Julieann Moran and Fr Declan Hurley offer their insights into the seven priorities for the Irish Synodal Pathway, as set out in Baptised and Sent. First published for the Synodal Pathway Assembly in October, Baptised and Sent is well worth reading in its own right, offering a clear and hopeful vision for the future of the Church by setting out seven key priorities rooted in our shared baptism.
It draws together several years of listening, prayer, and discernment, and returns to the fundamental question first posed in 2021:
“What does God want from the Church in Ireland at this time?”
At the heart of Baptised and Sent is the conviction that baptism is the foundation of Christian dignity, unity, and mission. Through baptism, every person – lay and and ordained, young and old – is called to discipleship and to share responsibility for the life and mission of the Church. From this shared calling flow the seven priorities that emerged from voices across the country.
The Seven Priorities
1. Belonging
The first priority is fostering a Church of welcome, inclusion, and safety—where every person can find a home in community and in Christ, especially those who have felt excluded or marginalised.
2. Co-responsibility and Lay Ministry
This priority emphasises empowering all the baptised, women and men alike, to share responsibility for leadership and mission through new models of ministry and decision-making.
3. Family
Recognising the family as the domestic Church, this priority focuses on supporting families as the primary place of faith transmission and strengthening their connection with parishes and schools.
4. Formation and Catechesis
There is a clear call for lifelong, Christ-centred formation that is experiential and equips people for discipleship in today’s world. This formation is rooted not only in learning, but also in liturgy and sacramental life, so that prayer and worship become living sources of faith, understanding, and mission.
5. Healing
The document acknowledges deep wounds within the Church, especially those caused by abuse. It commits to accountability, justice, reconciliation, and the creation of safe spaces for survivors and for all who carry pain.
6. Women
Recognising women’s gifts, leadership, and co-responsibility at every level of Church life is named as a matter of justice, credibility, and faithfulness to the Gospel.
7. Youth
The final priority focuses on engaging young people with authenticity—listening to their hopes and challenges, offering them meaningful roles in leadership and mission, and walking with them in faith.
Together, these seven priorities invite the Church in Ireland to continue its journey as a listening, participatory, and mission-centred community, grounded in baptism and open to the future the Holy Spirit is unfolding.
Watch the full interview with Wendy Grace from TheWay.ie below
Unpacking the Seven Priorities for the Irish Synodal Pathway
