Please find below the latest news from the Synod 2021-2023
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Synod 2021-2023 Synodality in Ireland: it’s in our DNA Janet Forbes reflects on how the Irish Church can embrace synodality as a way of life rooted in its cultural DNA of community, generosity, and mutual care.
Since September 2021, we here in Ireland have been on a synodal journey with Read More
Since September 2021, we here in Ireland have been on a synodal journey with Read More
We are People on the Move It has often been said that synodality was Pope Francis’ flagship project for reform and renewal in the Church. The 2023 and 2024 sessions of the XVI Synodal Assembly entitled “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission”, along with the publication of its Final Document in October 2024 are Read More
Meath Diocese Strengthens Synodal Practice The Diocese of Meath recently hosted four training sessions across the diocese to introduce members of Parish Pastoral Councils (PPCs) to the practice of ‘Conversation in the Spirit’ — a core methodology of the Church’s synodal journey. Organised by the Read More
Call to Tender – Logo Design 
Can you design this or do you know someone who can?
The Irish Synodal Pathway is looking for a talented designer (or design team) to create a new official logo for Ireland’s synodal journey. We need a design that is:
Theologically rich
Spiritually resonant
Culturally Irish
Ready Read More
The Irish Synodal Pathway is looking for a talented designer (or design team) to create a new official logo for Ireland’s synodal journey. We need a design that is:
Theologically rich
Spiritually resonant
Culturally Irish
Ready Read More
One Baptism, Many Voices One Baptism, Many Voices: Walking the path of renewal from Dalgan to Kilkenny
As the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland continues, the National Team gathered on May 15 and 16 at Dalgan Park in Navan for a time Read More
As the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland continues, the National Team gathered on May 15 and 16 at Dalgan Park in Navan for a time Read More
Pathways Document for Universal Synod Now Live! Pathways for the Implementation Phase of the Synod is Now Live!
The new document to help with the implementation phase of the universal synod can be found here.
This document has been created as a tool to accompany the final phase of the Read More
The new document to help with the implementation phase of the universal synod can be found here.
This document has been created as a tool to accompany the final phase of the Read More
Pilgrims of Hope: Walking the Synodal Pathway Our General Secretary, Julieann Moran, writes about synodality being a reason for great hope in The Irish Catholic Newspaper:
In this Jubilee Year, we are invited to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, purposeful travellers on a path guided by the Holy Spirit. That path, for Read More
In this Jubilee Year, we are invited to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, purposeful travellers on a path guided by the Holy Spirit. That path, for Read More
A New Chapter, Same Journey 🌍 A New Pope Committed to Synodality
On 8 May, the Church welcomed Pope Leo XIV, whose Urbi et Orbi message from the balcony of St Peter’s made an immediate and moving call to journey forward together. In his very first Read More
On 8 May, the Church welcomed Pope Leo XIV, whose Urbi et Orbi message from the balcony of St Peter’s made an immediate and moving call to journey forward together. In his very first Read More
Synodality in Ireland: it’s in our DNA
Janet Forbes reflects on how the Irish Church can embrace synodality as a way of life rooted in its cultural DNA of community, generosity, and mutual care.
Since September 2021, we here in Ireland have been on a synodal journey with our brothers and sisters across the globe. Over nearly four years of listening, dialogue and discernment, we have been learning what it means to walk, listen and decide together as Church.
One of the biggest challenges has been the complexity of the Synodal documents and the lingering question around what these years of reflection actually mean for how we live as Church in our parishes today. Pope Francis reminded us repeatedly that this is not just a passing trend but a recovery of something deeper and more ancient, something rooted in the very person of Jesus.
I believe synodality lives in the very soul of the Irish Church and that it is something we already carry in our bones, something woven into the very DNA of nearly two millennia of faith and story. In many ways synodality is not something new to learn, but something we are called to remember and recover.
