity, through accompaniment, formation, and faith lived out at home.