FINAL SYNODAL COLLATION FOR OUR DIOCESE

SHORT SUMMARY

In preparation for a national synod in 2026, our diocese of Ferns has engaged in spiritual conversations to propose priority themes. Of the many themes that were discussed, the four dominant themes were: belonging, youth, co-responsibility and lay ministry. Our local synod team has identified belonging as an urgent priority that ties together all other themes. Over 300 people contributed to these conversations.

SUBMISSION TO THE NATIONAL SYNOD TEAM

Name of Group: Diocese of Ferns

How many people took part? 305 people

Indicators of Age Ranges: All age ranges

Which Dominant Themes emerged from the conversations?

a.      Belonging

b.      Youth

c.       Co-responsibility

d.      Lay Ministry

Give a brief outline of why these themes were deemed important.

Very often, all the themes were seen as interrelated.

The theme of belonging was our strongest theme. Belonging matters for life, human flourishing, family, welcome, inclusion, togetherness, connection, community, outreach, dialogue and a place to call home. It is also non-judgmental, mutually supportive, open to community faith input and communicates narrative and values over dogma. This reflects what we believe and represents the living presence of the church in a local way. Belonging covers all forms of diversity (e.g. cultures, sexuality and age groups), especially those who feel they don’t belong or are isolated. By listening and meeting people, we ‘welcome the stranger’. Afterall, we are social and God is relational. The deepest desire of all is to belong.

The theme of youth was also dominant. We can reach out to young people, speak their language, focus on what matters to them and find ways of working with small groups (or safe spaces) rather than only relying on Mass. These groups could be more informal and engaging. The church needs the energy of the youth and can build on young people’s sense of pride for their local parish. Young people naturally live the Church’s values but can struggle with faith and beliefs and not see their relevance today. Yet, they are ‘the future’. They are also ‘the present’ and have ideas for supporting their local faith communities. Young people like activities, e.g. cleaning, organizing, choir and reading at Mass.

Co-responsibility requires a change in mentality for everyone to play a role, collaborate and share responsibility. We are able. Nobody is defined by their limitations, and all are loved by God. Co-responsibility is the how of what we do e.g. how do we foster community or approach challenges? It is harder for clergy to join in with their community, as they age and serve different church communities. The lack of new priests is challenging for priests and parishioners. For co-responsibility to work, lay people must work together and play a role in decision-making. Women are often the bedrock of family life and their faith building role in the Church and the life of communities should be acknowledged and encouraged at all levels of Church life along with decision-making.

Lay Ministry is an opportunity to explore new possibilities and address some of the wider issues. Yet, expectations need to be managed. Catechesis, faith formation and pastoral care are very important in today’s world. Lay ministers (men and women) were seen as able to address a wider range of challenges and build capacity within communities. They were linked with the future of the church in a practical way as their leadership, planning, decision-making, faith commitment and ability to mentor faith is essential. Also, good guidance (e.g. lay-led liturgies, role of lay ministry) and good relationships with clergy are vital along with a broader understanding of ministry that incorporates aspects of mentoring faith.

List themes around which notable differences in opinions occurred in the ‘Conversations in the Spirit’.

Within groups, there were less notable differences in opinions than between groups. The most notable themes in this regard were ‘Women’, ‘Sexuality and LGBTQ+ Issues’ and ‘Abuse’.

Give a brief outline of the reason for these differences of opinion.

In relation to the mention of women across themes, differences of opinion tended to pertain to vocations and clergy. One group suggested a renewed focus on the role of the priesthood and the formation of young men while another group focused on access for women to the permanent diaconate.

Similarly, in relation to Sexuality and LGBTQI+ Issues across themes, this was primarily seen as part of the wider themes of belonging, family or community while one group felt that LGBTQ+ issues had been emphasized too much in schools and the wider culture.

In relation to abuse, some groups felt that it was time to ‘move on but not forget’ while others felt that it was still not properly addressed, especially for those who have been hurt. In this regard, Diocesan apologies, reparation, renumeration and sincere public acknowledgement of the deep heartbreak caused was needed to build trust and foster healing.

There were also references to ‘community’ as an overarching theme that could bring people together regardless of difference.

Were there any groups of themes that naturally seemed to come together in ‘Conversations in the Spirit’? If so, please note these groupings below:

Baptism and Belonging

Family, Women, Youth, Culture, Sexuality & LGBTQ+

Faith formation, Education, Catechesis

Co-responsibility, Clergy, Lay Ministry and Liturgy

Prompted by the Holy Spirit, which themes have been identified as priorities?

The most urgent priority is belonging, which ties together all other themes. People spoke of ‘belonging and youth’, ‘belonging and welcome’ or ‘belonging and community’ and asked how we can build a sense of belonging across all themes so that we can speak to people’s hearts.

Belonging recognizes co-responsibility and everyone’s role. It creates an atmosphere of inclusion, a ‘safe place’ for all where care and innovation can flourish. Family, culture and women all play a role in building belonging as do schools, faith formation and catechesis. Women play a critical role in family and community life as leaders and doers, which should be celebrated and built upon through participation in ministry and decision-making. This will help to get the message out into the world of the good news at the centre of our lives.

From the sessions, explain why these need to be prioritized at this time.

A unique aspect of the Diocese of Ferns is the existence of 96 church communities in 49 parishes. The sustainability of these faith communities is a real challenge. And so, the biggest issue facing us now is the disconnect between community life and church, in particular, the chasm between youth and parish. Yet, the Church is a source of life.

Everything depends on belonging. It is both wide and deep, urging us to get people involved wherever they are and whatever their story. The void in people’s lives is real but local communication networks are lacking so reaching out and listening is now more vital than ever. We can only address this by challenging ourselves to find practical ways to welcome and include others and by acknowledging the challenges faced by priests today.

Belonging to God in Christ through the Spirit is not comfortable and cannot be neatly packaged. Those in positions of authority don’t have a right over the faith of all. Yet, our faith requires knowledge and formation. There is a tension here that can be bridged by fostering belonging. This ‘call to community’ bridges all divides, combats discrimination and helps each one of us develop a life-affirming relationship with God and each other.