JCAM 2023 39 Annual Review The Synod on Synodality: Reflections from an African Perspec琀椀ve Caroline Kavita - ASI Programme Coordinator The inaugural session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, held in October 2023, provided a moment of grace for active listening to the perspectives of churches from all continents. It provided a platform to establish pastoral priorities that needed to be more explored and deepened in order to be ready for the second session, which is scheduled for October 2024. For synodality to become the new way of being the church and truly live it, the October synod called for an extensive process of discernment and formation. Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, SJ, ASI director and former president of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM) and some members of ASI’s Synodality Resource Team participated in the 2023 Synod of bishops in Rome. Dr. Nora K. Nonterah was one of the only two laywomen delegates from Africa; it is the first time that lay people and non-bishops have participated in the Synod of Bishops. Speaking in Rome, Dr. Nonterah said, “This is my first time participating in a synod. I come to this synod with the hopes, the joys, the dreams, the anxieties, and the lamentations, but also the resilience of the African women, lay people from the continent, and in fact the entire Church, Pope Francis with Fr. Arturo Sosa, Superior General of which might not always get to sit at the centre of discourse.” the Society of Jesus, and Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, SJ, the Director of ASI, at the 16th General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality in the Vatican.