The new lectionary for Mass in Ireland will feature more inclusive language in its Scripture readings, and there are hopes it will “draw the faithful more deeply into the Word of God”, according to Fr Neil Xavier O’Donoghue, Executive Secretary for Liturgy to the Irish bishops.
Based on the 2019 Revised New Jerusalem Bible, the updated text will replace the current Jerusalem Bible-based lectionary, in use for more than 50 years.
The changes will include replacing some uses of ‘man’ or ‘men’ with terms like ‘men and women’ or ‘sisters and brothers’ or ‘people’, for example.
Fr O’Donoghue, who is also a member of the editorial group, said the translation is “more inclusive, it is not ‘woke’” – a word often used nowadays in a pejorative sense to describe people who enforce questionable progressive ideology.
He explained: “When it has to use the word ‘man’, it uses ‘man’. But occasionally it uses something else. It is a more considered use of the language.”
He said: “I don’t think the RNJB translation is ‘woke’. I think it’s just standard English to say there’s a difference between ‘brothers’ and ‘brothers and sisters’. If I asked ‘how many brothers and sisters do you have?’ you understand a different question than ‘how many brothers do you have?’. I’d say the RNJB translation takes better account of the fact that the Bible addresses men and women equally.”
Public consultation in Ireland showed strong support for this approach, with over 150 individual submissions and nearly all of the 20 organisations that responded favouring inclusive language where appropriate.
The lectionary project is a joint effort of the bishops’ conferences of Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Every bishop in the three countries has been invited to review and comment on the draft texts, which are being revised by a working group of Scripture and liturgy experts.
Fr O’Donoghue said the updated text is intended to foster a deeper connection to Scripture: “The idea is that Catholics grow in their appreciation of the Word of God, to have a deeper meeting with Christ in the Word of God when they go to Mass. The new lectionary is an opportunity for liturgical formation.”
The first volume — Sundays and Solemnities — has been reviewed, with the remaining volumes scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.
The full set will be introduced following approval by the bishops and confirmation by the Vatican.
The final edition is set to be in print and in parishes before the end of the decade.