Irish bishops welcomed the recent announcement by Pope Francis that the theme of the synod in October 2022 will be “For a synodal Church: communion, participation, and mission”.

‘I encourage the faithful to pray for the success of this synod, the purpose of which is to serve the good of humanity,’ said Bishop Alan McGuckian, Chair of the Irish Bishops’ Council for Justice and Peace.

In his address, Pope Francis hit out at the “mocking comments” made by some about the feathers worn by an indigenous man at the Synod’s opening Mass on Sunday.

"A substantial number of young people do not ask the Church for anything because they do not see it as significant for their lives."

Delegates attending Synod assembly see the pastoral care of young people online and in social media, as well as the need for digital missionaries, as a priority.

Funeral of the 87-year-old Bishop Emeritus who died on Wednesday will take place on Saturday at St Mary’s Cathedral.

Many young people have positive experiences of chaplaincy services, pilgrimages and other dedicated national and international youth encounter events.

If we want to generate a culture of vocations, it is not going to happen in isolation, it is certainly not going to happen if we are not investing in youth ministry.

“Go and read the entire document and don’t start with the footnotes or chapter 8, start at chapter 1 and read through the entire document.”

“As Pope Francis says, it’s not just an era of change that we are in, it’s a change of era. We must change with it and create a Church that is more ready and better prepared to meet the future than we have the past” – Bishop Leahy.

President of the World Meeting of Families 2018, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, told reporters that the right to life “is a fundamental issue for the Church everywhere” and the Church “is not going to change its position on that”.

“Save for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Limerick in 1979, this is probably the most important moment for the Church in this diocese since the last Synod, all of 80 years ago.”

Liturgy will open a week-long series of events, culminating with the official Synod, a gathering of 400 delegates from Friday to Sunday, 8-10 April.

“He will be a great loss to the Diocese of Limerick but he will play a huge role in the formation of many future priests”: Bishop Leahy.

Limerick diocesan visit to Paris looked at how parishes there have dealt with the vocations decline and changing arrangements in the past decades.

Preparation for Limerick's synod in 2016 continues as diocese hears from business, sporting, local government and arts communities.

President of the German bishops’ conference says the problem of Catholics who are divorced and remarried must be addressed by the synod.

“I have been constantly told by people working in the Vatican that they can’t say no to women deacons, they just don’t want to say yes" - Dr Phyllis Zagano.

Parishes and lay groups adapt Lineamenta of the 2014 Synod of the Family and questions and send outcomes to Rome.

Pope Francis' silent prayer at the concrete barrier Israel is building around the West Bank recalled by Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin.

“The Church is in need of repair” and will only be regenerated if it is more inclusive and if clergy and laity work together.

Delegates who attended Saturday’s gathering will remain on the synod journey right up to 2016.

A longing for certainties may spring from personal uncertainty rather than strong faith Primate suggests.

Two spokespeople for lay reform groups urge Irish bishops to call a national assembly to discuss the role of women in the Church.

Bishop Donal McKeown marks 40th anniversary of ACCORD in Derry diocese.

“In a more equal Church there would be lay people involved in determining the guest list as well as on it,” married couple tell ACI conference.

Irish Church’s reform groups highlight need for baptised to get involved in the debates going on at the synod.

International marriage experts warn synod delegates that children need marriage and their mothers and fathers to raise them together.

Synod will take place over three days bringing together 400 delegates who will set out a path for renewal for the Church in Limerick.