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Synod on Synodality

Archbishop Zolile Mpambani of South Africa’s Catholic Archdiocese of Bloemfontein

Chaplaincy, Spiritual Direction, Council Membership among Ways to Sustain Lay Associations: South African Archbishop

Jul 12, 2024

Church leaders need to take deliberate steps to sustain associations of the Laity and other ecclesial movements, Archbishop Zolile Mpambani of South Africa’s Catholic Archdiocese of Bloemfontein has said.

AMECEA Secretary General Highlights “some gaps” in Operations of Lay Associations, Ecclesial Movements

Jul 11, 2024

The Secretary General of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) has highlighted gaps in the functioning of associations of the Laity and other movements in the Church.

Mrs. Bridget Itsueli, the Founder and Chairperson of Relate Africa Organization for Marriage and Family. Credit: Relate Africa Organization for Marriage and Family

“We need to listen to women at the grassroots”: Catholic Marriage Expert on Why African Marriages are Breaking

Jul 9, 2024

Many African marriages are breaking because women are no longer comfortable with their roles in the family, a Nigerian Catholic expert on marriage and family has said.

Delegates to the Synod on Synodality meet in the final days of the synod, Oct. 25, 2023. / Credit: Vatican Media

Synod Organizer Says Vatican Doctrine Office is Studying Women Deacons

Jul 9, 2024

Cardinal Mario Grech said the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is studying “the women’s diaconate” within the context of its in-depth study of ministries.

Pope Francis among the delegates of the Synod on Synodality, held in October of 2023. / Credit: Vatican Media

These are the Members of the Synod on Synodality Study Groups

Jul 9, 2024

The Instrumentum Laboris, the guiding document for the October 2024 assembly, makes reference to these study groups throughout.

Bishops process into St. Peter's Basilica for the closing Mass of the first assembly of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 29, 2023. / Credit: Vatican Media

New Instrumentum Laboris Focuses on How to Implement Goals of Synod on Synodality

Jul 9, 2024

“Without tangible changes, the vision of a synodal Church will not be credible,” the Instrumentum Laboris, or “working tool,” says.

Pope Francis leads the Synod on Synodality delegates in prayer on Oct. 25, 2023. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican to Publish Instrumentum Laboris for October’s Synod on Synodality Meeting

Jul 3, 2024

The Instrumentum Laboris, or “working tool” for the upcoming 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, will be presented July 9.

A poster announcing the series of online conversations bringing together African theologians, priests, and religious, as well as laity in Africa. Credit: PACTPAN

What the Church in Africa Can Learn from Eastern Churches on Living Synodlity

Jul 1, 2024

The Church in Africa can tap from the experience of Eastern Churches on the continent on living the Synod on Synodlity, participants at a virtual conversation have said.

“Seeds of Synodal Church already sprouting all over Africa”: African Member of Theological Commission of Synod

Jun 28, 2024

The spirit of the Synod on Synodality has been introduced in Africa and is spreading across the world’s second-largest and second-most populous continent, an African member of the Vatican Theological Commission of the Synod has said. 

A poster announcing the series of online conversations bringing together African theologians, priests, and religious, as well as laity in Africa. Credit: PACTPAN

Catholic Archbishop in Ivory Coast Proposes Three “effective approaches for participative synodality in Africa”

Jun 27, 2024

Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo, the recently appointed Local Ordinary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abidjan in Ivory Coast is proposing three approaches that he says are “effective” in facilitating a participative Synodal process in Africa.

Credit: ACI Africa

Congolese Theologian Advocates for Formal Education of Women in Church, Creation of “spaces for them to be empowered”

Jun 23, 2024

A female Theologian from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is advocating for formal education of women if they have to actively participate in the decision-making processes of the Church like their male counterparts in “higher positions in the Church”.  

“A very successful gathering”: African Delegate to Synod on Synodality Lauds Convention on Synodal Outcomes

Jun 22, 2024

The first of the two-phase convention bringing together African professionals in the fields of theology and pastoral ministry to reflect on the outcomes of the first session of the multi-year Synod on Synodality that took place 4-29 October 2023 in Rome, concluding with a 42-page summary report, has been “very successful”, a participant has said.

Participants during a convention bringing together African professionals in the fields of theology and pastoral ministry to deliberate on the outcomes of the first session of the Synod on Synodality. Credit: ACI Africa

Let’s “articulate our own views, voices”: Cameroonian Jesuit on Theological Reflections on Synodal Outcomes

Jun 21, 2024

Delegates representing the Church in Africa at the ongoing Synod on Synodality need to amplify their views and voices on issues relating to the growth of the Church on the continent, a Cameroonian member of the Society of Jesus (SJ) has said. 

Dr. Sylvia Ruambo. Credit: PACTPAN

Catholic Researcher on Why Africa’s “wisdom” is at the Core of Synod on Synodality

Jun 20, 2024

At the core of the Synod on Synodality conversations in Africa is the African way of living that includes the wisdom and traditions elders on the continent dispense, an official at the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) has said.

South Africa’s Cardinal Napier Sends Out Strong Message about “assault on the family”

Jun 19, 2024

The family is facing the “biggest and most serious crisis” in the world today, Wilfrid Fox Cardinal Napier has said, and warned that attacks against the family seek to decimate procreation.

A poster announcing the series of online conversations bringing together African theologians, priests, and religious, as well as laity in Africa. Credit: PACTPAN

Large Catholic Episcopal Conferences Stifling Bishops’ Voices, Togolese Theologian Says, Advocates for “small groups”

Jun 18, 2024

A Togolese Catholic Priest has proposed the splitting of Bishops’ Conferences, Dioceses, Parishes, and other groups that are seen as too large into units where “everyone’s voice is heard”.

A poster announcing the series of online conversations bringing together African theologians, priests, and religious, as well as laity in Africa. Credit: PACTPAN

Catholic Church in Africa Urged to Tap into Diaspora Communities to Grow Continent

Jun 14, 2024

Catholic Bishops and religious communities in Africa have been urged to harness the potential of the diasporic communities in growing the continent.

Delegates vote to approve a synthesis report at the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 28, 2023. / Credit: Vatican Media

Theologians Conclude Evaluation of Synod Reports after Rome Meeting

Jun 14, 2024

A group of 20 theologians concluded an evaluation of 107 synod reports from national bishops’ conferences and Eastern Catholic Churches following meetings in Rome.

Archbishop Dabula Mpako of South Africa’s Pretoria Archdiocese

Why Archbishop in South Africa Thinks Synod on Synodality calls for “radical shift” in Church Model

Jun 12, 2024

The Synod on Synodality is a call to move from one model of the Church to another, Archbishop Dabula Mpako of South Africa’s Pretoria Archdiocese who participated in the first session of the ongoing synod has observed.

Fr. Rafael Simbine Junior, the Secretary General of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). Credit: SECAM

Bishops in Africa Laud Theologians’ Weekly Conversations on Synod on Synodality

Jun 11, 2024

Catholic Bishops in Africa have lauded the weekly conversations organized by African theologians on the Synod on Synodality, noting that the Friday engagements will deepen the understanding of the synod.