Please find below the latest news from the Synod 2021-2023
You can also visit synod.ie
Synod 2021-2023 Baptised and Sent Sets out Seven Priorities for Renewal Julieann Moran and Fr Declan Hurley offer their insights into the seven priorities for the Irish Synodal Pathway, as set out in Baptised and Sent. First published for the Synodal Pathway Assembly in October, Baptised and Sent is well worth Read More
Video Presentations From Kilkenny Now Available Below you’ll find a series of video presentations from our Pre-Synodal Assembly in Kilkenny which includes the opening address from Fr. Declan Hurley, Chairperson of the National Synodal Team, setting the tone for our shared journey. Julieann Moran, General Secretary Read More
Irish Synodal Pathway Launches New Logo The Story Behind Our New Logo
When the Irish Synodal Pathway embarked on the journey to renew its visual identity, the invitation to tender called for a logo that would be theologically rich, spiritually resonant, and distinctly Irish. The vision was Read More
When the Irish Synodal Pathway embarked on the journey to renew its visual identity, the invitation to tender called for a logo that would be theologically rich, spiritually resonant, and distinctly Irish. The vision was Read More
Baptised and Sent – Preparatory Document Available Now 
Baptised and Sent – Preparatory Document for the Pre-Synodal Assembly
In just a few weeks, delegates from across Ireland will gather in Kilkenny for the Pre-Synodal Assembly taking place on 18th October 2025. This is an important step on our Irish Read More
In just a few weeks, delegates from across Ireland will gather in Kilkenny for the Pre-Synodal Assembly taking place on 18th October 2025. This is an important step on our Irish 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 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
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
Baptised and Sent Sets out Seven Priorities for Renewal
Julieann Moran and Fr Declan Hurley offer their insights into the seven priorities for the Irish Synodal Pathway, as set out in Baptised and Sent. First published for the Synodal Pathway Assembly in October, Baptised and Sent is well worth reading in its own right, offering a clear and hopeful vision for the future of the Church by setting out seven key priorities rooted in our shared baptism. It draws together several years of listening, prayer, and discernment, and returns to the fundamental question first posed in 2021:
“What does God want from the Church in Ireland at this time?”
At the heart of Baptised and Sent is the conviction that baptism is the foundation of Christian dignity, unity, and mission. Through baptism, every person – lay and and ordained, young and old – is called to discipleship and to share responsibility for the life and mission of the Church. From this shared calling flow the seven priorities that emerged from voices across the country.
The Seven Priorities
1. BelongingThe first priority is fostering a Church of welcome, inclusion, and safety—where every person can find a home in community and in Christ, especially those who have felt excluded or marginalised.
2. Co-responsibility and Lay MinistryThis priority emphasises empowering all the baptised, women and men alike, to share responsibility for leadership and mission through new models of ministry and decision-making.
3. FamilyRecognising the family as the domestic Church, this priority focuses on supporting families as the primary place of faith transmission and strengthening their connection with parishes and schools.
4. Formation and CatechesisThere is a clear call for lifelong, Christ-centred formation that is experiential and equips people for discipleship in today’s world. This formation is rooted not only in learning, but also in liturgy and sacramental life, so that prayer and worship become living sources of faith, understanding, and mission.
5. HealingThe document acknowledges deep wounds within the Church, especially those caused by abuse. It commits to accountability, justice, reconciliation, and the creation of safe spaces for survivors and for all who carry pain.
6. WomenRecognising women’s gifts, leadership, and co-responsibility at every level of Church life is named as a matter of justice, credibility, and faithfulness to the Gospel.
7. YouthThe final priority focuses on engaging young people with authenticity—listening to their hopes and challenges, offering them meaningful roles in leadership and mission, and walking with them in faith.
Together, these seven priorities invite the Church in Ireland to continue its journey as a listening, participatory, and mission-centred community, grounded in baptism and open to the future the Holy Spirit is unfolding.
Watch the full interview with Wendy Grace from TheWay.ie below
The post Baptised and Sent Sets out Seven Priorities for Renewal appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
“What does God want from the Church in Ireland at this time?”
At the heart of Baptised and Sent is the conviction that baptism is the foundation of Christian dignity, unity, and mission. Through baptism, every person – lay and and ordained, young and old – is called to discipleship and to share responsibility for the life and mission of the Church. From this shared calling flow the seven priorities that emerged from voices across the country.
The Seven Priorities
1. BelongingThe first priority is fostering a Church of welcome, inclusion, and safety—where every person can find a home in community and in Christ, especially those who have felt excluded or marginalised.
2. Co-responsibility and Lay MinistryThis priority emphasises empowering all the baptised, women and men alike, to share responsibility for leadership and mission through new models of ministry and decision-making.
