Johannesburg, 28 January, 2026 / 3:39 PM
Members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) who are Local Ordinaries in Botswana, Eswatini, and South Africa have concluded their weeklong Plenary Assembly with a commitment to fostering Synodality in their evangelization ministry, their President has said.
In a statement following their January 21-27 Plenary Assembly realized under the theme, ‘Synodality and Mission’, Stephen Cardinal Brislin says SACBC members also reaffirmed their “commitment to integral human development and responsible stewardship.”
Cardinal Brislin says that they entrusted “the fruits of their deliberations to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as they continue to serve the People of God in Southern Africa.”
SACBC members made resolutions geared toward strengthening Clergy formation, Catholic education, social action, and synodality across the three Southern African nations, he says.
On the formation, life, and ministry of Clergy, Cardinal Brislin says that they emphasized greater psychological accompaniment to realize integral human formation among future Priests.
The Catholic Church leaders approved amendments to the constitutions of the SACBC Council of Priests (COP) and urged Dioceses to inform their Clergy about the existence of COP and submit nominate Diocesan representatives, he said.
The Local Ordinary of Johannesburg Catholic Archdiocese noted that SACBC members resolved that “the Permanent Diaconate will also be promoted as a vocation,” with renewed emphasis on its ministry of charity.
They addressed challenges in Catholic education, acknowledging “financial sustainability risks” facing the Catholic Institute of Education (CIE) and expressing support for the South African Council of Churches (SACC) in responding to weekend schooling challenges.
On the Catholic Institute of Higher Education (CIHE), SACBC members said priority would be given to “reforming the Board of St John Vianney Seminary NPC.”
During the Plenary, Cardinal Brislin reported that Bishop Neil Augustine Frank of Saouth Africa’s Diocese of Mariannhill and Bishop Masilo John Selemela, the Auxiliary Bishop of Pretoria Archdiocese, were mandated to meet the leadership of the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization to discuss “the separation of academics from seminary formation.”
Bishop Selemela was also tasked with overseeing implementation of the decisions and ensuring that the CIHE Business Plan is finalized for presentation at the SACBC August Plenary.
On Catholic social action, Cardinal Brislin says that they resolved to restructure the department, renaming it the “Department of Integral Human Development,” comprising three streams: Caritas, Social Justice, and Health/Education.
He adds that further resolutions addressed governance, investments, staffing consultations, and an informed study of Operation Dudula, an anti-foreigner, anti-illegal immigration entity in South Africa whose operatives reportedly have the mission to “put South Africans first”, and to drive migrants out of the country.
SACBC members emphasized the importance of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, noting that local ecumenical initiatives would be promoted and reported to their Secretariat. Participation in ecumenical services, particularly expectations regarding Holy Communion, will be reviewed.
During the Plenary, Cardinal Brislin said the Theological Advisory Commission received approval for a Diocesan survey on Ubungoma (traditional healing), which will be conducted “even if only relevant groups are targeted.”
On Diocesan boundaries, he said support was given for establishing a new Archdiocese in the Eastern Cape, with further consultations requested from the Eastern and Western Cape, and that proposals are expected at the next SACBC Plenary Assembly.
In matters of Christian formation, SACBC members resolved that Catechetical Month materials will be approved annually at the August Plenary, and that the Memorial of Blessed Benedict Daswa, South Africa’s first potential saint, will be celebrated across Botswana, Eswatini, and South Africa when it falls on a Sunday.
Regarding the Laity, the Catholic Women’s League and the Charismatic Renewal Movement of Southern Africa were formally incorporated into the Department, Cardinal Brislin said, adding that they also called for a review of requirements for national approval of lay associations, with particular attention to “financial accountability.”
On evangelization and synodality, the Council for Evangelization was affirmed as linked to the Commission on the Implementation of Synodality.
Dioceses without synodal teams were urged to establish them and submit their details, while Priests were encouraged to “actively implement synodality at parish level.”
On finance, SACBC members approved the Annual Financial Statements, the 2026 SACBC budget, and seminary budgets. Auditors were appointed, levies adjusted, and property competence levels revised.
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