The Diocese of Cyangugu held a three-day session on the implementation of the final document of the Synod on Synodality. Convoked by the Right Reverend Edouard SINAYOBYE, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Cyangugu, this session took place at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre from 18th to 20th September. Among the participants were members of the diocesan curia, all parish priests of Cyangugu Diocese, the Rector of the diocesan minor seminary, members of the diocesan pastoral council, representatives of the pastoral councils from all the parishes, representatives of each religious congregation working in Cyangugu Diocese, and representatives of some diocesan commissions.

In his opening remarks, the bishop recalled the experience of the three-year Synod on Synodality, describing it as a journey of the whole Church, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, reviewing its own experience and identifying the steps to be taken to live communion, realize participation, and promote the mission that Jesus Christ entrusted to the Church. The bishop reminded participants that the synodal journey began in the local churches, proceeded through national and continental phases, and culminated in the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops held in two sessions, October 2023 and October 2024.

The bishop informed the participants that the diocese had entered a new phase recommended by the final document of the Synod on Synodality—the phase of implementing the recommendations of the Synod that were voted on and approved by the Synod Assembly in October last year. He urged all participants to foster a spirit of conversion by reforming the way they live and work so that they can fully embrace the spirit of the synodal Church.

Following the bishop’s opening remarks, the session was officially declared open. After the opening ceremony, the moderator presented the programme of the session, signaling the start of the main proceedings. The session began with an invocation of the Holy Spirit, followed by a Lectio Divina (Numbers 11:16-17), the first talk on “The Holy Spirit as the Leader of the Church”, and the formation of small-group discussions of 9 to 10 persons per group, who discussed topics provided by the speaker after the talk.

The three-day session featured two main speakers: the bishop himself and Reverend Father François HARERIMANA, a Pallottine priest currently serving as co-rector of the Kibeho Shrine. The conferences covered various themes such as “The Holy Spirit as Leader of the Church,” “The Spiritual Conversation Method,” “We Are Living Members of Christ’s Body,” “Leadership in the Synodal Church,” “Discernment as a Journey to Decision-Making in the Synodal Church,” and “Accountability in the Synodal Church.” The talks were brief but very enriching, and participants followed them with interest and appreciation.

At the end of each talk, the small groups engaged in spiritual conversations on the topics provided by the speaker. Each member shared, for a maximum of four minutes, “what seems most important and most meaningful, and what they feel stands out from the speaker’s input.” Following a pause for silence and prayer, each person reflected on what struck or touched them most from what others had shared. After another moment of silence, the groups began identifying common themes and differences in their discussions.

Each working group will draft a short report on their conversation, vote on whether it accurately reflects the discussion, and choose a representative to present it to the entire assembly. This was an intense moment for all participants, as new ideas and suggestions for the synodal Church emerged. The session was conducted in a serene and prayerful environment, and the recommendations for the Synodal Church in Cyangugu Diocese were submitted to the bishop for review and promulgation.