2nd December 2018 - Bishop McKeown reflects on the Synod of Bishops on Youth (Oct 2018) - 1st Sunday of Advent

On this weeks programme Bishop Donal McKeown from Derry joins John and Shane to discuss the recent meeting of the Synod of Bishops held in Rome which looked at Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. 

We have our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel as well as notices and liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of the full programme HERE.



Synod of Bishops on Young People, the faith and vocational discernment

Bishop Donal McKeown is the bishop of Derry which covers almost all of County Derry, parts of Counties Donegal and Tyrone and a very small area across the River Bann in County Antrim and he joins John and Shane on this weeks programme.

From 3rd - 28th October 2018 Bishop Donal was one of the Irish representatives at the Synod of Bishops meeting being held in Rome. The Synod of Bishops was established by Pope Paul VI in 1965, shortly after the close of the Second Vatican Council, to continue the spirit of collegiality and communion that was present at the Council. The Synod is an assembly of bishops from around the world who assist the Holy Father by providing counsel on important questions facing the Church in a manner that preserves the Church's teaching and strengthens her internal discipline. On average it meets every three years and this years Synod was focused on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. 

Bishop Donal takes us through his experience of the Synod and the issues and topics that arose both from the bishops but also the youth participants on the floor of the Synod. He talks us through the documents and ideas which have been put forward as we wait now for Pope Francis to publish his final document arising from the Synod. 

You can listen to Bishop Donal's interview excerpted from the main programme podcast HERE. 



Synod of Bishops website
Crux - Synod of Bishops on Youth
USCCB - Synod of Bishops on Youth 

Gospel - Luke 21:25-28; 34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.For that day will assault everyonewho lives on the face of the earth.Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 1 - First week of Advent

Saints of the Week

December 3rd - St Francis Xavier
December 4th - St John Damascene
December 5th - St Sabbas of Mar Saba
December 6th - St Nicholas
December 7th - St Ambrose (First Friday)
December 8th - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (First Saturday)

Pope's Intention for December 2018

"That people, who are involved in the service and transmission of faith, may find, in their dialogue with culture, a language suited to the conditions of the present time".

WoF - Synod of Bishops - Youth Interviews

The Word on Fire team are in Rome with Bishop Robert Barron during the Synod of Bishops in Rome. They asked young people to identify the best and worst things ever done by the church. It's sobering watching and like many online commentators let's really hope the church leadership see and hear this.

It echos some of the points which Bishop Barron made in his Synod intervention: 

Bishop Barron at Synod of Bishops: Young people are ‘hungry for mission’

The Big April Ask

Hello everyone!! 

The Limerick Diocese Youth Ministry Team recently put up a survey with questions from Pope Francis for young people. Well now it's gone to the next level and every Diocese in Ireland wants in on the action. So they have got a new survey for you - it will take you 2 minutes to complete and the answers will be seen by Pope Francis himself because he wants to know what you think. 

If you are aged between 16 and 29 then please please please take two minutes to complete the survey by clicking the link here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/bigaprilask

19th October 2014 - Mission Sunday - 29th Sunday in Ordinary time

Due to some technical difficulties at SS102fm base camp, this week we are unable to bring our planned programme, so instead we are going to repeat and interview we did with Fr John O'Shea.
 
You can listen to the podcast of the programme HERE.
 
Mission Sunday
 

This weekend is Mission Sunday in Ireland which has a particular focus on supporting the missionary church. World Mission Sunday takes place on the second last Sunday of October each year. Since 1926, the Church has traditionally remembered its universal mission during the month of October. This year Mission Sunday will be celebrated throughout the world on the 19 October 2014. In Rome the celebration of Mission Sunday will take place at the conclusion of the Synod of Bishops on the “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization” which is taking place in Rome from 5 to 19 October.
 
Throughout the world the faithful will reflect on the universal call to Mission of all the baptised and they will be invited to contribute what they can to support the development and growth of the young churches throughout the world. Mission Sunday is celebrated by every Church throughout the world, including the poorest. This special Sunday in October provides Catholics with the opportunity to unite with their missionary sisters and brothers overseas, and to recommit themselves to bringing the Joy of the Gospel to everyone they meet in their daily lives at home and at work.
 
In October and especially on Mission Sunday Catholics are invited to be specifically conscious of the Church’s missionary activity abroad (ad gentes) through prayer, sacrifice and financial contributions. The funds collected in all Churches throughout the world on Mission Sunday, is coordinated by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, founded by Pauline Jaricot 190 years ago. The funds are used to assist Churches who need financial support and directed towards communities in need, both spiritually and materially.
 
