Winter 2023 General Meeting of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Members of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference gathered this week in Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, for its Winter 2023 General Meeting.  The President of the Conference is Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh and the Vice-President is Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin.  During their meeting, bishops celebrated Mass in the College Chapel and prayers were offered for peace, respect for the dignity of human life, and for climate justice throughout the world.

 

The Bishops’ Conference noted yesterday’s announcement by the Government to hold two referendums in March 2024 concerning Article 41 of Bunreacht na hÉireann, and will study the related legislation when it is published.  Topics discussed during the meeting included the accommodation shortage and meagre State income facing asylum seekers in Ireland, and the UN COP28, currently meeting in Dubai, which is seeking agreement on policies aimed at limiting the rise in global temperature and dealing with the impacts associated with climate change, as well as: 

Bishops stated, "the Sunday Mass is at the very heartbeat of the Church and of our personal faith.  While some may have drifted away from regular attendance of Mass, and others may have developed the habit of continuing to watch online instead of joining the community in person, we encourage families and individuals who are able to do so, to return to Mass for Christmas and the New Year, knowing the importance of the Sunday gathering in the life of our parishes.  To assist the faithful, in 2024 we will publish a Pastoral Letter and accompanying resources, to help achieve a greater appreciation of Sunday, knowing that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our spiritual and pastoral life." 

Bishops expressed their gratitude to Ms Petra Conroy, and to Dr Margaret Naughton of the Council for Life of the Bishops’ Conference, who yesterday attended the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying, for offering the perspective on the  position of the Catholic Church on assisted suicide.  See the presentation here.

Bishops prayed for the people of the Holy land who since 7 October have suffered immensely due to conflict, displacement and destruction.  While welcoming the release of some hostages, bishops lamented the end of the truce in recent days and called for minds, hearts and actions to be as one in bringing the conflict to an end.  They express their particular concern about the violation of international humanitarian law, which requires the protection of civilians by all parties to conflict, and the fact that so many people in Gaza do not have the basic necessities for living at present.

 

Bishops stated, "We echo the words of Pope Francis, as we hope and pray 'that all those involved can reach a permanent ceasefire agreement as soon as possible and find solutions other than arms, trying to take courageous paths to peace.’  From our own experience in Ireland, we know that all conflict and war must end in dialogue.  While recognising that there are diverging political views on the issues involved, we are confident that peacebuilding and a commitment to sustained hope and settlement must be the political response to this."

 

Bishops noted that Trócaire works with local partner organisations in Palestine, including in Gaza, where it is supporting the immediate humanitarian work of Caritas Jerusalem and Medical Aid for Palestinians.  As it is estimated that, of the 450 million children in the world - one out of every six young people - live in conflict zones, bishops encouraged all people of goodwill to support Trócaire’s Christmas Appeal which focuses on children and families in places such as Gaza, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Ukraine, which are affected by conflict.  See trocaire.org

Bishops discussed the recent attacks and riots in Dublin, the rise in tensions and the corrosive impact of those who seek to foster division, remind us of the need for profound reflection on the values that form the foundations of our society.

 

Bishops stated, "The recent unrest calls people of faith, and all people of goodwill, to stand up against all forms of racism, violence division, hatred, misinformation and fear.  They also bring to the fore the need for concerted efforts to foster a culture of encounter between immigrants, immigrant communities and Irish society.  We commend parishes and small faith communities across the country where such encounter is evident and where immigrants are making a positive and vibrant contribution to the life of the parish and in the process opening new cultural experiences for Irish Catholics.

 

"The riots in Dublin highlight a need to redouble efforts towards a responsible management of the current situation.  This necessitates fulsome consultation on the planning and delivery of adequate accommodation and associated healthcare, educational and social services for the entire community, and to ensure that issues concerning multiple levels of deprievation in different parts of the country are tackled, so that no one can perceive themselves as disadvantaged.