3. FamilyRecognising the family as the domestic Church, this priority focuses on supporting families as the primary place of faith transmission and strengthening their connection with parishes and schools.
4. Formation and CatechesisThere is a clear call for lifelong, Christ-centred formation that is experiential and equips people for discipleship in today’s world. This formation is rooted not only in learning, but also in liturgy and sacramental life, so that prayer and worship become living sources of faith, understanding, and mission.
5. HealingThe document acknowledges deep wounds within the Church, especially those caused by abuse. It commits to accountability, justice, reconciliation, and the creation of safe spaces for survivors and for all who carry pain.
6. WomenRecognising women’s gifts, leadership, and co-responsibility at every level of Church life is named as a matter of justice, credibility, and faithfulness to the Gospel.
7. YouthThe final priority focuses on engaging young people with authenticity—listening to their hopes and challenges, offering them meaningful roles in leadership and mission, and walking with them in faith.
Together, these seven priorities invite the Church in Ireland to continue its journey as a listening, participatory, and mission-centred community, grounded in baptism and open to the future the Holy Spirit is unfolding.
Watch the full interview with Wendy Grace from TheWay.ie below
The post Baptised and Sent Sets out Seven Priorities for Renewal appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
Video Presentations From Kilkenny Now Available
Below you’ll find a series of video presentations from our Pre-Synodal Assembly in Kilkenny which includes the opening address from Fr. Declan Hurley, Chairperson of the National Synodal Team, setting the tone for our shared journey. Julieann Moran, General Secretary for the Irish Synodal Pathway, presents the seven national priorities that emerged from the communal discernment of dioceses and groups in the spring of this year. We also share a synthesis of the baptism resource in Baptised and Sent, presented by Bishop Niall Coll, highlighting the central role of our baptismal calling. The final video is some closing words from Archbishop Eamon Martin, bringing together some of the insights, hopes, and challenges from our gathering.
Opening address by Fr Declan Hurley at the Pre-Synodal Assembly of the Irish Synodal Pathway that took place in Kilkenny on 18th Oct 2025. Download Baptised and Sent
Julieann Moran gives an overview of how the seven priorities proposed in Baptised and Sent emerged and how they are a gift from the Spirit for the Church in Ireland today. Download Baptised and Sent
Address by Bishop Niall Coll to the Pre-Synodal Assembly of the Irish Synodal Pathway that took place in Kilkenny on 18th Oct 2025. Download Baptised and Sent
Archbishop Eamon Martin speaking at the conclusion of the Pre-Synodal Assembly of the Irish Synodal Pathway that was held in Kilkenny on 18 Oct 2025.
The post Video Presentations From Kilkenny Now Available appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
Opening address by Fr Declan Hurley at the Pre-Synodal Assembly of the Irish Synodal Pathway that took place in Kilkenny on 18th Oct 2025. Download Baptised and Sent
Julieann Moran gives an overview of how the seven priorities proposed in Baptised and Sent emerged and how they are a gift from the Spirit for the Church in Ireland today. Download Baptised and Sent
Address by Bishop Niall Coll to the Pre-Synodal Assembly of the Irish Synodal Pathway that took place in Kilkenny on 18th Oct 2025. Download Baptised and Sent
Archbishop Eamon Martin speaking at the conclusion of the Pre-Synodal Assembly of the Irish Synodal Pathway that was held in Kilkenny on 18 Oct 2025.
The post Video Presentations From Kilkenny Now Available appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
Irish Synodal Pathway Launches New Logo
The Story Behind Our New Logo
When the Irish Synodal Pathway embarked on the journey to renew its visual identity, the invitation to tender called for a logo that would be theologically rich, spiritually resonant, and distinctly Irish. The vision was to create something timeless yet contemporary, a symbol that would express unity, participation, and mission while remaining open, inclusive, and grounded in the Christian and Celtic heritage of Ireland.
In the early stages of development, the design team explored many of the visual ideas proposed in the tender. However, as the process evolved, it became clear that including too many elements risked creating an illustration rather than a logo. At the heart of the final design lies Saint Brigid’s Cross, a symbol deeply woven into both Irish culture and Christian tradition. Within its familiar form, the designer traced a pathway, a visual metaphor for our shared synodal journey. The lines move in and out, suggesting openness, dialogue, and movement, a Church that listens, learns, and walks together. This sense of the pathway reflects the inclusive nature of synodality, a journey that welcomes all and remains open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The cross itself preserves the Christian foundation of the Synodal Pathway, while its geometric simplicity conveys modernity and adaptability. The use of two shades of green, in both the image and the wording, roots the design in the Irish landscape, with a gentle echo of life, renewal, and growth.
