RADAR

SYNODAL PATH OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

The synodal path of the Southern African Catholic community is marked every three years by a so-called ‘Joint Witness’—three days of mutual sharing, prayer and discernment by the SACBC (Bishops Conference of South Africa, Botswana and eSwatini) and the LCCL (Leadership Conference of Consecrated life) in the three respective countries.

BY FR. VÁCLAV KLEMENT SDB | SALESIAN PROVINCIAL SUPERIOR, EMSENI, BENONI, JOHANNESBURG

FOR THE first time after the Covid pandemic, the ‘Joint Witness’ event was once again an in-person gathering which took place at the Christian Centre in eMseni, Benoni – Johannesburg, from 16 to 18 September 2024 with two Cardinals, 13 Bishops and 44 male and female leaders of religious congregations of Southern Africa participating. The event was characterised by a well-prepared program and discussions which were moderated by Br Michael Burke CFC with the wonderful synergy of both Presidents (SACBC – Bishop Sithembele Sipuka and LCCL – Fr Siphelele Gwanisheni, OFM) and the respective Secretary General (SACBC, Fr Hugh O’Connor and LCCL, Sr Phi Thao, FMM) of male and female religious.

The Joint Witness 2024 focused on ‘Synodality’, only a few days before the second session of the Synod on Synodality in the Vatican. Most of the common concerns and issues affecting the Southern African Catholic community were tackled in an environment of true family spirit, prayer, and mutual listening in small mixed groups (formed by two bishops, male and female religious) as well as the larger Assembly consisting of 60 participants.

Unity and collaboration

The Spirit guiding the Church in these fast-changing times calls on her to be more united and co-operative ‘on the crossroad’, as we need each other as the One Body of Christ. The new apostolic nuncio to South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, eSwatini, and Namibia, Archbishop Henryk Jagodziński, stressed the increasing importance of synodal Church dynamics.

As the President of the SACBC and Bishop of Mthatha diocese, Sithembele Sipuka expressed in his conclusion address: ‘We are here because of you (=religious), we are almost standing up as a local Church and we can’t forget that. …Even if we now seem to be dwindling and ageing, as bishops we are here to stay with you since you carry on the legacy of commitment. That is why we are calling for more collaboration among us. Maybe it’s a really providential moment for us, when we are dwindling, that God is calling us to work more together. It’s good that things start at the grassroots level. I would like to ask bishops and superiors to work at home together.’

Challenges faced with hope

The participants felt inspired by the homilies with images of ‘being pruned as a plant for future growth’. Joint realistic discussions were held on the SACBC Pastoral Plan; on changing the face of our Church; on dwindling and ageing, with declining vocations both to the priesthood and religious life; with challenges to continue and maintain the current educational structures (schools) with dwindling resources; on the need for new vocations and new missionaries; on lifelong formation and mutual collaboration between religious and their bishops; on Media and Communication; on Missionary animation; on a safeguarding effort (Memorare), in a nutshell, a profound and immersive view of the present Southern African Catholic church.

An uplifting and encouraging common path is unfolding with a concern about generating innovative ideas and ministries in the local church, encouraging proactive vocation animation endeavours and a renewed commitment to continue with a patient evangelization in 320 Catholic schools. The presence and the informal sharing by the Cape Town Archdiocese episcopal vicar for the religious, Fr Mari Jo, OCD, was an inspiration for other diocesan ‘Joint Witness’ dynamics. Most importantly, an expected follow-up of this large Joint Witness meeting is the metropolitan or diocesan collaboration and communion of the religious with their bishops and their local church.

All participants appreciated the very informative, thoroughly prepared, and faith-affirming Joint Witness 2024, which generated many concrete and inspiring initiatives, where attendees got to know each other and were invited to continue the synodal path of mutual listening and closer collaboration. The next Joint Witness SACBC-LCCL will be held in 2027.