Our local bishop has asked us all to individually contribute to the ‘Synod on Synodality’ (a Catholic oxymoron if ever there was one!) …so here is my contribution, submitted today via the Kerry Diocese website.

Synod on Synodality – Points

How I would like to see The Catholic Church, moving forward and ‘walking together.’

A Combative Church – (Dare I say a more ‘masculine church’?) A church that fully recognises that we are engaged in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12). That we are, as C.S. Lewis puts it, always behind enemy lines and operating in hostile territory. A church in Ireland that recognises that it is a defeated church and has lost a battle with the world (but not the war). As any defeated army we can retreat, re-group and rearm. In reality this could involve a pro-active plan to re-group. Close parishes that are not sustainable going forward and reanimate centres of a more intense practice in catechesis, prayer and liturgy. Operating out of ‘hubs’ in a similar fashion to the early Irish church that saw lay communities developing around the physical location of a monastery. Mirroring the vision of Rod Dreher’s Benedict Option.

A Repentant Church – A church that promotes metanoia. We as church and individuals need to get down on our knees and beg forgiveness for our failures as church and to ask God The Father to lead us forward. We need to emphasise and explain sin more and call it out in ourselves, the church and in the society in which we live. Our priests need to promote and practice the sacrament of confession more. Many parishes do not have regular confession times.

An Orthodox Church – A church that fully promotes the traditional and everlasting teachings of the church in faith and morals…however ‘unpopular’ they may seem to be in the society at large. Yes do not exclude ‘those on the margins’ but have we started to exclude followers of the Traditional Latin Mass? We could learn from them and make our liturgies more reverential. The Novus Ordo could better reflect the Second Vatican Council’s constitution on the divine liturgy Sacrosactum Concillium. An encouragement of the practice of receiving Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue would be a good witness to the beauty and power of the Holy Eucharist.

A Praying Church – One that promotes, as a principle of priority and first importance, devotion to the Eucharist as the real body, blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to regularize and promote Eucharistic Adoration and ‘Holy Hours’ in every parish and ‘hub’. We need to be seen to be praying together as small groups apart from Sunday Mass. Continuing with the parish system this would mean the establishment of ‘cell groups’ within a parish. This small group would meet once or twice a week in each others houses, principally to pray together but also for possible catechesis, bible study and social events.

A Committed Church – First Holy Communion and Confirmation should be taken out of the schools and given as a work of the parish community. We need to establish ‘Family Catechesis’ programmes. If a child presents for First Holy Communion or Confirmation then joint parallel programmes need to be engaged with by the parents.

A Reflective and Responsive Church – to modern issues and their dangers. I am thinking here of the exponential growth of IT and especially the area of artificial intelligence.

A Courageous Church – A church that takes risks. A church that is not afraid of proclaiming the truth, even if that means that people will walk away and we may be less stable financially (John 6:66).

Even if we engaged seriously with one or two of these points, it would mean a move forward (even if it may look like a move backwards in the short term!)

Here are the questions / answers submitted on the web page…

1. What memories or experiences of the Catholic Church do you value most or cherish most in your life?

Pilgrimages to centres of devotion such as Assisi, Holy Land, Lourdes etc.

2) How can our local Church community be a welcoming and inclusive community?

Be more authentically Catholic and not trying to conform to a secular world. I think we are a welcoming community to those that are interested in Catholic Christianity.

3) Are there groups or individuals within your local Church community who may feel marginalized? Why do you think they feel this way? How do you think we as a faith community could change this perception?

Yes, the Traditional Latin Mass community are being marginalized, when they have so much to offer. We could become more devout in our liturgies. Have more social events…this is the only way to connect with people and make them feel more welcome.

4) Do you feel involved in the decisions made in your local Church community? If not, how do you think the Church could involve people in the decision-making processes in their Diocese or Parish?

I feel as involved as is possible. We have a parish council and a priest who is open to suggestions and ideas. The ultimate authority is the parish priest. I don’t think the problems in the church are about ‘involvement’ in decision making…we are not Presbyterians or Quakers.

5) What encourages you to get actively involved in your local Church community? What discourages you?

Devout liturgy and good social connections as Catholics (ie meeting to discuss matters of faith as well as to socialize). We need greater bonds as Catholics rather than emphasizing reaching out to those of the local area that patently don’t want to be Catholic.

Poor liturgy. Parishioners that constantly talk of climate change, greater roles for women, being more inclusive and every other worldly notion as if the church has nothing distinctive to say to society.

6) What hopes or vision for your local Church community do you have?

I’d like to see a return of altar rails and of kneeling and receiving on the tongue as regular practice. I would like to see the emergence of parish cell groups that meet in each others houses to share prayer and issues of faith.

7) Do you have any further thoughts or comments?

…… (see general statement)

Are there any other details you wish to share about yourself that will help us understand your experiences? (e.g. marital status, occupation, involvement in parish or relgious organisations, etc… Feel free to share as much or as little as you wish.)

I am a convert from atheism. I was baptised and confirmed at the age of 22. I have had many roles in the church including leading prayer groups. I am currently a reader in my local parish.