Making “family life easier, better and more life giving” the focus of Johannesburg Synod

“I am hoping that they (participants) will point us towards more comprehensive solutions to marital life which go beyond the obvious,” Fr. Botha said and noted, “Among the issues to be discussed are gender-based violence, patriarchy or various cultures which make it difficult to commit to a marriage.”

 “We need to create a welcoming atmosphere for the youth so that young people feel appreciated,” read the Synod document, which takes note of the need to include the youth in the church.

“Age and lack of experience should not be an excuse to exclude or marginalize youth, rather, it places an obligation on parish leadership to provide adequate mentorship and support,” the Synod document continues.

The element of renewal will be about “conversion, a turning away from what takes life from us towards what strengthens and deepens the life of Christ within us.”

The aspect of Missionary Discipleship will seek to focus on “evangelising and/or re-evangelising non-Christians and lapsed Catholics, as well as carrying the love of Christ to the needy and marginalized.”

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This is the second Synod the Archdiocese of Johannesburg is organizing. The first Synod took place in 2008 and reflected on “the state of our Catholic community in the Archdiocese.”

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.