The formation session on synodality, led by Bishop Édouard Sinayobye, has just concluded with deep gratitude for the spiritual and communal fruits it has borne. Organized for the Religious Sisters, laypeople, and youth of the Assumption from the Rwanda-Chad Province, this session was far more than a simple teaching moment: it became a truly lived synodal experience.
This formation followed the provincial gathering that brought together Sisters, laypersons, and young people from the Assumption. During that event, with the support of our Sister Illuminata Maria, we jointly revisited the results of the survey conducted by the Congregation among the Religious and lay participants. This initial step allowed us to become more aware of our respective realities—religious and lay—leading to deeper mutual understanding, increased knowledge of one another, and a renewed vision of our shared mission. As we shared our experiences and aspirations, we began to chart new paths together: more open, more united, and more deeply rooted in our local contexts. The synodality session further illuminated and strengthened this momentum already underway.
Beyond theoretical contributions, the session offered a concrete experience of synodality through the method of facilitation itself: a climate of mutual listening, fraternal dialogue, collective discernment, and shared speaking. Each person—regardless of vocation or generation—was able to feel fully engaged in the journey proposed. The mixed group work—Sisters, laypeople, and youth—enriched the discussions by revealing the complementarity of vocations within the Church’s mission. Bishop Édouard Sinayobye’s teachings, grounded in Sacred Scripture, the Magisterium, and the realities of the local Church, inspired deep reflection on our way of “walking together.” We became aware that synodality is not a one-time initiative, but rather an ecclesial way of life to be embodied daily. It transforms the way we exercise authority, make decisions together, and live out our mission in a spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility.
We express our heartfelt gratitude to Bishop Édouard Sinayobye for his inspiring and benevolent presence. We return encouraged and renewed by this synodal momentum, ready to make it come alive in our communities, apostolic projects, and shared service. May this synodal spirit continue to sustain us in our respective missions with courage, faith, and hope.