Some of your recent letters about national synodal processes ahead of the 2023 synod make for depressing reading. From the seeming slow pace of organisational preparedness here in rural Ireland, I might justifiably feel equally depressed. Any lack of optimism quickly subsided when two weekends ago I visited London and my former parish.

In Ealing I was able to take part in week four of listening sessions with a very committed group of fellow Catholics. The well-advertised Monday evening lay-led drop-in event started at 7 p.m. and was scheduled to remain open to occasional passers-by until as late as 11 p.m. While I was there the very mixed group listened carefully and respectfully to one another and were still very engaged when I left after almost two hours. This was the seventh of eight sessions planned for that week. Most of the other sessions were shorter and took place after Masses.