“Whether helping a neighbour, responding to crises, or supporting the Church’s mission this generosity shows who we are”
Continue reading the full article in The Irish Catholic Newspaper here.
The post Synodality in Ireland: it’s in our DNA appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
Since September 2021, we here in Ireland have been on a synodal journey with our brothers and sisters across the globe. Over nearly four years of listening, dialogue and discernment, we have been learning what it means to walk, listen and decide together as Church.
One of the biggest challenges has been the complexity of the Synodal documents and the lingering question around what these years of reflection actually mean for how we live as Church in our parishes today. Pope Francis reminded us repeatedly that this is not just a passing trend but a recovery of something deeper and more ancient, something rooted in the very person of Jesus.
I believe synodality lives in the very soul of the Irish Church and that it is something we already carry in our bones, something woven into the very DNA of nearly two millennia of faith and story. In many ways synodality is not something new to learn, but something we are called to remember and recover.
“Whether helping a neighbour, responding to crises, or supporting the Church’s mission this generosity shows who we are”
Continue reading the full article in The Irish Catholic Newspaper here.
The post Synodality in Ireland: it’s in our DNA appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
We are People on the Move
It has often been said that synodality was Pope Francis’ flagship project for reform and renewal in the Church. The 2023 and 2024 sessions of the XVI Synodal Assembly entitled “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission”, along with the publication of its Final Document in October 2024 are seen as the culmination of his papacy. There is no doubt the theme of synodality emerged increasingly as a central theme throughout his papacy.
So what is Pope Leo’s take on synodality? He’s only a few months into his papacy but he has already indicated a positive attitude to it. On the night of his election, for instance, as he spoke from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, he said “we want to be a synodal Church”.
“For where there is the Spirit, there is movement, a journey to be made. We are a people on the move”
Continue reading the full article in The Irish Catholic Newspaper here.
The post We are People on the Move appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
So what is Pope Leo’s take on synodality? He’s only a few months into his papacy but he has already indicated a positive attitude to it. On the night of his election, for instance, as he spoke from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, he said “we want to be a synodal Church”.
“For where there is the Spirit, there is movement, a journey to be made. We are a people on the move”
Continue reading the full article in The Irish Catholic Newspaper here.
The post We are People on the Move appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
Meath Diocese Strengthens Synodal Practice
The Diocese of Meath recently hosted four training sessions across the diocese to introduce members of Parish Pastoral Councils (PPCs) to the practice of ‘Conversation in the Spirit’ — a core methodology of the Church’s synodal journey. Organised by the Diocesan Synodal Team and facilitated by trained leaders who completed the Irish Synodal Pathway’s Facilitative Leadership Programme, the sessions aimed to foster a culture of prayerful listening and communal discernment.
The method of ‘Conversation in the Spirit’ gained global recognition during the universal synod in Rome, where it was used to ensure each delegate was truly heard, allowing space to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit through the community. In Meath, participants received not only training but a printed resource for conducting such conversations in their own parishes.
“There was a genuine appetite for the training and a willingness to get involved”
Continue reading the full article in The Irish Catholic Newspaper here.
The post Meath Diocese Strengthens Synodal Practice appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
The method of ‘Conversation in the Spirit’ gained global recognition during the universal synod in Rome, where it was used to ensure each delegate was truly heard, allowing space to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit through the community. In Meath, participants received not only training but a printed resource for conducting such conversations in their own parishes.
“There was a genuine appetite for the training and a willingness to get involved”
Continue reading the full article in The Irish Catholic Newspaper here.
The post Meath Diocese Strengthens Synodal Practice appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
Call to Tender – Logo Design
Can you design this or do you know someone who can?
The Irish Synodal Pathway is looking for a talented designer (or design team) to create a new official logo for Ireland’s synodal journey. We need a design that is:
Theologically rich
Spiritually resonant
Culturally Irish
Ready for both print and digital use
This is a unique chance to help shape the visual identity of Ireland’s synodal journey.
Think you’ve got the skills? Do you know someone who does?
