When consultations are launched there is inevitably some cynicism in the ether.  “The outcomes have already been pre-determined”, “Same old, same old”, “We’ve been here before”, “Nothing but a talking shop”.  And so it is with this Synod on Synodality.  No sooner...

The Irish Church’s new synodal pathway offers opportunity for transformation and renewal.  The initial phase of the synodal pathway for the Catholic Church in Ireland, announced by the Bishops’ Conference during its Spring General Meeting in March of this year, is...

Pope Francis speaks a lot about discernment, and it is clear that he regards it as a key feature of synodality. It is what distinguishes the way of proceeding of the Church from that of a parliament or even a citizens’ assembly- it is like these (Francis called the...

There is much talk in the Church about being on a synodal pathway but what does that mean? A synod is a gathering, and a pathway implies a journey. This means that we are going to be journeying together for a significant length of time, in fact it means that this...

I am delighted at this opportunity to share my experience of being part of the Church in Ireland and my hopes for this journey titled: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.  The Preparatory Document for the Synod states that a Synodal Church,...