Launching the Far East’s new series on Synodality, Fr Tom O’Reilly explains how walking and discerning together and listening attentively to each other are at the heart of the synodal process. We are familiar with adversarial debate in our parliamentary systems. The...

Back in October 2021, Pope Francis opened preparations for the 2023 Synod of Bishop’s Gathering in Rome which will focus on the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission”. In simple terms, this Synod focuses on how we are operating and...

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 was...

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 now...

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 way...

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, in...