A Hopeful New Chapter for the Church in Ireland

The Irish National Synodal Assembly took place on Saturday, 17 October in Gormanston, Co Meath, bringing together nominated lay, clerical and religious delegates from dioceses, parishes, religious congregations, ecclesial movements and other communities from across the Church in Ireland for a day of prayer, listening, conversation and discernment to reflect together on the question that has guided the Irish Synodal Pathway since its beginning in 2021: “What does God want from the Church in Ireland at this time?”

The Irish Synodal Pathway began in 2021 when the Bishops of Ireland invited the Church to embark on a process of renewal inviting people throughout the Church to engage in prayer, listening and reflection, and to reflect on important questions about the identity and mission of the Church in Ireland, including its pastoral life, structures, relationships, ministry and place in society.  Through this process, Baptism emerged as a foundational lens for understanding the identity and mission of the Church, leading to seven priorities: belonging; co-responsibility and lay ministry; family; formation and catechesis; healing; women; and youth. 

Following the Pre-Synodal Assembly in Kilkenny in October 2025, working groups were established to deepen this discernment and develop practical proposals.  These 35 proposals were subsequently grouped under five pathways and presented in the Working Document – Is not this what God asks of you? :

• The Church that Proclaims the Gospel
• The Church as a Community of Belonging
• The Church as a Place of Healing
• The Church that Accompanies, and,
• The Church that Empowers for Ministry and Co-responsibility.

The recommendations made by the Assembly delegates (and shared below) will be presented to the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference for its consideration.

Speaking on Saturday evening, Julieann Moran, General Secretary of the Irish Synodal Pathway, said,  “Today was an extraordinary moment for the Church in Ireland, and our task now is to make what happened here at the National Synodal Assembly an ordinary everyday way of being Church at parish level.  We came together as the People of God with diverse experiences, and we listened to the Holy Spirit.  The path so far has proven that we can do this and can continue to become a Synodal Church – the Church that God calls us to be.”

Father Declan Hurley, Chairperson of the Irish Synodal Pathway said, “Actions can too easily be put in a corner and be seen as the responsibility of someone else, ‘It’s their job to do what we recommended.’  But becoming is something that belongs to us all.  It is about our shared identity – not just about what we do, but who we are.  It’s about growth.  It’s about conversion.  It’s about becoming what the People that God want us to be … Actions can be decided, implemented, and completed.  But growth, change, conversion, becoming – are a journey over time.”

Father Hurley continued, “The Synodal Pathways offer a real alternative to the polarised and polarising discourse that characterises so much of the life of our Church and our world.  They offer us a way of being together.  And long after recommendations from today have been decided, implemented, evaluated, the pathways will continue to offer us ways of becoming, ways of finding our identity, and ways of walking the path together.”

As the gathering of the National Synodal Assembly drew to a close, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and President of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, addressed the delegates, saying, “The Bishops’ Conference will be meeting next week, and we look forward to reflecting together on today’s Assembly and all that has led to it.  We initiated this process.  We have been walking this Synodal path with you: our people, religious, clergy, and also with each other as Bishops who are called to be Shepherds of the flock of Christ in Ireland at this time.”

Archbishop Martin continued, “With regard to the particular recommendations made today, it may be that some can be activated easily and quickly.  Others will require greater planning, deployment of resources and personnel.  I also hope that initiatives which are already happening around the country can be shared with greater clarity in the light of the momentum coming from today’s Assembly.”

Cardinal Mario Grech Greeted Delegates by Video Message

Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Mario Grech, was due to attend the Assembly on Saturday, but due to unforeseen circumstances was unable to do so.

In a warmly encouraging and supportive video message, Cardinal Grech praised the significant progress made along the Irish Synodal Pathway and affirmed the Church in Ireland’s efforts to embrace renewal, shared responsibility and mission. He urged delegates to move forward with courage and confidence, turning years of listening and discernment into meaningful action, while reminding them to trust in the Holy Spirit and Ireland’s rich missionary heritage as they shape the future of the Church.

Some Comments from Delegates on the Day

According to Una Allen from the Archdiocese of Tuam and Convenor of the Working Group on Healing of the Irish Synodal Pathway, “Healing needs to be front and centre on our ongoing Synodal Journey.  Listening to each other’s concerns may be all very well and good, but now the Church needs to act to benefit all those who have been excluded, abused, wounded and hurt.”

Ms Natalie Doherty, from the Archdiocese of Dublin and a member of the Pathway's Working Group on Youth, said, “In my experience, the message to accompany young people has come strongly from young people themselves.  This way forward for young people in the Church has been affirmed today.  We are now all called to action on this.”

Father James Moore of the Diocese of Cloyne said, “Today has been a very significant day in terms of renewal in the Catholic Church in Ireland.  I welcome this.  However, today’s reflections must translate into action at diocesan and parish level.  I believe that there is a hunger for change in parishes, and this is based on my experience of having attended many meetings at deanery and parish level, and engaging with the faithful over the last five years since the start of this process.  This hunger is oftentimes a simple need to reconnect with the truth which sets us free.”

From the Archdiocese of Armagh, Jake MaGill, a lecturer in Religious Studies and Religious Education, and a member of the Synod’s Working Group on Youth, said, “Today’s Assembly has been a reminder that Christ is alive, and the Church is alive, throughout Ireland.  Now the task for parents, teachers and pastors is to accompany young people so that they recognise both the presence of Christ in their lives, and are encouraged to encounter Him.  This encounter is fundamental to all other pastoral programmes and initiatives.”

The National Synodal Assembly forms an important moment in the continuing journey of the Church in Ireland towards becoming a more synodal and missionary Church.  The discernment undertaken at the Assembly will contribute to the next stage of that journey, which continues to involve the whole People of God.

• To read Bishop Tom Deenihan’s welcome address, please click HERE. 
• To read Archbishop Eamon Martin’s opening address, please click HERE.
• To read Cardinal Mario Grech’s address, please click HERE. 
• To read Archbishop Martin’s closing address, please click HERE

This update was adapted from the press release from the Catholic Communications Office of the Bishops' Conference on Saturday, 17 October 2026, which can be found here.