Help us express a listening, welcoming, and hopeful Church through design. Email info@synod.ie for the full tender details or follow the link here.
Closing date for applications using the official tender form is 15th August 2025.
The post Call to Tender – Logo Design appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
The Irish Synodal Pathway is looking for a talented designer (or design team) to create a new official logo for Ireland’s synodal journey. We need a design that is:
Theologically rich
Spiritually resonant
Culturally Irish
Ready for both print and digital use
This is a unique chance to help shape the visual identity of Ireland’s synodal journey.
Think you’ve got the skills? Do you know someone who does?
Help us express a listening, welcoming, and hopeful Church through design. Email info@synod.ie for the full tender details or follow the link here.
Closing date for applications using the official tender form is 15th August 2025.
The post Call to Tender – Logo Design appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
One Baptism, Many Voices
One Baptism, Many Voices: Walking the path of renewal from Dalgan to Kilkenny
As the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland continues, the National Team gathered on May 15 and 16 at Dalgan Park in Navan for a time of deep prayer, shared discernment, and careful listening to the Spirit. Our goal was to reflect on the rich tapestry of insights submitted over the spring of this year, and to distil these into clear priorities for presentation and dialogue at the Pre-Synodal Assembly taking place in Kilkenny this October.
Conversations
The home of the Columban Missionaries in Dalgan Park provided a fitting backdrop for this time of prayerful pause. Steeped in missionary zeal and with ample spaces for contemplation (both indoors and out), it became a space of holy conversation and silent listening for two days; a place where the past, present, and future of the Church in Ireland was held before God.
“We spoke aloud our sense of where hope and invitation lay hidden in the submissions with each other”
Continue reading the full article in The Irish Catholic Newspaper here.
The post One Baptism, Many Voices appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
As the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland continues, the National Team gathered on May 15 and 16 at Dalgan Park in Navan for a time of deep prayer, shared discernment, and careful listening to the Spirit. Our goal was to reflect on the rich tapestry of insights submitted over the spring of this year, and to distil these into clear priorities for presentation and dialogue at the Pre-Synodal Assembly taking place in Kilkenny this October.
Conversations
The home of the Columban Missionaries in Dalgan Park provided a fitting backdrop for this time of prayerful pause. Steeped in missionary zeal and with ample spaces for contemplation (both indoors and out), it became a space of holy conversation and silent listening for two days; a place where the past, present, and future of the Church in Ireland was held before God.
“We spoke aloud our sense of where hope and invitation lay hidden in the submissions with each other”
Continue reading the full article in The Irish Catholic Newspaper here.
The post One Baptism, Many Voices appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
Pathways Document for Universal Synod Now Live!
Pathways for the Implementation Phase of the Synod is Now Live!
The new document to help with the implementation phase of the universal synod can be found here.
This document has been created as a tool to accompany the final phase of the universal synodal process. The text serves as a means of fostering dialogue between local Churches and the General Secretariat of the Synod and promoting the exchange of experiences among the Churches. The text is structured around four chapters, and aims to provide an interpretive key for understanding the implementation phase of the synodal process: “the synodal form of the Church is at the service of its mission.” It then focuses on the intended recipients of the guidelines: primarily the diocesan bishop and the synodal teams. The third chapter offers a set of fundamental criteria to help ensure that local implementation remains in harmony with that of the universal Church and the final chapter addresses the question of methodology and tools.
The point of reference for this phase is the Final Document of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, the result of listening and discernment carried out since the beginning of the synodal process. According to the Secretariat of the Synod, this phase belongs above all to the local Churches, which are the true protagonists. They are called to “implement, in their different contexts, the authoritative proposals contained in the Document through the processes of discernment and decision-making provided for by law and by the Document itself” (cf. Accompanying Note by the Holy Father Francis).
