African seminary rectors recently converged at the Padre Pio Retreat Centre in the Archdiocese of Pretoria for a curriculum development workshop organised by the African Synodality Initiative. The event, which took place from 27 to 30 October, brought together 18 rectors from seminaries across the Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa region. The workshop aimed to reflect on how synodality can be integrated into priestly formation, with participants examining a proposed curriculum to help future priests understand and practise the synodal approach to Church life.
The workshop emphasised that synodality is more than a concept to be studied in the classroom; it is a way of living the Church's mission. This approach calls for attentive listening, openness to different voices, and a willingness to walk together, especially with those on the margins. For priests responsible for forming future generations of Catholic clergy in Southern Africa, the challenge now is to translate the discussions into concrete changes in their seminaries and, ultimately, in the pastoral life of their local Churches.
Father Abert Mphunyetsane Koetlisi, rector of St Augustine's Major Seminary in Lesotho, said the workshop had deepened his understanding of synodality, particularly the importance of listening attentively and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide the Church's discernment. He emphasised that this means moving beyond personal ambitions and individual opinions to a process in which the experiences and perspectives of others are genuinely considered. The Church in Lesotho, including his home diocese of Leribe, is seeking to pay greater attention to people who risk being left behind, particularly those experiencing difficult circumstances.
Father Miranda Feliciano, spiritual director and formator at the Theology Seminary of the Diocese of Sumbe in Angola, described synodality as an important subject that must be taught and shared in houses of formation. This will enable future priests to understand how to listen to one another and work together in proclaiming the Gospel. One of his key takeaways was the need to remain open to different cultures and experiences while cultivating a spirit of service, particularly towards poor and marginalised people.
Father Canaan Dumbura, rector of Sacred Heart Pre-Major Seminary in Zimbabwe, returned to the workshop with a longer perspective, having attended an earlier synodality workshop in 2024. The October gathering provided an opportunity to reflect on progress and determine the way forward. Father Dumbura described the workshop as successful, saying the discussions reinforced the need to introduce a formal curriculum on synodality into seminaries. However, he stressed that the curriculum should not be treated as a rigid programme applied identically everywhere.
The proposed curriculum offers an opportunity to give this formation a more structured approach, but seminaries should be able to adapt it to their particular circumstances, cultures, and formation needs. Father Dumbura added that synodality must also extend beyond the formation house, influencing how the Church exercises leadership in parishes, small Christian communities, and families. He suggested that the Church could develop a leadership manual to help communities incorporate synodal principles into their daily lives.
The experiences of the priests point to a common understanding that synodality cannot remain a theoretical subject reserved for Church documents and academic discussions. It must shape how future priests listen to the faithful, engage with people from different cultural backgrounds, and make pastoral decisions. The long-term nature of the initiative requires a sustained commitment to nurturing these attitudes throughout priestly formation, with the aim of forming priests who can listen, discern, and accompany their communities.
Key points
- African seminary rectors gathered to integrate synodality into priestly formation.
- The workshop emphasised attentive listening, openness to different voices, and walking with those on the margins.
- The proposed curriculum aims to help future priests understand and practise the synodal approach to Church life.
