The 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, themed For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission, takes place from 2 to 27 October at the Vatican, Rome. Representing the Bishops’ Conference will be Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick and Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ of Down and Connor. Sister Mary Teresa Barron OLA, President of the International Union of Superiors General; and, Sister Patricia Murray IBVM, Executive Secretary of the International Union of Superiors General, both from Ireland, are also in attendance. Rev Professor Eamon Conway, a priest of the Archdiocese of Tuam, is serving the Synod as an ‘Expert and Facilitator’.
In an interview with Julieann Moran, General Secretary of the Synodal Pathway in Ireland, Bishop Leahy spoke about the ongoing synodal process, saying, “An important aspect that has emerged in the last two or three years, and more specifically since the last assembly in October 2023 is the realisation that synodality, or journeying together, isn’t just about this synod event or making several decisions in a month. It’s more about the process; about where we have moved from an understanding of synodality to actually a continuous process in the life of the Church, of working together to discern and understand what God wants of us.”
Reflecting on how his experience from last year will prepare him for this assembly Bishop McGuckian said, “The methodology was hugely significant. We gathered in Rome for four weeks, we used Conversations in the Spirit – a particular way of being around a table, where everyone speaks in their turn and everyone listens respectfully. There was a genuine listening for what the Spirit was saying in my heart, as I listened to others. Then there was an effort to find where the convergences were, as well as the divergences. To do that all day every day for three or four weeks was quite transformative for me personally”…. “That is a huge take away, that I have brought home and used and have found extremely enriching. I now feel going back this year that I have that experience behind me, and that this year I bring a capacity, or aptitude for Conversations in the Spirit.”
Speaking about the synodal process, Ms Moran said, “We have journeyed together in this universal process for three years, and thanks to the voices of the People of God in Ireland and around the world, remarkable moments have shaped our path. From local communities to global platforms, synodal listening has moved through diocesan, national, and continental stages, fostering continuous dialogue with the Universal Church. This synodal process is slowly but surely fostering participation and co-responsibility, and the discernment of the Pobal Dé has been at the heart of the journey, guiding the mission of the Body of Christ into the future. I look forward to the continued participation of all baptised as we put into practice the outcomes from the Synod.”
To read the full text of the Bishops’ statement, visit www.catholicbishops.ie.
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