“The momentous preparations that went into the pre-synodal assembly were very clear and very much appreciated.  The day was intended to energise the Synodal Pathway for the Church in Ireland, and to provide a process to elicit some consensus on how to progress the seven priorities set out in the preparatory document -‘Baptised and Sent’.  It’s fair to say we were all on a learning curve; the organisers, presenters and delegates.  Lessons were to be learned by all.
Regarding  the Process– ‘Conversation in the Spirit’ which set the tone for the tables: This is a useful and ‘polite’ synodal tool for many small group contexts, (for encountering others authentically and respectfully, for reaching a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives etc.)  On this occasion maybe some other process might have helped delegates to stay focussed on the purpose of the day.  While there were some engaging and rewarding  encounters around the table, when it came to the main session in the afternoon – which was about ‘Reaching Consensus on the Main Points from the Morning’ – we just didn’t seem ready. So much had been left unspoken, resulting in significant gaps in what had been expressed and recorded by all the tables and I had a sense of inadequacy as a rep that a pivotal opportunity may have been wasted”

 “I am disappointed and concerned that foundations that could have been laid for discussion, progress and decisions at the Synod in October 2026 have not been laid.”

These were reactions from two ACI members to the long-anticipated Irish Pre-Synodal Assembly in Kilkenny on October 18^th, 2025, attended by four ACI representatives in total.  That sense of disappointment, and of loss of momentum and clear focus and direction in the synodal process, was felt by all four.

Disappointment and deflation were also expressed by theologian Fr Gerry O’Hanlon SJ, as related in the Irish Catholic on Thursday Oct 23^rd.

‘I felt strangely flat and disappointed …and talking with others I discovered that this collective sense of deflation was widespread. People seemed genuinely at a loss to explain what had happened. The fire and elation of Athlone in 2022 were conspicuous by their absence.’

This was Gerry O’Hanlon’s summation to the Irish Catholic.  He suggested that the day may have been affected by differing visions of the Catholic Church of the future, with some content to plan for ‘the so-called Benedict option which sees the Church as a small, counter-cultural resistance movement to the surrounding secular culture’, with others preferring a more open Church ‘in dialogue with the world’.

ACI is hopeful that the official website for the Synodal Pathway – synod.ie – will soon be updated to process input from the day and chart the way forward.