The Synod Office also highlights that in order to safeguard the underlying ecclesiological vision and foundational criteria of the Final Document, the Pathways document is to be understood as a set of guidelines developed in response to questions received in recent months by the General Secretariat of the Synod. These Pathways reflect the principle of circular dialogue between local Churches and the General Secretariat of the Synod, a hallmark of the synodal journey since its beginning.
A useful infographic on the implementation phase of the Universal Synod is available below.
The Ten Study Groups
The ten study groups were due to make their reports to the Holy Father in June. However, due to the death of Pope Francis, RIP, and the election of Pope Leo XIV, those groups are now reporting in full by 31 December. Their initial and/or interim reports, along with short video content, can all be found on the synod website at synod.va
The Irish Synodal Pathway Continues...
As the Irish Synodal Pathway continues, the National Synodal Team has been prayerfully discerning the voice of the Spirit across Ireland. While the wider Universal synodal process also continues, our local journey is woven into it and through it. We are, after all, sharing in the same Spirit-led momentum.
A key focus emerging for the Irish Synodal Pathway is the call from local level to rediscover our baptismal identity as the foundation for all participation, co-responsibility, and missionary discipleship. This will shape the Pre-Synodal Assembly taking place in Kilkenny on 18 October 2025.
Let us keep praying, stay engaged, and continue to walk the synodal path in our own local communities — remembering that one Baptism and many voices is at the heart of renewal!
The post Pathways Document for Universal Synod Now Live! appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
The new document to help with the implementation phase of the universal synod can be found here.
This document has been created as a tool to accompany the final phase of the universal synodal process. The text serves as a means of fostering dialogue between local Churches and the General Secretariat of the Synod and promoting the exchange of experiences among the Churches. The text is structured around four chapters, and aims to provide an interpretive key for understanding the implementation phase of the synodal process: “the synodal form of the Church is at the service of its mission.” It then focuses on the intended recipients of the guidelines: primarily the diocesan bishop and the synodal teams. The third chapter offers a set of fundamental criteria to help ensure that local implementation remains in harmony with that of the universal Church and the final chapter addresses the question of methodology and tools.
The point of reference for this phase is the Final Document of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, the result of listening and discernment carried out since the beginning of the synodal process. According to the Secretariat of the Synod, this phase belongs above all to the local Churches, which are the true protagonists. They are called to “implement, in their different contexts, the authoritative proposals contained in the Document through the processes of discernment and decision-making provided for by law and by the Document itself” (cf. Accompanying Note by the Holy Father Francis).
The Synod Office also highlights that in order to safeguard the underlying ecclesiological vision and foundational criteria of the Final Document, the Pathways document is to be understood as a set of guidelines developed in response to questions received in recent months by the General Secretariat of the Synod. These Pathways reflect the principle of circular dialogue between local Churches and the General Secretariat of the Synod, a hallmark of the synodal journey since its beginning.
A useful infographic on the implementation phase of the Universal Synod is available below.
The Ten Study Groups
The ten study groups were due to make their reports to the Holy Father in June. However, due to the death of Pope Francis, RIP, and the election of Pope Leo XIV, those groups are now reporting in full by 31 December. Their initial and/or interim reports, along with short video content, can all be found on the synod website at synod.va
The Irish Synodal Pathway Continues...
As the Irish Synodal Pathway continues, the National Synodal Team has been prayerfully discerning the voice of the Spirit across Ireland. While the wider Universal synodal process also continues, our local journey is woven into it and through it. We are, after all, sharing in the same Spirit-led momentum.
A key focus emerging for the Irish Synodal Pathway is the call from local level to rediscover our baptismal identity as the foundation for all participation, co-responsibility, and missionary discipleship. This will shape the Pre-Synodal Assembly taking place in Kilkenny on 18 October 2025.
Let us keep praying, stay engaged, and continue to walk the synodal path in our own local communities — remembering that one Baptism and many voices is at the heart of renewal!
