Colm Holmes from We Are Church writes:

The “MESSENGER” dates from 1888. Donal Neary SJ has been the editor for more than 10 years. I was delighted to read in the March 2026 edition that the MESSENGER supports the various ways in which the role of women in the Irish Church may be enhanced, including serving as deacons, and later we hope as priests. 
I look forward to the 7 Study Groups for the Irish Synodal Pathway being announced very soon.
And I look forward to the Kilkenny National Assembly of the Catholic Church in Ireland in October 2026 approving a resolution requesting the Pope to approve the appointment of women deacons in Ireland.

Similar Posts

2 Comments

  1. Roy Donovan PP, Caherconlish says:

    Thanks Colm for highlighting Donal Neary SJ’s editorial. I think it is a very important Editorial and might give us all an extra step to implementing what the people of Ireland are saying – we want women as deacons and priests. This voice of the Irish people in the Irish Synod is presently being sabotaged by the Irish Bishops. Well done to Donal – he has always been an inspirational figure. Back in the 1970s, Donal was part the Jesuit team/ maybe the Leader that offered those enlightened Tabor House programmes in Miltown. Great memories.

    Reply

  2. In my view these women were of “huge influence” because they were free from the constraints of “the collar.” Free from the canonical obligations and restrictions of the ordained Priesthood.

    Reply

Join the Discussion

Keep the following in mind when writing a comment

  • Your comment must include your full name, and email. (email will not be published). You may be contacted by email, and it is possible you might be requested to supply your postal address to verify your identity.
  • Be respectful. Do not attack the writer. Take on the idea, not the messenger. Comments containing vulgarities, personalised insults, slanders or accusations shall be deleted.
  • Keep to the point. Deliberate digressions don't aid the discussion.
  • Including multiple links or coding in your comment will increase the chances of it being automati cally marked as spam.
  • Posts that are merely links to other sites or lengthy quotes may not be published.
  • Brevity. Like homilies keep you comments as short as possible; continued repetitions of a point over various threads will not be published.
  • The decision to publish or not publish a comment is made by the site editor. It will not be possible to reply individually to those whose comments are not published.