Diocese of Derry

Synod 2021-2023

Synod

July 2024

Towards October 2024: Second Instrumentum Laboris Published

'Instrumentum Laboris', the text that will guide the work of the second session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod in October has been published by the Vatican. 

The 'Instrumentum Laboris', or “working tool” for the upcoming 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, was presented at a July 9, 2024 press conference by Cardinals Mario Grech and Jean-Claude Hollerich, together with the special secretaries of the synodal assembly.

The second October assembly is a continuation of the multiyear Synod on Synodality, which began in October 2021 and has included stages of discernment and discussion at various levels of the Church.

View the Report

May 2024

Towards October 2024: Ireland’s Summary Document Published

In response to the invitation from the Secretariat of the Synod in Rome to deepen our reflections on the Report from its first synodal assembly in October 2023 the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference received contributions from all the dioceses of Ireland along with a further ten contributions from associations of lay faithful, ecclesial movements, and Church agencies. These contributions were read and reflected upon in a spirit of prayer and discernment by a writing group of the Irish Synodal Pathway’s National Team during Holy Week and early Easter.

View the Report

March 2024

Towards October 2024: Diocese of Derry response

Between the XVI Assembly of October 2023 and the XVI Assembly planned for October 2024, the local Churches and the groupings of Churches are invited to contribute by deepening aspects of the Synthesis Report that are fundamental to the Synod's theme.

In Ireland, each diocese is asked to provide a response to the following question: How can we imagine the life of the Church in Ireland where people are co-responsible for the Church’s mission in different ways?

In February and March 2024, the Diocese of Derry held two regional Synodal Listening Days in Galliagh, Derry City and Omagh, Co Tyrone. Aware that the voice of young people was somewhat absent from these gatherings, two further events were organised by the Diocesan Youth Ministry team.

On review of the submissions received at the end of the listening sessions, the following is a synthesis of comments, considerations, concerns and possibilities. The report can be viewed here. This will be part of the Irish response for the next stage of the Universal Synod.

View the Report

Latest News from the Synod

10 July 2024
'Instrumentum Laboris', the text that will guide the work of the second session of the XVI (16th) Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod in October 2024 has been published by the Vatican. The 'Instrumentum Laboris', or "working tool" for the upcoming...
22 May 2024
In response to the invitation from the Secretariat of the Synod in Rome to deepen our reflections on the Report from its first synodal assembly in October 2023 (called A Synodal Church in Mission and published in November) the Irish Catholic Bishops'...
12 April 2024
Between the XVI Assembly of October 2023 and the XVI Assembly planned for October 2024, the local Churches and the groupings of Churches are invited to contribute by deepening aspects of the Synthesis Report that are fundamental to the Synod's theme....
11 December 2023
In October 2021, Pope Francis announced a Universal Synod on the theme of synodality. Its official title is 'For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.' Following two years of preparation, listening and dialogue at diocesan, contine...

October 2023

Universal Synod's Synthesis Report​

On Saturday, 28 October 2023, the members of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops adopted the Synthesis Report which was initially published in Italian.

The official report is now also available in English and can be viewed here

View the Report

June 2023

First Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

The Instrumentum Laboris, the official working document for the first session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, was launched on 20 June 2023. A large number of people from various parts of the world with different expertise prepared this important text which will animate all the work of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (4th-29th October 2023).

View the document Instrumentum Laboris

February 2023

European Continental Assembly - part of the Universal Synod

The continental stage of the Synod is organised by the Council of European Bishops' Conferences, in collaboration with the Czech Bishops' Conference and the Archdiocese of Prague.

Venue: Prague (Czech Republic)
Dates: 5 - 12 February 2023


From 5 to 12 February 2023, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh along with thirteen other delegates from across Ireland, attended the first ever European Assembly of a Synod within the Catholic Church, in Prague, Czechia.

This was one of seven continental assemblies convening across five continents in a new stage of the universal Synodal Process.


View the Assembly final remarks

View what the Bishops have commited to

December 2022

Diocese of Derry Synod Working Group Reflection on the Continental Stage of the Universal Synod

December 2022
The Secretariat for the Synod in Rome released the working document for the Continental Stage of the Universal Synod on Thursday, 27th October 2022. This is the fruit of the syntheses received from 112 Bishops’ Conferences, including Ireland that is unprecedented in the history of the Church. The Continental Stage document can be downloaded here.

The Diocese of Derry synod working group were invited to read through and compare the Diocese of Derry submission, Ireland's National Synthesis, and the Document for the Continental Stage and submit their responses by 22nd December 2022. This reflection is published below for reading and sharing.

