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Following the conclusion of the assembly, the priests’ association assured the bishops of its support and solidarity in the years ahead “to sustain and embed the Synodal Pathway in the Irish Catholic Church”.
The association said its members were greatly encouraged by the bishops’ decision “to bring proposals concerning parish and diocesan life back to their local communities, examine existing initiatives and identify where improvements or new approaches are needed”.
They were also heartened by “the call for more shared leadership and responsibility, and greater recognition of women’s vocations and ministries within the Church” and “the desire for stronger engagement with young people”.
The assembly’s delegates voted on 35 proposals. Among the mostly highly recommended was the proposal that healing and reconciliation in the wake of abuse scandals should be a priority for the Irish Church’s future renewal.
According to Una Allen, convenor of the working group on healing of the Irish Synodal Pathway, “healing needs to be front and centre” and “benefit all those who have been excluded, abused, wounded and hurt”.
The proposal that gained the strongest support among bishops, people and priests, 69 per cent, was that which called for a review of catechetical provision and sacramental preparation. A number of proposals in relation to women in the Church received mixed support.
Forty two per cent of delegates highly recommended that there should be ongoing exploration of women’s ministry in the Church including the diaconate; 12 per cent recommended this; but 27 per cent did not recommend it.
The Irish bishops met last week in Maynooth to reflect on the assembly’s outcomes, the culmin – ation of a five-year journey since 2021 to engage and sound out the Irish faithful on a future path for renewal.
The leader of the Irish Church, Archbishop Eamon Martin, said that while some of the recommendations could be activated quickly, others would require greater planning.