A core team was formed to connect with, and listen to, some of those at the margins of our Church in the Diocese of Down and Connor. The participants who shared their insights valued the opportunity, albeit that this was tempered by an uncertainty as to whether the Church would respond and effect the changes…
The Diocese of Elphin did a synthesis of the comments made by approximately 1,000 people throughout the Diocese. Emphasis was placed on comments which form a thread running through the responses, but without losing sight of comments which reflect a minority view. This is an edited for space version of the original synthesis staying as…
The Diocese of Waterford and Lismore comprises 144,027 Catholics and encompasses Waterford city and County Waterford along with parts of counties Tipperary and Cork. The incumbent bishop is The Most Reverend Alphonsus Cullinan, who has overseen since 2015. Bishop Cullinan engaged with and received contributions from four diverse cultural communities within the diocese. The recurring…
Dromore Diocese has had no bishop since 2018. Archbishop Eamon Martin has been acting as Apostolic Administrator throughout the synodal process to date. Over 700 completed questionnaires were received and a meeting with clergy and about 45 parish representatives took place on 18 May 2022. Archbishop Martin and the Papal Nuncio were also present. COMPANIONS…
The World of Books Rathcormick: A Childhood Recalled, by Homan Potterton, with an Introduction by William Trevor (Merrion Press, €12.95/£12.99) This is a very welcome republication of a book first issued over two decades ago by another publisher. It was then hailed by William Trevor as “a wholly delightful memoir of lace-curtain Protestants in 1950s rural…
The Diocese of Raphoe covers most of Donegal and is home to 82,600 Catholics. The incumbent bishop since 2017 is the Most Reverend Alan McGuickan. The main part of the listening process in Raphoe was a series of meetings held in a number of parishes as well as three ‘hub’ meetings where parishes came together…
The leadership of the Irish Church needs now to demonstrate clearly that it has heard the voice of the laity and clergy, so clearly expressed in the national synodal listening process. Furthermore it needs to be demonstrably accountable to the laity and clergy as the Archbishop of Dublin has said, ownership is passing from clergy…
In deciding to embark on a ‘synodal pathway’ for the Irish Catholic Church the Bishops have been inspired by the teaching and practice of Pope Francis. Francis, for his part, has developed the teaching of the Second Vatican Council on collegiality (between the Pope and Bishops) to embrace the wider and deeper notion of synodality,…
The diocese of Achonry encompasses parts of Counties Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon. It has 23 parishes and a total population of approximately 40,000, of whom 90% are Catholic. There are 30 priests in active ministry and approximately 20 religious sisters. The Bishop met with a representation of people who had suffered abuse in Church contexts…
The Diocese of Kilmore accommodates 69,483 Catholics and covers most of County Cavan, parts of counties Leitrim, Fermanagh, Meath and Sligo. Its bishop, Bishop Martin Hayes, was appointed in 2020. Meetings were held in late September and early October 2021 to hear the views of the priests on the proposed process. 3. Four Zoom meetings were held in mid-October for parish…
Peter Costello