View the Reflection

May 2022

Diocese of Derry Synod Report

May 2022
The people of the Diocese of Derry have taken part in parish discussions, online contributions and deanery gatherings during recent months in response to the call from Pope Francis about the next Synod.

The fruit of this listening has been collated and a synthesis is now submitted to form part of a national synthesis. This diocesan document is published below for reading and sharing.

View the Report

The entire Catholic Church is called to participate in the upcoming Synod of Bishops! This Synod is entitled: “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.”


Pope Francis has called the entire People of God to journey together. This Synod is not just another meeting with oral presentations and written reports. This Synod is a process of journeying together by listening, dialoguing, praying, discerning and making decisions together for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pope Francis is asking each local diocese to gather – clergy, religious and laity together- to listen to each other. The “goal” of this journeying together is not to create a new vision or pastoral plan with objectives. Rather, the goal of our journeying together is to be present with one another, to listen and learn with each other, and to grow closer to the Lord and His Church.

Diocese of Derry Synod on Synodality Timeline

October 2021

Preparation

Appointment of Synod Diocesan Working Group.
Preparing materials for the consultation process.

October 2021

28 November 2021

Guided catechesis

Synodality as a journey in hope and expectation.
Guided catechesis each Sunday of Advent... view >
Sunday, 28th November, 5th, 12th and 19th December.

Early January 2022

Training

Training for every parish Synod facilitation group.

Early January 2022

Sunday, 16 January 2022

Listening

Sunday 16th January 2022 to Sunday 13th February 2022.
Period of local consultation and listening sessions.

Friday, 29 April 2022

Parish Response to Listening Gatherings

Parishes collate fruits of their listening gatherings and submit to the diocese.

Friday, 29 April 2022

May 2022

Deanery Gatherings - Sharing Fruits Together

Gathering the parishes in each of our four deaneries – Derry City, Derry County, Tyrone and Donegal - to hear what was being said by neighbouring parishes.

Sunday, 29th May 2022

Diocesan Synthesis - Diocese of Derry Report

Bringing together what has been heard. Submission to Irish Synodal Pathway Steering Group.
View the Synod report.

Sunday, 29th May 2022

December 2022

Diocese of Derry reflection on the Continental Stage of the Universal Synod

Submission from the Diocese of Derry Synod Working Group to the Irish Synodal Pathway.
View the Reflection.

Irish Synodal Pathway
The process explained

Fr Eamonn Fitzgibbon, member of the Irish Synodal Pathway task group, explains the two Synodal process currently taking places across Ireland. The Universal Synod and the Irish Synod.

Fr Eamonn also explains that "This process is not meant to be a burden on anyone. It is not meant to draw energy from the work going on in each parish as people attend the urgent needs of their own community"

Synod on Synodality
All you need to know

Do you have questions regarding the Synod on Synodality? Here's all you need to know - right from what does synodality mean to what can you do.

What are we being asked to do?

The Holy Father, Pope Francis is asking that the entire Church participate in this Synod. The faithful, clergy and religious are invited to pray, listen, and talk together with the Bishops before the 2023 gathering of Bishops in Rome.  In our Diocese, we will pray, listen and talk with one another through parish and diocesan listening sessions.

"This is the start of our Synodal Journey"

Bishop Donal McKeown outlines the prayerful consultation process of Synodality, of walking together, of listening, of being led by the Holy Spirit to understand where the Lord is leading us.

Help for Parishes
Guidance and promotion materials

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Parish Preparation
RESOURCE GUIDES & VIDEOS

'Listening' conversation resources, the Synod questions, help guides and videos
View Materials
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Parish Promotion
LOGO, BANNERS...

Promotion materials in the lead up to the start of the Synod process in our diocese.
Banners for Churches, Prayer Cards, Posters and more.
View Materials
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Parish Listening Session
TOOLKIT

This toolkit will help priests and parishes understand and implement the diocesan Synod plan.

View Listening Toolkit

Questions?

Each parish in the Diocese is being asked to have 'listening' conversations.
Facilitation training for those conversations are being held throughout the Diocese in January and February. If you have questions or require information on the Synod process please email:

Safeguarding Questions?

A safeguarding concern or allegation should be directed to the Designated Liaison Person - Marie Gormley on +44 (0)75 9650 0793.
Contact

Diocesan Offices
St Eugene’s Cathedral
Francis Street, Derry
BT48 9AP

Tel: 028 7126 2302

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