We’ve reached another important moment on the Irish Synodal Pathway.

Following on from our original question “What does God want from the Church in Ireland at this time?” seven priority areas were discerned by the People of God across Ireland. These point to where we are being called to focus:

• Belonging
• Co-responsibility and lay ministry
• Faith formation and catechesis
• Family
• Healing
• Women
• Young people

Working Groups Established

Seven working groups, one for each priority, are now in place. Each group brings together women and men from across Ireland who have been part of the synodal journey over the past five years. Members were nominated by dioceses, organisations, movements, and others who have been engaged in the process.

To support shared leadership and strong connection across the Church, each group includes:

• a member of the National Synodal Team
• a bishop
• a person with responsibility at national level in the relevant area
• and several other people bringing lived experience, along with pastoral and theological knowledge, and expertise from across the life of the Church in Ireland

Work Now Underway

The groups have already begun their work. They are meeting, praying, listening, and engaging with those who also bring lived experience and particular expertise.

Over the coming weeks, they will continue this process of discernment to develop practical and actionable proposals for the Church in Ireland. These proposals are grounded in what has been heard through the synodal process and shaped by careful reflection on what is possible at parish, diocesan, and national level.

It is hoped that all submissions from the Working Groups will be completed by 31st May 2026.

An Invitation

This is a significant stage in the journey where we have moved from listening to shaping concrete steps for the future. We invite you to please keep the members of these working groups in your prayers as they carry this responsibility on behalf of us all.

Members of the working groups are listed below (alphabetically).

Enquiries

To give members the space to focus on their work, we kindly ask that they are not contacted directly. All media enquiries should be directed to the Catholic Communications Office of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

BELONGING

Dr Gary Carville
Mr Joe Conroy
Bishop Paul Dempsey
Dr Kevin Hargaden
Sr Anne Harte Barry
Sr Angele Nkamsi
Fr Tony O’Riordan

CO-RESPONSIBILITY & LAY MINISTRY

Fr Éamonn Fitzgibbon
Mr Gerard Gallagher
Ms Martina Gilmartin
Mr Shane Halpin
Ms Julie Kavanagh
Ms Julieann Moran
Bishop Ger Nash
Dr Oonagh O’Brien
Dr Sean O’Leary
Mr Peter Siney

FAITH FORMATION & CATECHESIS

Ms Hilda Campbell
Ms Patricia Carroll
Bishop Michael Duignan
Ms Hannah Evans
Ms Maureen Kelly
Fr Michael Long
Ms Jane Mellett
Dr Jessie Rogers
Rev Dr Dermot Ryan

FAMILY

Mr Stephen Cummins
Bishop Martin Hayes
Mr Paul Keogh
Ms Muirne Lawlor
Mrs Maura Murphy
Dr Cora O’Farrell
Mr & Mrs Mark and Anne O’Leary
Mrs Deirdre O’Rawe

HEALING

Mrs Una Allen
Mr Ronan Barry
Sr Denise Boyle
Dr Nicola Brady
Sr Cáit O’Dwyer
Mr Andrew Fagan
Mr Aidan Gordon
Fr John Kelly
Fr Hugh Lagan
Bishop Michael Router

WOMEN

Ms Róisín Alexander-Pye
Msgr Liam Bergin
Dr Amanda Dillon
Dr Gráinne Doherty
Bishop Kevin Doran
Ms Noelle Fitzpatrick
Mrs Janet Forbes
Ms Noirín Lynch
Mr Joseph McGowan
Mrs Sinead Strong

YOUTH

Mr Luke Casserly
Ms Deirbhile Craven
Ms Natalie Doherty
Bishop Brendan Leahy
Mr Jake Magill
Mr James McLoughlin
Ms Hannah Montgomery
Fr Cyril Odia
Ms Helena O’Shea
Ms Michelle Ward