 

"As Christians we are called to proclaim the kingdom of God’s love by our witness to one another.  May this be a moment of such witness for us in Ireland; to show the human face of God whose kingdom ‘is present wherever he is loved and wherever his love reaches us’ (Pope Benedict XVI, Spe salvi, 31).” 

Bishops commended Catholic and other charities that work to support families throughout the year and especially at Christmas time.  These include the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, Crosscare (the social services agency of the Archdiocese of Dublin), the Capucin Day Centre and others.  Conscious of the ongoing effects of inflation and other economic stresses, bishops encouraged parishioners throughout the country to support the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in their annual appeal.  This year’s SVP appeal is focused on providing help to struggling parents who wonder how they will provide a Happy Christmas for their families.  The campaign is entitled The Wonder of Christmas.  See svp.ie

 

Bishops stated, "As Christmas approaches, the SVP estimates that up to 200,000 people may seek the charity’s help this winter.  Its regional office in Belfast is already receiving 200 calls for help a day. Across the North, 80% of the Society’s volunteers are experiencing significant increases in requests for assistance.  Over the course of the past decade, the SVP has approved more than €332m in assistance to families and individuals across Ireland.  One-parent families, low income households, those depending on one-off supports and people with disabilities are all especially vulnerable to food and fuel poverty.

 

"We ask parishioners to make a big effort to support the Saint Vincent de Paul across the country this Christmas.  The SVP works to provide vouchers to those in need so that families can pay for food, heat their homes and so that children can enjoy the wonder of Christmas.” 

Bishops considered the report on the Irish Inter-Church Meeting of 19-20 October.  This marked the 50th anniversary of the Ballymascanlan Talks in 1973, an event that led to the formation of the IICM, the mechanism through which the Irish Episcopal Conference dialogues with other Churches in Ireland.

 

In addition, bishops also received a report from the Council for Ecumenism on the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which will place 18-15 January 2024, on the theme, ‘You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself’ (Lk 10:27).  Resources for the Week of Prayer have been compiled by the Holy See Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and ecumenical bodies in Burkina Faso.  These resources are being forwarded to dioceses and parishes and they are also available on ctbi.org.uk.  Bishops encourage dioceses and parish communities to participate in this Week of Prayer. 

Bishops spent extensive time discussing the Universal Synod and the Irish Synodal Pathway

 

Bishop Brendan Leahy and Bishop Alan McGuckian were the two bishop nominees of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference that attended the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which took place in Rome from 4 – 29 October.  The two bishops had previously given a full report to the Standing Committee of the Bishops’ Conference, which is available at www.synod.ie/bishopsreport

Irish Synodal Pathway 

The first stage of the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland is now complete. This two-year stage, interwoven with the universal synodal process, concluded with two significant and complementary reports from the National Steering Committee, both now available on synod.ie: 

An interim committee for the Irish Synodal Pathway has now been formed by the Bishops’ Conference in order to implement some of the immediate proposals from the National Steering Committee’s report.  These include: 

In the longer term, the interim committee will also assist the Bishops’ Conference in the establishment of a national team for the remainder of the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland.  It will also assist in a process of discernment for the first theme/s of a National Synodal Assembly.  The Bishops’ Conference plan to hold this first synodal assembly, in a series of assemblies, during the Autumn of 2025.  This will coincide with Pope Francis’ designation of 2025 as a holy, Jubilee Year, with the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’  

The chief executive of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, Teresa Devlin, advised the bishops on activities engaging the current work of the Board.  Ms Devlin spoke about the revision of the Church’s child safeguarding policy which aims to highlight three core elements of safeguarding:  

Ms Devlin also discussed the process of transitional Justice based that seeks to address Truth, Justice, reparation and a commitment of non-recurrence. 

Bishops prayerfully commended to God’s grace the fifteen new seminarians who have recently started their studies for the priesthood for Irish dioceses, and reflected on this Year for Vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood which is themed: ‘Take the Risk for Christ’.  Bishops encouraged families and parishes to pray continually for vocations to the priesthood.

