OCTOBER 4: Synod Opening

Letter from Fr Kieran McDermott, chair of the Diocesan Synodal Steering Committee:

I write on behalf of Archbishop Farrell and the Diocesan Synodal Steering Committee, seeking your help.

The Synod on Synodality – Communion, Participation and Mission, opens in Rome on October 4th, representing the next stage in the process of listening and discerning what God wants from us His People in the world of today.

The Archbishop and our Committee are keen that this moment of opportunity be used to build on the considerable interest shown last year when almost 13,000 people of the Archdiocese participated in the initial stages of the Synodal process. We have been considering ways to raise consciousness of, and interest in the events in Rome and to help people to have a better understanding of what is occurring.

Therefore, we are asking your support with the following:

• A letter from the Archbishop will be provided which may be read at the Masses on September 30th / October 1st.

• A series of texts will be offered for each of the October weekends. These texts will link Synodal themes with the readings of the Sundays. Those preaching at the liturgies are welcome to read the texts provided in place of a homily, or weave them into their homilies.

• A weekly newsletter will be prepared by our Committee and sent to every parish on Thursday of each week. The parish is asked to have it printed off, and distributed at the weekend Masses. We suggest that those who were animators in your parish last year might take responsibility for the distribution.

Thank you for supporting these efforts to raise consciousness and understanding of the Synod and to pray for its success. It is our hope that our joint efforts will benefit the people, the parishes and the Archdiocese.

In grateful appreciation

Fr Kieran McDermott