The Irish bishops are considering using the Revised New Jerusalem Bible (RNJB) as the basis for a new edition of the Lectionary for Mass, marking a departure from the bishops’ conferences of England, Wales and Scotland’s decision to use the English Standard Version – Catholic Edition (ESV-CE).
The RNJB is a revision, published last year, of the Jerusalem Bible currently heard at Mass. The bishops’ conferences in Britain have been criticised for choosing the ESV, which uses gender-exclusive translations instead of inclusive phrases such as “brothers and sisters”, and for failing to consult Scripture experts or lay people.
The Irish bishops are opening the decision up for consultation, and are seeking submissions from interested parties to the secretariat for liturgy. Submissions can be sent to: liturgy@iecon.ie
The bishops also announced their decision to call a synod for the Irish Church which will take place “within the next five years”. They said they had been giving active consideration to calling a national synodal assembly. Conversations at local, regional and national level informed the work of a subgroup of the episcopal conference established to explore the idea of a synod.
Referring to the challenges and opportunities that provide the context for the synod, they said the synodal pathway would be about journeying together in discernment to see what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church in Ireland “at this pivotal time”.
On the need for a national synod, the bishops said they were “acutely aware of the huge challenges” to the faith over the past 50 years from the rapid transformation and secularisation of society in Ireland, bringing with it a major decline in practice of the faith and in the number of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life.
Like others, they are “appalled” by the findings of published reports on institutional and clerical abuse: “The recent shocking revelations about mother and baby homes in Ireland – north and south – have further reminded us of the deep trauma felt by so many in the Body of Christ and the need for inner healing and hope.”
Some of the themes highlighted for the synodal path and synodal assembly include the “critical” need to honour the contribution of women to the Church, the family as a domestic Church and the need to connect to the energy and gifts of young people.
On the issue of women, the bishops acknowledged that many women are very engaged in church life in Ireland and that there was a need to formally recognise their roles, and articulate new models of co-responsibility and leadership involving all lay people – women and men.
An initial two-year phase is earmarked for embarking on a synodal pathway and will prepare the ground for a national synod. It will coincide with preparation for the 2022 Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops in Rome entitled: “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission”. At the summer general meeting next June, the bishops intend to establish a task group to oversee the first steps along the synodal pathway. The group will be made up of lay women and men, including young people, Religious, priests and bishops. From 6 April, an online page will be available on the bishops’ conference website for suggestions.
The reform group We Are Church Ireland welcomed the decision to hold a national synodal assembly and the call for submissions for a new Lectionary, but said the national synod should take place within the next three years, not five years.
Spokesman Colm Holmes said that the issues that the national synodal assembly needed to address were the same issues being discussed in the Amazon, Germany, Australia and else- where: new governance structures to de-clericalise the institutional Church and reflect the inclusive message of the Gospel; equality for women and LGBTQ+ people; and the opening up of all renewed ministries to all baptised.
The group planned to make a submission on the new Lectionary for Ireland “in favour of inclusive rather than sexist language”.
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