Held in Addis Ababa on 4-5 August under the theme, “The Synodal Church in Africa: Journeying Towards the 2028 Ecclesial Assembly,” the seminar marked the official beginning of the continental phase of Africa’s preparations for the Ecclesial Assembly that will take place in Rome in October 2028. Looking ahead, the SECAM President outlined the roadmap that will shape the continental synodal process beginning in 2027. The Church in Africa will journey through four successive stages—Awareness, Interpretation, Orientation and Celebration—moving from diocesan and national evaluation assemblies to the Continental Synodal Assembly before culminating in the Ecclesial Assembly in Rome in October 2028. “You are here as regional teams,” he said. “When you return home, you will be called to establish national synodal teams, which in turn will form diocesan synodal teams, and so on.