In preparation for the upcoming synod in the Catholic Church the Archdiocese of Dublin kicked off on Tuesday evening with a meeting of a number of Dublin deaneries. Deaneries are groupings of parishes.
The meeting was conducted over zoom.
Approximately 56 people participated, including Archbishop Dermot Farrell.
The archbishop spoke for 10 minutes. He said that the synod was a gathering. It was not a forum like an opinion poll or a referendum. Archbishop Farrell said it was a church event, and like every church gathering it has to be prayerful.
He pointed out that it was the first synod in Ireland since Thurles in 1850.
The archbishop said that it would be an occasion where people could listen and it was not a platform for confrontation.
The synod was not in a position to change church doctrine. Later in a chat room, Augustinian priest Kieran O’Mahony made the point that while doctrine does not change it can be developed. Another participant felt that the word doctrine could alienate the very people with whom the church needs to communicate.
There was a consensus that it was important that we listen and listen especially to those on the periphery.
Archbishop Farrell commenting on the importance of listening to those on the margins and periphery quipped that there were one million people in Dublin on the periphery.
The meeting was chaired by Fr Kieran McDermott, a priest of the Archdiocese of Dublin.
The meeting conveyed a sense of reality with participants aware of where the Irish church might be at present.
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