During February to April of this year, Fr. Timothy Lehane SVD and Sr Anne Codd pbvm (AMRI representatives on the National Synodal Team) hosted six meetings of leaders and members of our Religious Congregations and Missionary Societies at Glasnevin, Donnybrook, Cork, Dundalk, Tallaght, Galway. There was also a Zoom conversation with members of two contemplative communities. The number of participants was two hundred in all.

In order to bring to the table of the National Synodal Team a specific contribution based on the experience of Religious in their life in mission, two key articles from the Final Document of the Synodal Assembly October 2024 were selected for reflection, conversation, and points for submission.

Articles 65 and 118 taken together comprise a significant acknowledgement that, arising from their charisms and spirituality, our Congregations and Apostolic Societies have a rich experience of decision-making through dialogue and discernment, harmonising of individual gifts, pursuit of common mission – what are now recognised as ‘practices of synodal living’. The Final Report encouraged us to ‘interrogate’ Church and society from the perspective of this experience. It is noted, too, that religious communities can be ‘laboratories of intercultural living’ for Church and world. Our rootedness in local contexts, while enjoying global reach through our internationality, is noted as a gift to our church communities. Moreover, the outreach of Religious to a wide range of ministries, including those at the peripheries, is acknowledged. The well-spring of spirituality and the hospitality of monastic communities are referenced with appreciation. All are encouraged to foster relationships within Church so as to ‘facilitate an exchange of gifts.’

In addition, it must be noted that article 99 makes an interesting observation: encouraging a culture of mutual accountability in the Church, the Final Document references as valuable models the structures and procedures of Congregations and Societies, including Chapters and Canonical visitations.

Tribute was paid in all the meetings to the work of UISG and USG in context of the synodal process. It was felt that they contributed significantly to the remarkable advance (between the synthesis report from the first Assembly October 2023 and the Final Document October 2024) in the recognition afforded to the vocation, charisms and ministries of religious congregations and missionary societies as integral to church.

A summary of the reflections compiled from the AMRI regional meetings is available on the AMRI website. This has been submitted to the National Synodal Team (NST), together with the fruit of meetings in the dioceses and other groups and movements in the church in Ireland. The NST is now engaged in discerning priorities calling our attention. The pre-synodal assembly which will take place in October of this year will draw this work together, and mark the beginning of a year of focused pastoral action and reflection, which will culminate in a formal synodal assembly in October 2026.

AMRI’s reflections have also been sent directly to Sr. Pat Murray IBVM, Executive Secretary of UISG.

Click Here to Read Full Report – Report from AMRI to National Synodal Team