In October 2013, Irish Catholics contributed more than €1.6 million on Mission Sunday. The Mission Sunday collection is made available, in its entirety, to be distributed to as many as 1,100 young Churches who are supported by the generosity of Churches that have been blessed with a greater quantity of financial and material gifts.
 
Contributions will be used to build simple mission churches, to educate seminarians as well as female diocesan religious novices. Your support also assists in the formation of catechists and lay leaders. The Mission Sunday gift may also be used for building health facilities for children and adults as well as for providing emergency aid in times of war or natural disaster or to assist missionaries in their efforts to care for refugees.
 
The theme for World Mission Sunday in Ireland this year 2014 is “That they may have Life”. The theme goes to the heart of Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) published by Pope Francis on 24 November 2013.
 
On Mission Sunday, in a special way, we celebrate the work our c. 1,300 Irish born missionaries and all missionaries throughout the world. We thank God for them, for all who support them in our own country and during mission month we unite ourselves in prayer with them and with the communities with whom they work.
 
 

 
Pope Francis message for World Mission Sunday 2014 is available HERE.

 As part of our outreach, SS102fm wanted to highlight the difficulties of our fellow christians in the Middle East. While issues of everyday concern to families are on the agenda at the extraordinary Synod on the Family, one participant has come to Rome with a very sinister tale to tell. It’s the plight of tens of thousands of Iraqi Christian families who fled for their lives to escape from Islamic State militants. Few think they will ever return home.

That’s according to Archbishop Ignatius Joseph III Younan, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of the Syriac Catholic Church who was eager to speak to Vatican Radio outside the Synod hall. He wanted to raise global awareness about the desperate conditions in which his people are now living in northern Iraq.

Listen to the interview with Patriarch Younan in this program by Tracey McClure on Vatican Radio HERE.
 
Gospel - Matthew 22:15-21

"Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him in his talk. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Hero'di-ans, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the money for the tax." And they brought him a coin. And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.""

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
Word on Fire
Centre for Liturgy

Beatification of Pope Paul VI

The beatification of Paul VI takes place this weekend. You can read more about it in an earlier post HERE.

Liturgical odds and ends

Saints of the Week

October 20th - St Aidan of Mayo
October 21st - Bl Charles of Austria
October 22nd - St Pope John Paul II
October 23rd - St John of Capistrano
October 24th - St Anthony Mary Claret
October 25th - Bl Thaddeus MacCarthy
 

12 October 2014 - Update on the Synod on the Family - 28th Sunday in Ordinary time (Year A)

On this weeks programme John is joined by Martina O'Sullivan to review what has been happening on the Synod on the Family which has been taking place in Rome over the last week. We have an interview with Cardinal Wurl from Washington DC in the USA from Vatican Radio which gives some back ground to what is happening in Rome as well as our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel and other liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks programme HERE.

Synod on the Family

This week we are broadcasting an interview from Vatican Radio with Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington DC in the USA.

The Synod is a process, “we should not expect sound bite solutions” to the challenges facing the family in todays’ “secularized culture”, says the Archbishop of Washington DC, Cardinal Donald Wuerl. He was speaking to Vatican Radio on the eve of the first full day of working sessions in the Extra-Ordinary Synod of Bishops on the challenges of the family in the context of evangelization.

You can listen to the interview excerpted from the main SS102fm programme HERE.

You can find the original link to Vatican Radio HERE.

 

Pope Francis prayer for the Synod on the Family

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
in you we contemplate
the splendour of true love,
to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
grant that our families too
may be places of communion and prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel
and small domestic Churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
may families never again
experience violence, rejection and division:
may all who have been hurt or scandalized
find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
may the approaching Synod of Bishops
make us once more mindful
of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,
and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
graciously hear our prayer.

 

 

Coverage from around the web on the Synod:

John L Allen and his team over at Crux have excellent coverage HERE.

You can watch a series of short 2-3 minute daily videos updating about what has been happening in the Synod from Rome Report's HERE.

Daily summary from Vatican Information Service giving the main points discussed during the Synod available HERE.

Catholic News Service coverage of the Synod HERE.

Salt + Light coverage of the Synod HERE.

Vatican Radio coverage can be read HERE.

Rocco's coverage of the Synod over at Whispers in the Loggia but his best coverage is from his Twitter feed.

Phil over at Ennis Blue has a round up of links on coverage of the Synod.

