The Irish Church’s first synod in 70 years will take place over three days in spring 2016 and involve lay Catholics, professionals and Travellers as well as clergy and Religious.
The synod, in the diocese of Limerick, will involve an 18-month listening process ahead of the meetings.
During this time, people in the diocese, which has long been clustering parishes to cope with a shortage of priests, will be able to help determine the key issues for the 400 delegates selected to attend the synod to consider.
Bishop Brendan Leahy made the unexpected announcement of the synod at a Youth Mass in Limerick, describing it as “a chance to ask ourselves: what Church do we want to be as we face the challenges ahead of us?”
The diocese will begin a process of identifying the 400 delegates for the synod, which will be officially launched on Sunday, 7 December. According to a spokesman for Bishop Leahy, the delegates will be representative of all the faithful in the diocese.
“Not only will they be recruited through parishes but other communities, including from healthcare, disabled, regeneration, Traveller and education communities,” Eugene Hogan said.
He added that the aim of the synod was for a “very clear, strategic plan” to emerge.
Asked how the synod would differ from the listening processes held in the dioceses of Down and Connor and Killaloe, Mr Hogan said: “The synod is a step further, in that it is a formally recognised method in the Church of consultation, discernment and deciding a way forward.”
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