Over Friday 19 and Saturday 20 April, an international conference: ‘Synodality Explored: Facing the Future Together’ will take place at Saint John’s Welcome Centre, Knock Shrine. Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, will be the keynote speaker at this conference which will be hosted by Knock Shrine in association with Notre Dame University, Australia.
Speaking to CatholicNews.ie ahead of the conference, Ms Julieann Moran, General Secretary of the Synodal Pathway in Ireland, said, “I am delighted to be part of this collaboration between Knock Shrine and Notre Dame University, Australia. The upcoming conference on Synodality in Knock holds great promise as a vibrant exploration into synodality, offering insights into the broader global perspectives of the Universal Synod whilst also highlighting Ireland’s role within this process and its own synodal pathway. This is a free event, open to the public and all are welcome.”
Cardinal Grech will open the conference on the theme of ‘Synod – a global view’ and other prominent speakers will include Professor Renée Kohler-Ryan of Notre Dame University, Australia, to discuss our Church on a missionary footing. Professor Kohler-Ryan is a voting Member of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, representing Oceania, which will reconvene in Rome this October in the Vatican. Attendees in Knock will also have the opportunity to gain valuable insights into the Synod from an Irish perspective from Father Declan Hurley, co-chair of the National Steering Committee for the Synodal Pathway in Ireland and is Vicar General of the Diocese of Meath.
The second day of the conference will focus on Ireland’s place in the global Church. The theme will be explored by Cardinal Grech and by Ms Moran. Dr Dermot Ryan, Director of Adult Faith Development for the Diocese of Ossory, will also discuss the way in which we are all called to a synodal life through our parish communities and structures. The afternoon session will take the format of a panel discussion on becoming a more inclusive Church, and the day will conclude with an open forum.
For further details see knockshrine.ie, telephone +353 (0) 94 93 88100 and email: [email protected]
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