Gospel - Matthew 22: 1-14

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,

"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, `Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.' But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, `The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

"But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, `Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, `Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

 



 

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical Odds and Ends

Saints of the Week

October 13th - St Edward the Confessor
October 14th - St Callistus
October 15th - St Teresa of Avila
October 16th - St Margaret Mary Alacoque - seer of the Sacred Heart
October 17th - St Colman of Kilroot
October 18th - St Luke

Priceless – Francis arrives at #Synod14, Guards salute... but Pope wants a handshake

What is a Synod?

 

What is a Synod? What is ‪#‎Synod14‬. Here's a short, clear video explaining what, why, how and who. Be part of this Synod by praying for all involved.

Day of Prayer for the Synod on the Family

From the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops: A request for special prayers on Sunday, 28 September, for the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

Day of Prayer

for the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the

Synod of Bishops

Sunday, 28 September 2014

Sunday, 28 September is to be set aside as a Day of Prayer for the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, scheduled to take place from 5 to 19 October to treat the topic: The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization.

Particular churches, parish communities, institutes of consecrated life, associations and movements are invited to pray for this intention during Mass and at other liturgical celebrations, in the days leading to the synod and during the synod itself. In Rome, in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, prayers will be recited each day in the chapel of the icon, Salus Populi Romani. The faithful, individually but above all in families, are invited to join in these prayers.

The suggested prayers include the Prayer to the Holy Family for the Synod, composed by Pope Francis, and the following proposed intentions during the Prayers of the Faithful which can be adapted at Sunday Mass on 28 September and during the synod. These intentions can also be included in the petitions at Lauds and Vespers. The recitation of the Holy Rosary is also recommended for the duration of the synodal assembly.


I - Prayer to the Holy Family for the Synod

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

in you we contemplate

the splendour of true love,

to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

grant that our families too

may be places of communion and prayer,

authentic schools of the Gospel

and small domestic Churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

may families never again

experience violence, rejection and division:

may all who have been hurt or scandalized

find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

may the approaching Synod of Bishops

make us once more mindful

of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,

and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

graciously hear our prayer.

Amen.

 

 

II - Prayers of the Faithful.

Limerick Diocese seeking your responses on preparatory documents on the Synod on the Family

Pope Francis has announced that in October 2014 an Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will take place in the Vatican to discuss the theme:

‘The pastoral challenges for the family in the context of evangelisation’.

In order to prepare for this Synod, and to assist in its discussions, the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops has initiated a consultation to obtain responses on this important theme. A ‘Preparatory Document’ to contextualise this initiative has been created by the Vatican, it includes consultation questions which are grouped under the following ten sections:

1. The Diffusion of the Teachings on the Family in Sacred Scripture and the Church’s Magisterium
2. Marriage according to the Natural Law
3. The Pastoral Care of the Family in Evangelization
4. Pastoral Care in Certain Difficult Marital Situations
5. On Unions of Persons of the Same Sex
6. The Education of Children in Irregular Marriages
7. The Openness of the Married Couple to Life
8. The Relationship Between the Family and the Person
9. Other Challenges and Proposals
10. 10. Further comments

Bishop Leahy and Limerick Diocese would like to hear from a wide variety of Catholics on this matter. We are offering three possibilities for you and your parish to respond:

1. Personal response. The document is available on the website www.limerickdiocese.org or HERE.  Anyone can read it there, and reply to the questions as indicated. Please include this general invitation in parish newsletters and announcements this week and next.
2. Parish response. Bishop Leahy would delighted to receive 1-2 responses from any Parish Pastoral Council that has met and discussed the document and its questions.
3. Diocesan workshop. The Pastoral Development team will host a once-off workshop where these matters will be discussed and reported back on.

The timeline is unfortunately quiet tight – all replies must be delivered in December. This is because we are simply at the first stage in a long international consultation process. Bishops will report their initial findings in January and across 2014 a series of questions will be developed for discussion by the church at the Ordinary General Assembly in 2015. This conversation on the family and evangelisation will continue in this diocese and beyond.

All replies should be sent by email or post to the addresses below. Please note that short and succinct responses are most helpful. Deadline: 20^th December 2013.

Email: office@ldo.ie Subject Heading: Response re: Family and Evangelisation
Post: Response re: Family and Evangelisation, Limerick diocesan office, Social services centre, Henry St, Limerick

25th November 2012 - Jesus Christ, Universal King

On this weeks programme we are joined by Fr Eamonn Conway, head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick who recently attended the Synod of Bishops in Rome on the Transmission of Faith and New Evangelisation as an expert advisor and he shares with us his experience of the Synod. We also have our regular reflection on the Gospel as well as some saints of the week and local notices.

