Final statement of the participants at the IMBISA meeting on Synodality and Priestly Formation: towards the parish of tomorrow
20 participants from the IMBISA region gathered from 10-14 August 2026 at the Maria Regina Oblate Conference Centre in Döbra, Namibia under the theme Synodality and priestly formation: impacting relations in tomorrow’s parish.
Led by experts Father José Pinto Tene, rector of the St. Pius X Seminary in Maputo, Mozambique and Father Mxolisi Ndakane, formator in St. John Vianney Seminary in Pretoria, South Africa, participants reflected on how synodality is changing the formation and training of priests and how that will affect the parishes in the local churches.
Through Conversation in the Spirit, small groups reflected on the reality of synodality which was present in the Church from the beginning and is being received by all the baptized as a direct result of the teachings of Vatican II. Working together, the rectors, seminarians and young people from parishes stated their intention to carry the good news of synodality in the way they form communion, take responsibility for the Church, and engage in mission through their different roles in the Church.
The rectors present said committed to creating a seminary environment in which respectful listening and fraternal accompaniment will characterise relations in their seminaries. In a meeting with the formators they will share the outcome of this conference, aiming to examine ways of incorporating synodality into the curriculum in various ways, according to a standard set by all seminaries in the IMBISA region.
Seminarians looked forward to seeing synodality become a fixed part of seminary life and the curriculum, in an atmosphere of fraternal dialogue and loving correction.
The young people undertook to spread the message that young people in the Church are the present not the future Church. They confirmed with confidence that they are the Church of today, not tomorrow. They aim to build a culture where digital evangelisation characterises their mission in the Church, for they know those are the places they will meet fellow young people where they are.
Aware that the road ahead is long and hard, participants noted the many divergences in the Church. Nevertheless, they are certain in the hope that the Spirit is leading the Church on a certain path with the Lord Jesus walking with them.