Parish Synodal Gathering
“In virtue of their baptism, all the members of the People of God have become missionary disciples. All the baptized, whatever their position in the Church or their level of instruction in the faith, are agents of evangelization, and it would be insufficient to envisage a plan of evangelization to be carried out by professionals while the rest of the faithful would simply be passive recipients.” (Pope Francis, The Joy of the Gospel, 2013)
Parish gatherings are taking place throughout our diocese, our country and throughout the world at this particular time. Our parish gathering om Monday March 24th will be an opportunity for deep discernment, using the Conversation in the Spirit method, as we revisit the themes that emerged from the earlier stages of the Universal Synod in Ireland. These spring gatherings will lead to a national pre-assembly on 18 October 2025, where representatives will reflect on the year’s insights and set future priorities for the Catholic Church in Ireland.
This gathering is not just another consultation asking for opinions or repeating the same questions, rather it marks a decisive moment in shaping how the Church in Ireland – locally and nationally – responds to the call of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is calling us to walk together in new ways, and now is the time to respond with faith and courage.
“But if we allow doubts and fears to dampen our courage, instead of being creative we will remain comfortable and make no progress whatsoever. In this case we will not take an active part in historical processes but become mere onlookers as the Church gradually stagnates.” (Pope Francis, The Joy of the Gospel, 2013)
