Martin to attend Synod on the Family

ARCHBISHOP OF Dublin Diarmuid Martin has confirmed he will attend this October’s follow-up Synod on the Family in Rome and has invited Catholics to take part in a diocesan-wide discussion ahead of the gathering.

In a letter to priests and parishes, Archbishop Martin said the Pope wanted God’s people to have an opportunity to make their contribution to the process.

“I believe we owe it to Pope Francis to use this opportunity for reflection,” he said, adding that the Pope was offering the faithful “a new model of church practice”.

The process of reflection and discussion will take place in parishes during February and March, with each parish determining locally what form it takes.

Responses are to be returned to the Diocesan Office for Evangelisation and Ecumenism before the end of March 2015.