Importantly, we made a deliberate decision not to use human figures in the design. We recognised that any depiction of people, however well-intentioned, might risk excluding others. Instead, the cross and its flowing pathways invite everyone to see themselves within it.
In the end, the new logo embodies an Irish expression of the universal call to communion, participation, and mission. It is both rooted and forward looking, grounded in faith and alive with movement, holding tradition and transformation together in an unfolding journey.
The post Irish Synodal Pathway Launches New Logo appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
When the Irish Synodal Pathway embarked on the journey to renew its visual identity, the invitation to tender called for a logo that would be theologically rich, spiritually resonant, and distinctly Irish. The vision was to create something timeless yet contemporary, a symbol that would express unity, participation, and mission while remaining open, inclusive, and grounded in the Christian and Celtic heritage of Ireland.
In the early stages of development, the design team explored many of the visual ideas proposed in the tender. However, as the process evolved, it became clear that including too many elements risked creating an illustration rather than a logo. At the heart of the final design lies Saint Brigid’s Cross, a symbol deeply woven into both Irish culture and Christian tradition. Within its familiar form, the designer traced a pathway, a visual metaphor for our shared synodal journey. The lines move in and out, suggesting openness, dialogue, and movement, a Church that listens, learns, and walks together. This sense of the pathway reflects the inclusive nature of synodality, a journey that welcomes all and remains open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The cross itself preserves the Christian foundation of the Synodal Pathway, while its geometric simplicity conveys modernity and adaptability. The use of two shades of green, in both the image and the wording, roots the design in the Irish landscape, with a gentle echo of life, renewal, and growth.
Importantly, we made a deliberate decision not to use human figures in the design. We recognised that any depiction of people, however well-intentioned, might risk excluding others. Instead, the cross and its flowing pathways invite everyone to see themselves within it.
In the end, the new logo embodies an Irish expression of the universal call to communion, participation, and mission. It is both rooted and forward looking, grounded in faith and alive with movement, holding tradition and transformation together in an unfolding journey.
The post Irish Synodal Pathway Launches New Logo appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
Baptised and Sent – Preparatory Document Available Now
Baptised and Sent – Preparatory Document for the Pre-Synodal Assembly
In just a few weeks, delegates from across Ireland will gather in Kilkenny for the Pre-Synodal Assembly taking place on 18th October 2025. This is an important step on our Irish Synodal Pathway, the journey of listening, prayer, and discernment that we are walking together as the People of God.
To help prepare for this Assembly, Baptised and Sent, the Preparatory Document has now been published. This text is the fruit of prayer, reflection, and communal discernment drawing on the contributions from the Spring Gatherings held across the country (February – May 20025), as well as the ongoing work of the National Synodal Team. It highlights the emerging priorities which the Spirit is calling the Church in Ireland to attend to in this time.
Although not everyone will be in Kilkenny, the Synodal Pathway belongs to all of us. We warmly invite you to:
Read the document and reflect on the emerging priorities.
Share your reflections at home, in your parish, in your school, or wherever two or three gather in His name.
Pray for the delegates who will gather in Kilkenny, that the Holy Spirit will guide their listening and discernment.
The Synodal Pathway is not about a single event, but about building a culture of listening and walking together as Christ’s people. Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we are the Church in Ireland, listening for what the Spirit is saying today.
You can download the Preparatory Document here or by clicking on the image below.
The post Baptised and Sent – Preparatory Document Available Now appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
In just a few weeks, delegates from across Ireland will gather in Kilkenny for the Pre-Synodal Assembly taking place on 18th October 2025. This is an important step on our Irish Synodal Pathway, the journey of listening, prayer, and discernment that we are walking together as the People of God.
To help prepare for this Assembly, Baptised and Sent, the Preparatory Document has now been published. This text is the fruit of prayer, reflection, and communal discernment drawing on the contributions from the Spring Gatherings held across the country (February – May 20025), as well as the ongoing work of the National Synodal Team. It highlights the emerging priorities which the Spirit is calling the Church in Ireland to attend to in this time.
Although not everyone will be in Kilkenny, the Synodal Pathway belongs to all of us. We warmly invite you to:
Read the document and reflect on the emerging priorities.
Share your reflections at home, in your parish, in your school, or wherever two or three gather in His name.
Pray for the delegates who will gather in Kilkenny, that the Holy Spirit will guide their listening and discernment.
The Synodal Pathway is not about a single event, but about building a culture of listening and walking together as Christ’s people. Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we are the Church in Ireland, listening for what the Spirit is saying today.
You can download the Preparatory Document here or by clicking on the image below.
The post Baptised and Sent – Preparatory Document Available Now appeared first on Irish Synodal Pathway.
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.
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.