SECAM: “The Spirit of the Synod was Impressive,” African Delegates Reveal
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The Secretary-General for the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) disclosed that phase one of the Synodal Assembly that took place in Rome from 4-29 October, had very impressive experiences including the Spirit of the Synod.
Sharing his experiences and lessons at a post-synodal webinar convened by the African Synodality Initiative (ASI), Wednesday, November 15, Fr. Anthony Makunde who was a delegate for the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops and one of the experts tasked with the responsibility to facilitate the synodal journey identified the aspects which to him made the Synod inspiring and extraordinary.
“The spirit of the Synod was very impressive. I am happy that quite a number of delegates disclosed that what was done during this assembly, is the way to carry out various activities in our respective dioceses, conferences, and even in families,” the AMECEA’s Secretary General disclosed and highlighted, “the conversation in the spirit, praying while discussing issues of importance, issues of faith, issues of the Church and issues of life, that was very touching to me.”
Fr. Makunde who was among the 400 synod delegates narrated that the synodal method outlined in the Instrumentum Laboris and which focuses on listening to the Holy Spirit and “discerning the signs of the times,” was another key concept that enriched the monthlong gathering.
“I loved the methodology that was used in the synod. That to me, was a very unique experience. It is a methodology that allows each participant to speak and to be listened to by the group regardless of one’s status or role,” the native of Tanzania shared with the online participants as he recalled that the working groups which comprised 12 delegates from various countries and nationalities were normally given four minutes for sharing their views and “they obliged to the regulations very well.”
Additionally, Fr. Makunde continued, “The participation of the delegates was admirable. No one really felt deterred regardless of the four weeks of the assembly. The Holy Spirit inspired the synod until we came up with the final synod document that will be sent back to the local churches for further discussion.”
On his part, another synod delegate synod Fr. Rafael Simbine Junior the Secretary General of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) shared his experiences and lessons during the Wednesday webinar themed ‘Walking the Synodal Path: Reflections on the Synod on Synodality – Voices from Africa.’
According to Fr. Simbine the monthlong experience for the synod that was held under the theme ‘For a synodal Church: Communion, participation and mission,’ it is a revelation of a new era for the Catholic Church.
“We can say that the new way of being a Church has been launched. This new Pentecost, this synod on synodality, will surely renew the Church in the communion of her members and in the active participation of all in the life and mission of the Church, the Mozambican cleric said and explained, “Our change is emerging on the new way of being and acting, rediscovering the value of silence, using the method of conversation in the spirit, listening to each other and listening to the Holy Spirit. These are all tools that are at the same time old and new.”
He further expressed that the synodality experience in Rome was an opportunity to realize that the Catholic Church is One but with many diversities hence if the Church in Africa does not want to be left behind, the people should journey together.
Besides, the cleric said, “The final synthesis of this synodal session recommends that all those who have experienced synodality in the past month, should not only talk about synodality but above all be witnesses by their actions; to the beauty of this new way of being Church.”
The SECAMS’s Secretary General asked if the synodal report could be translated into local languages for ease of understanding saying, “Let us work hard to involve all the members of the Catholic Church, of the family of God in Africa and the islands in this synodal process, by giving back this synodal synthesis in simple ways and translate it into our local languages as we allow our experts in different fields to assist us on this synodal journey.”
The ASI team that organized this virtual session for delegates to share their experiences is a partnership between the Jesuits Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM), the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), and the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA).
The keynote speaker during the webinar was Archbishop Andrew Nkea of Bamenda, the President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC) and a member of the Ordinary Council of the Synod, appointed by Pope Francis.
Other panelists included Sr. Marie Solange Randrianirina the Regional Provincial of the Daughters of Saint Paul (FSP) in Madagascar, and Ms. Sheila Pires the communications officer of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) who was the Secretary of the Synod Information Commission during the assembly.
The virtual session was moderated by Fr. Andrew Kaufa, the Coordinator of the Social Communications department of AMECEA, and a consultor to the Dicastery for Communication at the Vatican who was with the communication team in Rome for the monthlong meeting.
