my personal expeirence during synodal journey . I was delighted of being part of the Church in South Sudan and my hopes for this journey titled: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission. commence in 2021 it is an ending journey. The Preparatory Document for the Synod states that a Synodal Church, in announcing the Gospel, “journeys together”. How is this “journeying together” happening today in the local Church? it is like the story of the disciples on the way to Emmaus, it was a long journey for them however they made it. we too it is our journey together to reach to jesus. The disciples did not recognize the Stranger as Jesus until He broke the bread and vanished from their sight.

Synod on Synodality, culminating a two-year process, emphasizes the need for a more participatory and missionary Church, highlighting the importance of listening, dialogue, and discernment in the Church’s life. It calls for greater co-responsibility and proposes concrete measures to enhance the role of all the baptized, including women, in shaping the Church’s future. The document reflects on the Church’s journey with Christ, emphasizing the need for relational conversion and a culture of protection, while also acknowledging the tensions and hopes within the Church as it navigates this phase of transition.

• Synodality as a Path:
The final document defines synodality as a way of walking with Christ and towards the kingdom, together with all humanity. It’s not just a process, but a way of being and acting as a Church, focused on communion, participation, and mission.
• Emphasis on Listening and Dialogue:
The document stresses the importance of mutual listening, dialogue, and discernment at all levels of the Church. This includes listening to the Holy Spirit, to each other, and to the signs of the times.
• Co-responsibility and Participation:
The document calls for greater co-responsibility and participation of all the baptized in the Church’s life and mission. This includes expanding opportunities for women and lay people in leadership and decision-making roles.
• Relational Conversion:
The document emphasizes the need for a “relational conversion,” which involves a shift in how the Church interacts with itself and the world. This includes fostering a culture of listening, respect, and mutual support.

• Mission-Oriented: The Synod’s focus is on organising the Church to be more effective in its mission of proclaiming the Gospel. This involves being present and engaged with the world, especially those who are marginalized.

• Addressing Tensions and Hopes: The document acknowledges the tensions and challenges within the Church as it embraces synodality, but also expresses hope for a more Comprehensive and participatory future.

• Concrete Proposals: There are specific proposals for structural reforms and changes in practices to better embody synodality. In essence, the Synod on Synodality’s final document is a call to action, inviting the Church to embrace a more participatory, missionary, and relational way of being, guided by the principles of communion, participation, and mission.