When we began this synodal journey in 2021, we set ourselves a simple yet profound question: What does God want from the Church in Ireland at this time? Through prayer, listening, and conversation in the Spirit, a picture has been emerging.
At the heart of what we are discerning is the rediscovery of our baptismal calling. Baptism is the foundation of our dignity, the source of our unity, and the wellspring of our mission. It is through baptism that women and men, young and old, lay and ordained, are called to discipleship, which includes sharing responsibility for the life and witness of the Church.
Seen through this lens, all that we have heard finds its coherence – the longing for welcome, the hunger for formation, the call to healing, the urgency of inclusion. The voices we have listened to speak with both honesty and hope”. (Julieann Moran (General Secretary of the Irish Synodal Pathway): from Page 1 – Message of Welcome: Baptised and Sent – Preparatory Document for the Pre-Synodal Assembly of the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Oct. 2025).
The Pre-Synodal Assembly
The Pre-Synodal Assembly takes place in the Kilkenny Convention Centre on Saturday, 18th October. This gathering builds on the Spring Gatherings (February-May 2025), when communities across Ireland came together to consider how the Holy Spirit is speaking through the emerging proposals and themes and identify priorities for action. The reflections and priorities gathered were prayerfully considered by the National Synodal Team, listening for the Spirit’s guidance. From that discernment, a picture has emerged of both the hopes and tensions shaping our life as Church, and the directions where the Spirit is calling us.
… in Kilkenny, we take the next step by coming together nationally to deepen that listening and begin shaping concrete pathways for renewal. This is a moment to move from shared reflection to decisions for action and mission, rooted in our baptismal calling and guided by the Spirit”.
“ … It is also a space to name differences honestly and hold them in faith, trusting that harmony can emerge amidst diversity. In this way, the assembly will help shape the agenda and direction of the National Synodal Assembly [2026], ensuring it is firmly rooted in the lived faith and experience of the People of God”. ~Juliann Moran
You are invited to read and reflect on this document: Baptised and Sent – Preparatory Document for the Pre-Synodal Assembly of the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Oct. 2025 HERE
Also see YouTube Video with Juliann Moran introducing the ‘Baptised & Sent’ Preparatory Document: HERE
Proposal from the National Synodal Team
As they gathered for their own discernment, the Team were mindful of some particular messages contained in the submissions they had received ( date? )
Baptism had indeed been highlighted in the responses from most dioceses and groups as an important theme; it headed the list of themes enumerated in the Final Document of the Universal Synod Assembly.
See Image (left) of Current Timeline of the Synodal Pathway in Ireland – courtesy of page 30 of the Preparatory Document referred to above.
However, it was not baptism as a specific theme which was discerned by the Team. Rather the Team discerned baptism as the root and unifying principle which
- gives coherence to all of the priorities identified in the submissions,
- gives rise to fruitful and complementary charisms and ministries in the Church;
- provides the entry point and a fruitful focus for catechesis and faith formation;
- provides an unshakable foundation for inclusion and welcome.
It was in their prayerful silence that the conviction also grew that healing, with its demands of justice, accountability, and reconciliation, must be named explicitly as an essential priority for the next phase of the Irish Synodal Pathway.
The Seven Priorities Proposed
The Team proposed the following priorities for reflection in the next steps of the Irish Synodal Pathway:
- Belonging: fostering a Church of welcome, inclusion, and safety where each person finds a home in community and in Christ.
- Co-responsibility and Lay Ministry: empowering all the baptised, women and men, to share responsibility for leadership and mission through new models of ministry and decision-making.
- Family: supporting the domestic Church as the primary place of faith transmission and belonging, and strengthening its connection with parishes and schools.
- Formation and Catechesis: deepening faith through lifelong formation that is Christ-centred, experiential, and equips the baptised for discipleship in today’s world. Rooted not only in learning but also in liturgy and sacramental life, so that prayer and worship become living sources of faith, understanding, and mission.
- Healing: acknowledging wounds, especially those caused by abuse; committing to accountability, justice, and reconciliation; and ensuring safe spaces for survivors and all who carry pain.
- Women: recognising and including women’s gifts, leadership, and co-responsibility at every level of Church life, as a matter of justice and credibility.
- Youth: engaging young people with authenticity, offering them meaningful roles in leadership and mission, and listening to their hopes and challenges.
At the conclusion of its gathering in Dalgan Park, the National Synodal Team could echo the experience of the participants in the Universal Synodal Assembly:
“ … we felt His presence in our midst as we lived conversation in the Spirit and listened to one another: the presence of He, who, in bestowing the Holy Spirit, continues to build among His people a unity that establishes harmony amidst differences (Final Document).”
“These priorities, rooted in baptismal dignity and mission, are not an end but a beginning. They point towards a renewed Church in Ireland; one that is healing and welcoming, participatory and missionary, faithful to Jesus Christ and open to the Spirit’s leading”. (Page 18 – Baptised and Sent – Preparatory Document for the Pre-Synodal Assembly of the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Oct. 2025).
See link to history of publications relating to the Catholic Church in Ireland and it’s journey along the Synodal pathway to date HERE
For suggestions for further reading see also page 35 of the ‘Baptised & Sent’ document.
Website link to the Irish Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland – https://synod.ie/
