‘Synodality itself seems to have moved from being a sometimes controversially perceived destination to a way of being Church’ – Bishop Deenihan

Bishop Tom Deenihan told delegates at the Irish National Synodal Assembly that synodality has shifted from a controversial destination to a way of being the Church. Addressing the gathering at the City North Hotel in Gormanston, County Meath, the Bishop of Meath noted that the current synodal journey has progressed significantly since the initial diocesan conversations.

Deenihan expressed concern regarding the assembly due to the historical tendency of synods to result in the suppression or merging of dioceses within his region. He cited the Synod of Rath Breasail in 1111, which saw the Diocese of Dunshaughlin suppressed, and the Synod of Uisneach, which led to the suppression of the Diocese of Duleek. He also noted that the Synod of Kells in 1152 resulted in the Diocese of Trim being merged into the Diocese of Clonard. Deenihan remarked that these historical changes contributed to the current diocese, which now encompasses the former territories of Clonard, Dunshaughlin, Duleek, Kells, Uisneach, and Trim.