Working Together to Renew Our Catholic Faith in Ireland

Preparing for the Synodal Pathway and Assembly

Since 2021, the Catholic Church in Ireland has been involved in a national effort to renew faith, parish life, and the future of the Church. This is called the Synodal Pathway. It began because, for many people, the message of Jesus and the way of life offered by the Gospel no longer seems attractive. The lack of engagement with the Catholic faith shows that many do not see its value. As a Church, we need to face this honestly, listen to one another, and find new ways of living and sharing our faith.

Parishes and dioceses have been asked to listen and reflect on how the Church can respond. This will lead to a National Assembly in October 2026, where representatives from across the country will consider how the Church in Ireland can best live and share the Gospel today.

A step along the way will take place in Kilkenny on Saturday, 18th October 2025, when delegates from every diocese – including Bishop Donal McKeown and representatives from Derry – will meet for a Pre-Assembly gathering.

To prepare, a document called Baptised and Sent has been published. It gathers what has been shared in dioceses earlier this year and highlights the main issues we need to address as a Church.

We invite you to:

• Read the document: derrydiocese.org/baptised-and-sent
• Share your reflections at home, in your parish, school, or community.
• Pray for the delegates gathering in Kilkenny, that the Holy Spirit may guide their work.
• Send feedback to: synod@derrydiocese.org

The Synodal Pathway is not a one-off event – it is about fostering a culture of walking together as Pilgrims of Hope, as a community shaped by Christ.