The post Pathways Document for Universal Synod Now Live! appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
Pilgrims of Hope: Walking the Synodal Pathway
Our General Secretary, Julieann Moran, writes about synodality being a reason for great hope in The Irish Catholic Newspaper:
In this Jubilee Year, we are invited to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, purposeful travellers on a path guided by the Holy Spirit. That path, for the Church today, is called ‘synodality’. But what is Synodality? Synodality is the way the Church listens, discerns, and walks together. For me, synodality is not simply a Church initiative or a new trend introduced by Pope Francis, may he rest in peace, but a deep rediscovery of what it means to be the People of God journeying together. It is the way God is calling us to be Church today or as Pope Leo XIV said recently, “it is a word that aptly expresses how the Spirit shapes the Church.” And this is a cause for profound hope.
To be a pilgrim is to walk with purpose. And our purpose is rooted in Christian hope: the conviction that Christ is risen, that love triumphs over death, and that God is leading us even when the road ahead seems uncertain. As Easter people, we proclaim with our lives that “Alleluia is our song!” Hope is not a vague optimism, but a virtue anchored in the promises of God. In these times of global uncertainty, ecclesial change, and spiritual hunger, we need this kind of hope more than ever; hope that walks, listens, and acts.
You can read the full article online at this link here.
The post Pilgrims of Hope: Walking the Synodal Pathway appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
In this Jubilee Year, we are invited to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, purposeful travellers on a path guided by the Holy Spirit. That path, for the Church today, is called ‘synodality’. But what is Synodality? Synodality is the way the Church listens, discerns, and walks together. For me, synodality is not simply a Church initiative or a new trend introduced by Pope Francis, may he rest in peace, but a deep rediscovery of what it means to be the People of God journeying together. It is the way God is calling us to be Church today or as Pope Leo XIV said recently, “it is a word that aptly expresses how the Spirit shapes the Church.” And this is a cause for profound hope.
To be a pilgrim is to walk with purpose. And our purpose is rooted in Christian hope: the conviction that Christ is risen, that love triumphs over death, and that God is leading us even when the road ahead seems uncertain. As Easter people, we proclaim with our lives that “Alleluia is our song!” Hope is not a vague optimism, but a virtue anchored in the promises of God. In these times of global uncertainty, ecclesial change, and spiritual hunger, we need this kind of hope more than ever; hope that walks, listens, and acts.
You can read the full article online at this link here.
The post Pilgrims of Hope: Walking the Synodal Pathway appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
A New Chapter, Same Journey
🌍 A New Pope Committed to Synodality
On 8 May, the Church welcomed Pope Leo XIV, whose Urbi et Orbi message from the balcony of St Peter’s made an immediate and moving call to journey forward together. In his very first public words as pontiff, he declared:
“We want to be a synodal Church, a Church that moves forward, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close above all to those who are suffering.”
It was a clear commitment to lead the Church in the spirit of communion, participation, and mission — the very pillars of a synodal Church.
Just two days later, in his address to the College of Cardinals on 10 May, Pope Leo reaffirmed this vision by calling the Church to a renewed dedication to the journey already begun:
“I would like us to renew together today our complete commitment to the path that the universal Church has now followed for decades in the wake of the Second Vatican Council… Pope Francis masterfully and concretely set it forth in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, from which I would like to highlight several fundamental points [including]… growth in collegiality and synodality…”
These words offer a strong and clear signal that the synodal journey is not a temporary phase, but the enduring way the Church is called to be in the modern world — listening, discerning, and walking forward as the one people of God.
Pope Leo’s emphasis on a synodal Church that moves forward provides great encouragement for the Irish Synodal Pathway as we continue this journey with fresh hope and deep communion with the universal Church.
Note: Image of Pope Leo XIV is courtesy of Vatican Media
🕊️ National Team's Discernment at Dalgan Park
On 15 and 16 May, the National Synodal Team gathered for a two-day discernment retreat at Dalgan Park. With prayerful reflection and deep conversation, the team reviewed extensive feedback from the spring gatherings held by dioceses, groups, religious congregations, and movements across the country. You may recognise our former chairperson, Dr Nicola Brady, in the picture. Nicola graciously came and assisted the team in its discernment, which was facilitated by Jim Deeds.
