The National Synod concludes five years of work in Assembly last weekend

Over 300 delegates took part in the National Synod Assembly at the City North Hotel, Gormanston, Co. Meath, on Saturday, October 17. Throughout the day, the many nominated lay, clerical and religious delegates from dioceses, parishes, religious congregations, ecclesial movements and other communities from across the Church in Ireland considered and voted on 35 proposals, designed to guide the future of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

These 35 proposals were developed by the working groups established at the Pre-Synodal Assembly in Kilkenny in October 2025 and convened in five ‘pathways’: 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.

Among the proposals with the highest support were ‘Build communion with those struggling to see relevance of Church’, ‘Healing as a priority in the future work of the synodal process’, ‘Review of catechetical provision and sacramental preparation’, and ‘National office for life-long adult faith formation’.

The synodal process in Ireland did not end at the Assembly, and the discernment undertaken and proposals voted on Saturday will contribute to the next stage of the journey.