According to the General Secretary for the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Ms Julieann Moran (pictured), “The Synod on Synodality represents a historic and Spirit-led moment for the Church – one that calls each of us to deeper communion, participation, and mission. With the publication of the Final Document in October 2024, Pope Francis has offered not just reflections but a roadmap for renewal that will shape the life of the Church for years to come. This is not a theoretical exercise – it is an active and ongoing process that will bring real changes to how the Church listens, discerns, and walks together.”
Ms Moran continued, “In Ireland, we are not only witnesses to this transformation. We are called to be active participants in it. The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated. The synodal way is now an essential part of how the Church listens, discerns, and moves forward with the collective wisdom of all the baptised together – clergy, laity, and religious. Implementing the insights and recommendations of the Final Document is not an optional exercise but a vital responsibility for us all. I encourage everyone to engage with the Final Document, to integrate its principles into our ministries and work, and to foster a culture where synodality is lived out daily. We need to take seriously this invitation of the Holy Spirit and contribute to a Church that is more inclusive, responsive, and mission-focused.
“As the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland continues, we are now at a crucial stage of this journey. In recent weeks, the National Synodal Team met with members of Diocesan Synodal Teams and members of movements, associations and other ecclesial groups, in order to provide resources for proposed Spring Gatherings at local level. These Spring Gatherings will provide an opportunity for deep discernment, using the Conversation in the Spirit methodology, as we revisit the themes that emerged from the earlier stages of the Universal Synod in Ireland and discern priorities for mission, for action. These gatherings are not just another meeting or consultation asking for opinions or repeating the same question(s), rather these will mark a decisive moment in shaping how the Church in Ireland responds to the call of the Holy Spirit.
“The outcomes of these gatherings will directly influence a planned national gathering (called a pre-synodal assembly) to take place in October, where key priorities will be presented and will guide future decisions. The Holy Spirit is calling us to walk together in new ways, and now is the time to respond with faith and courage, trusting that through our shared discernment, the Church in Ireland will be renewed for the generations to come.”
Ms Moran concluded, “I encourage parishes, groups, and individuals to engage wholeheartedly in this process by getting in touch with their diocesan office to find out where a gathering is being held in their local area.”
For more information on the work of the Irish Synodal Pathway, to view all available resources and details of the Spring meeting, visit Synod.ie.
ENDS