This weeks full programme is available in podcast HERE.

Rev. Professor Eamonn Conway on the Synod of Bishops and the New Evangelisation

Image source: Mary Immaculate College

Rev. Professor Eamonn Conway is a priest of the Tuam Diocese.  He studied philosophy and sociology at the National University of Ireland and theology at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth and the University of Tuebingen.  He was awarded his doctorate in theology in 1991 and taught Systematic Theology for seven years at All Hallows College, Dublin.  He was appointed Head of Theology and Religious Studies at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick in 1999 and in 2000 he also became co-director at the Centre for Culture, Technology & Values.

Fr. Eamonn speaks to us this week about his experience of attending the recent Synod of Bishops in Rome on the theme of New Evangelisation which examined ways of trying to renew and bring back people to a more active participation in their faith.  Fr. Eamonn explained in general terms what a Synod of Bishops is and what it does and shared a fascinating account of what it meant to be an expert advisor at a Synod and some of the topics that arose there.

You can listen to the interview with Fr. Conway excerpted from the programme HERE.




Gospel - John 18: 33-37 - Solemnity of Jesus Christ the Universal King

Source

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe was instituted by Pope Pius XI in the Encyclical Quas Primas in 1925.  This solemnity is always celebrated on the last Sunday of the Church's liturgical year.  It is fitting to reflect on the Kingship of Jesus at this time of the year.  Every time we pray the Our Father or the Creed, we are praying for the fulfilment of the Kingdom of God.  If we truly believe that Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, then we will reflect this in our lives. Perhaps during this coming week and as we move into the new season of Advent we can reflect on the following questions:

(1) Who is the king of my heart and mind and life?  Do submit every part of my day and life to Jesus Christ?  Do I live as if Jesus is the Universal King or do I prefer to keep some parts of my life under my own control and dominion? 

(2) Do I work for the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of man?  Do I pour my energies into working for peace, love, justice, unity and harmony or do I spend most of my energies in the pursuit of status, power, wealth?

And as we say goodbye shortly to the Alleluia for the season of Advent, we take this opportunity to play one of the Sacred Space team's favourite hymns: the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah, directed here by Andre Rieu:

 

 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

The kingdom of this world

is become the Kingdom of the Lord,

and of His Christ, and of His Christ;

and He shall reign for ever and ever,

for ever and ever, for ever and ever.

King of kings, and Lord of lords,

and Lord, of lords,

and He shall reign forever and ever!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Other reflections on this weeks gospel:

• SS102fm archive for Christ the King here and here
• Word on Fire
• English Domincans
• Sunday Reflections by Jesuits in India
• Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical odds and ends

Divine Office - Week 2

Saints of the Week

November 26th - Blessed Hugh Taylor
November 27th - St. Fergal, Bishop and Missionary
November 29th - St. Saturninus, Bishop
November 30th - St. Andrew, Apostle
December 1st - St. Edmund Campion, Martyr (First Saturday)
 

Final Message of the Synod of Bishops

The Synod of Bishops on new evangelisation draws to a close this weekend as over 260 Church leaders from around the globe come up with a final list of propositions to present to Pope Benedict for inclusion in his apostolic exhortation. On Friday morning, the bishops presented a concluding message which they hope will inspire all those involved in promoting evangelisation, whether in busy inner city parishes, in secluded monasteries or in the remotest parts of countries where the Church may be only a tiny minority of the population.
 
Vatican Radio report here.

 

 

 

Full text of the message:

 

Brothers and sisters,

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7). Before returning to our particular Churches, we, Bishops of the whole world gathered by the invitation of the Bishop of Rome Pope Benedict XVI to reflect on “the new evangelization for the transmission of the Christian faith”, wish to address all of you spread throughout the world in order to sustain and direct the preaching and teaching of the Gospel in the diverse contexts in which the Church finds herself today to give witness.