 

The National Office for Vocations reported that one of the key initiatives for 2024 will be to work in a more strategic way with Vocations Directors, and this will include a gathering in January to continue the momentum for the Year for Vocation.  For discussion will be how best to sustain the good news of vocations to the diocesan priesthood.  In this regard, the January gathering will also examine the efficacy of vocations’ initiatives as well as plans for future gatherings and events.  Separately, one day during Catholic Schools week at the end of January will focus on priesthood and vocations.  A particular use will be made of social media  of young priests for use on social media between January and April).

Bishops welcomed the updated sacramental marriage preparation programme from Accord, the Catholic Marriage Care Service, which will be launched in February 2024.  This is the first major review of the programme since 2003.  The review was initiated by the bishops and is one of the positive legacies of the IX World Meeting of Families in Dublin, in 2018.  Its content also has been informed by the publication of Pope Francis’ 2016 Apostolic Exhortation on love and the family, Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love).

 

The new marriage programme explains the nature of the Sacrament of Marriage and facilitates a deepening of couples’ understanding of how to successfully manage their relationship in the context of the challenges of today’s world.  It does so by sharing techniques based on the most up-to-date psychological understanding of relationship dynamics.  The new programme has been piloted, and feedback indicates that couples have found it to be engaging and enlightening.

 

Bishops stated, "we have now begun our Advent journey, a time of patient waiting and joyful hope.  As we look forward to the celebration of Christmas 2023, we pray to the Lord for an end to wars across the globe and for justice and peace to reign in our uncertain world.  We remember most of all the innocent, as they suffer most in terms of death, injury, hunger and displacement.  The coming of Christ brought light into a darkened world, ‘a light that darkness could not overpower’ – and we earnestly pray for light at this time. 

 

"In Ireland, this time of year also brings great difficulty to many in terms of surviving and staying warm.  We urge those who can to respond generously to the Christmas appeals of Trócaire, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Crosscare and other charities that bring hope to the lives of those families bearing the brunt of the cost of living and energy crises.  Through the coming days of Advent may our hearts be open to the grace and power of the Lord and filled with joy when we celebrate His birth.”

 

2023 marks the tenth year of the digital Advent calendar which is a resource for families, schools and parishes on the homepage of catholicbishops.ie.  During the 22 days of Advent, new content will be available behind the calendar’s digital doors.  Every day online viewers can enjoy brief personal video reflections and prayers on this holy season. 

Bishops offered prayers of thanksgiving as 2023 marks the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis of Assisi constructing the first Christmas crèche in a cave in Greccio, Italy.  Bishops reiterated Pope Francis' words that a key message of the Nativity scene is that the mystery of Christmas 'loves to hide within what is infinitely small ... [the Nativity] is like a living Gospel overflowing from the pages of Holy Scripture'.

 

Bishops invite people to share a picture (or video) of the crib at home or in the workplace, along with a message.  Every crib has its own story, so sharing Christmas memories of the crib would provide inspiration to many people during this season of good will and celebration for Christian families.

 

Bishops commended the theme 'Communities of Service' for Catholic Schools Week 2024, which will be celebrated across the Island of Ireland between Sunday 21 January and Saturday 27 January next.  CSW resources are being furnished to the schools at this time.  The theme of ‘Communities of Service’ is dedicated to celebrating the gift of Catholic education and recognising the love and generosity of the entire school community, community of friends, family community, local community and faith community.  CSW resources reflect on these features within the overarching theme as well as making use of scriptural reflection on prayer, action, reflections on priestly vocation, student voices, and concern for our common home.

 

With Christmas approaching we, as Christians, remember in a special way those who have been bereaved over the past year, and we pray for the gifts of healing and hope for all.  During their meeting, bishops prayed for the happy repose of the soul of former Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Down and Connor, Bishop Anthony Farquhar (RIP 17 November 2023). 

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.