Irish Synodal Pathway represented at global forum on Catholic Church renewal
| Irish Synodal Pathway represented at global forum on Catholic Church renewal |
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| Ms Julieann Moran, General Secretary of the Irish Synodal Pathway (Catholic Communications Office archive) |
| The General Secretary of the Irish Synodal Pathway, Ms Julieann Moran, will participate this weekend at the 104th German Katholikentag in Würzburg as a guest panellist as part of one of the gathering’s major discussions on synodality and Church renewal. Finishing on Sunday, Katholikentag is one of the largest gatherings of Catholics in Europe and has been a significant forum for dialogue, faith, social engagement and ecclesial renewal. Organised by the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), together with the host diocese, this year’s event brings together Church leaders, theologians, lay representatives, politicians and young people from across the world under the theme “Hab Mut, steh auf!” (“Take courage, stand up!”). Ms Moran will be part of a high-profile panel entitled ‘Synodality as a Structural Principle of the Church: Initiatives from Local Churches in Dialogue’, on tomorrow afternoon at the Congress Centrum in Würzburg. The discussion will explore how synodality is being implemented in different parts of the global Church and how local Churches are responding to Pope Francis’ call for deeper participation, communion and mission. The panel will feature an opening reflection from Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops in Rome. Alongside Julieann Moran on her the panel will be Cardinal László Német SVD, Archbishop of Belgrade, and Sister Professor Dr Birgit Weiler MMS, theologian and member of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon in Peru. This session will examine practical experiences of synodal structures, participation of lay people, and the ongoing challenge of embedding synodality into the everyday life and governance of the Church. Ms Moran said, “The particpation of the Irish Synodal Pathway at this global gathering reflects the growing international interest in our journey of renewal and the work currently underway in dioceses, parishes and Church organisations across the island of Ireland. The Irish process is now entering an important phase as working groups develop practical and actionable proposals around seven key priorities identified through nationwide listening and consultation: belonging, co-responsibility and lay ministry, faith formation, family, healing, women and young people.” Katholikentag has long served as an important meeting point for Catholics seeking to engage faith with contemporary social, cultural and ecclesial questions. This year’s programme includes discussions on democracy, peacebuilding, ecology, interreligious dialogue, the future of the Church and the implementation of synodality worldwide. |