1. Like the Samaritan woman at the well

Let us draw light from a Gospel passage: Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman (cf. John 4:5-42). There is no man or woman who, in one's life, would not find oneself like the woman of Samaria beside a well with an empty bucket, with the hope of finding the fulfillment of the heart's most profound desire, that which alone could give full meaning to existence. Today, many wells offer themselves to quench humanity's thirst, but we must discern in order to avoid polluted waters. We must orient the search well, so as not to fall prey to disappointment, which can be disastrous.
Like Jesus at the well of Sychar, the Church also feels obliged to sit beside today's men and women. She wants to render the Lord present in their lives so that they could encounter him because he alone is the water that gives true and eternal life. Only Jesus can read the depths of our heart and reveal the truth about ourselves: “He told me everything I have done”, the woman confesses to her fellow citizens. This word of proclamation is united to the question that opens up to faith: “Could he possibly be the Messiah?” It shows that whoever receives new life from encountering Jesus cannot but proclaim truth and hope to others. The sinner who was converted becomes a messenger of salvation and leads the whole city to Jesus. The people pass from welcoming her testimony to personally experiencing the encounter: “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world”.

 

2. A new evangelizationLeading the men and women of our time to Jesus, to the encounter with him is a necessity that touches all the regions of the world, those of the old and those of the recent evangelization. Everywhere indeed we feel the need to revive a faith that risks eclipse in cultural contexts that hinders its taking root in persons and its presence in society, the clarity of its content and its coherent fruits.It is not about starting again, but entering into the long path of proclaiming the Gospel with the apostolic courage of Paul who would go so far as to say “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). Throughout history, from the first centuries of the Christian era to the present, the Gospel has edified communities of believers in all parts of the world. Whether small or great, these are the fruit of the dedication of generations of witnesses to Jesus – missionaries and martyrs – whom we remember with gratitude.

Changing societies and cultures call us to something new: to live our communitarian experience of faith in a renewed way and to proclaim it through an evangelization that is “new in its ardor, in its methods, in its expressions” (John Paul II, Discourse to the XIX Assembly of CELAM, Port-au-Prince, 9 March 1983, n. 3) as John Paul II said. Benedict XVI recalled that it is an evangelization that is directed “principally at those who, though baptized, have drifted away from the Church and live without reference to the Christian life... to help these people encounter the Lord, who alone fills our existence with deep meaning and peace; and to favor the rediscovery of the faith, that source of grace which brings joy and hope to personal, family and social life”(Benedict XVI, Homily for the Eucharistic celebration for the solemn inauguration of the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Rome, 7 October 2012).

Synod of Bishops - Irish perspectives UPDATED

"We have a product which is extraordinary and we have to get our act together to bring it to as many people as possible. The way we [communicate] things at times is a total disaster and we have to be humble and say, ‘we need to do better.’ We need to start using language that people understand.... We need to tell people we are not here to impose, but that we are here to propose.”

–Charles J. Scicluna

Auxiliary Bishop-elect of Malta

 

Interview with The Sunday Times

14 October 2

 

 

As readers/listeners may be aware, the Synod of Bishops is currently ongoing in Rome at the moment
 
The Synod is an advisory body for the Pope. It is "a group of bishops who have been chosen from different regions of the world and meet together at fixed times to foster closer unity between the Roman Pontiff and bishops, to assist the Roman Pontiff with their counsel in the preservation and growth of faith and morals and in the observance and strengthening of ecclesiastical discipline, and to consider questions pertaining to the activity of the Church in the world".
 
The current Synod is discussing The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith
 
For those that would like an Irish perspective on the Synod Prof Eamonn Conway (of Mary I) who is attending the Synod as a theological advisor at the request of the Holy Father has given an interview to Vatican Radio which can be read and listened to HERE.
 
Bishop Kieran O'Reilly from the diocese of Killaloe along with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin are the representatives of the Irish episcopal conference at the Synod and Bishop Kieran has been blogging at the Diocese of Killaloe website and you can catch up with him HERE.
 
From a non- Irish perspective, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York blogs HERE and Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington is blogging HERE. John Allen of t he National Catholic Reporter is covering the Synod HERE and HERE and always check in with Rocco over at Whispers in the Loggia as well to see what he has got covered.
 
For the official Vatican documents and daily reports of the contributions of the Synod Fathers check out:

• Lineamenta and Instrumentum Laboris - these are the working documents of the Synod and consist of a series of questions circulated to the various episcopal conferences and the summation of the responses received and issues to be discussed. 
• Bulletins from the Synod in English

 News.va and Vatican Radio are also covering the Synod and have interesting articles and reflections which are easy to digest!


UPDATE

Coverage of Archbishop Diarmuid Martins intervention (address) at the Synod covered by:

• Zenit
• Catholic Ireland

And the full text from the Archdiocese of Dublin website.