This critical stage of distillation and discernment is preparing the way for the Pre-Synodal Assembly on 18 October at the Kilkenny Convention Centre – a key step as we continue to shape the Church of the third millennium, together.
More news will follow in the coming weeks. In the meantime, let us remain attentive to the Spirit and supportive of one another on this journey.
📍 Synodality Workshop in Kildare: June 28–29
We’re excited to support the upcoming Workshop on Synodality at Curryhills House, Prosperous, Co. Kildare, hosted by the Evangelii Gaudium Center of Sophia University Institute and in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Synod.
This is open to clergy, religious, and laypeople seeking to learn more.
🟡 Download the flyer for full details by clicking on the image!
🗓️ Dates: June 28–29, 2025📌 Location: Curryhills House, Prosperous, Co. Kildare🔗 Register by 15 June 2025
Come and deepen your understanding of the theological foundations of synodality and learn practical methods of listening, discerning, and cultivating participation in your local church.
The post A New Chapter, Same Journey appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
On 8 May, the Church welcomed Pope Leo XIV, whose Urbi et Orbi message from the balcony of St Peter’s made an immediate and moving call to journey forward together. In his very first public words as pontiff, he declared:
“We want to be a synodal Church, a Church that moves forward, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close above all to those who are suffering.”
It was a clear commitment to lead the Church in the spirit of communion, participation, and mission — the very pillars of a synodal Church.
Just two days later, in his address to the College of Cardinals on 10 May, Pope Leo reaffirmed this vision by calling the Church to a renewed dedication to the journey already begun:
“I would like us to renew together today our complete commitment to the path that the universal Church has now followed for decades in the wake of the Second Vatican Council… Pope Francis masterfully and concretely set it forth in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, from which I would like to highlight several fundamental points [including]… growth in collegiality and synodality…”
These words offer a strong and clear signal that the synodal journey is not a temporary phase, but the enduring way the Church is called to be in the modern world — listening, discerning, and walking forward as the one people of God.
Pope Leo’s emphasis on a synodal Church that moves forward provides great encouragement for the Irish Synodal Pathway as we continue this journey with fresh hope and deep communion with the universal Church.
Note: Image of Pope Leo XIV is courtesy of Vatican Media
🕊️ National Team's Discernment at Dalgan Park
On 15 and 16 May, the National Synodal Team gathered for a two-day discernment retreat at Dalgan Park. With prayerful reflection and deep conversation, the team reviewed extensive feedback from the spring gatherings held by dioceses, groups, religious congregations, and movements across the country. You may recognise our former chairperson, Dr Nicola Brady, in the picture. Nicola graciously came and assisted the team in its discernment, which was facilitated by Jim Deeds.
This critical stage of distillation and discernment is preparing the way for the Pre-Synodal Assembly on 18 October at the Kilkenny Convention Centre – a key step as we continue to shape the Church of the third millennium, together.
More news will follow in the coming weeks. In the meantime, let us remain attentive to the Spirit and supportive of one another on this journey.
📍 Synodality Workshop in Kildare: June 28–29
We’re excited to support the upcoming Workshop on Synodality at Curryhills House, Prosperous, Co. Kildare, hosted by the Evangelii Gaudium Center of Sophia University Institute and in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Synod.
This is open to clergy, religious, and laypeople seeking to learn more.
🟡 Download the flyer for full details by clicking on the image!
🗓️ Dates: June 28–29, 2025📌 Location: Curryhills House, Prosperous, Co. Kildare🔗 Register by 15 June 2025
Come and deepen your understanding of the theological foundations of synodality and learn practical methods of listening, discerning, and cultivating participation in your local church.
The post A New Chapter, Same Journey appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.