The Irish Synodal Pathway Advances Toward 2025 Assembly

Julieann Moran outlines the next steps for the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland with local conversations in the Spring leading to a pre-synodal assembly in October 2025.

This year has been a momentous one for both the Universal Synod and the Irish Synodal Pathway. 

At the end of October, the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops concluded in Rome. This three year journey centred on the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission” has been a profound process of prayer, consultation, discernment, and collaboration, involving lay men and women, clergy, and religious. 
 
As we enter the implementation phase from the Universal Synod, the Final Document sets out a roadmap for renewal, for a vision of a synodal Church that listens, learns, and acts in communion. It focuses on five key areas of conversion: spiritual, relational, procedural, institutional, and missionary. It mandates effective participatory bodies such as parish and diocesan pastoral councils, and calls for expanded leadership roles for women, increased lay involvement, and a commitment to transparency and accountability.
 
Above all, it highlights synodality as foundational, not optional, to the future of the Church, embracing dialogue, inclusivity, and mission. 
 
Meanwhile, here at home, we continue on the Irish Synodal Pathway. Earlier this year, a new National Synodal Team was formed. This group of dedicated men and women (lay, religious and ordained) are preparing for the pre-synodal assembly scheduled for Saturday, 18 October 2025. Diocesan Synodal Teams are currently being prepared and supported to host and foster meaningful local conversations next spring. Participants in these spring gatherings will be invited to reflect on the original themes from the Irish National Synthesis, now informed by the final document of the Universal Synod. The purpose of these local gatherings is to identify key priorities from these themes, priorities that the Holy Spirit is prompting the Catholic Church in Ireland to bring to the pre-synodal assembly in October 2025.
 
From this assembly in 2025, we are committed to walking together as the Pobal Dé, the people of God, with some of these priorities towards the first national assembly for the Catholic Church in Ireland, scheduled for the following year in October 2026. These two assemblies will be key milestones in this ongoing process of renewal so I invite you to pray for this process; to pray that with faith, hope, and love we will continue to journey together towards a vibrant and inclusive future as the people of God, guided by the Holy Spirit.

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