SYNOD 2016 has opened in Limerick with an overwhelming message that Catholic Church should reach out to those they hurt.
“I welcome that because, I have to as much as we can, make those who have been hurt hear that we want to reach out to them.
“I accept that not everybody would want to hear it or feel they can hear it because they have been so badly hurt and I obviously want to repeat any of those apologies as much as I can.
“There is 400 delegates here saying that this is a priority for us. It is not just me saying it, it is the Diocese of Limerick saying it.
Bishop Leahy said that he is very please with the feedback and the opening exchanges as the three days of discussion and open forum sessions begins.
“It’s just fantastic and there is a wonderful atmosphere here – combined with a maturity.
Bishop Leahy outlined that 23 meetings took place involving delegates and a listening process before the Synod opened.
“This is a real distilling of the wisdom of the listening that has gone on right across the 60 parishes of our Diocese in Limerick,” Bishop Leahy added.
400 delegates have gathered at Mary Immaculate College to discuss and outline a “roadmap” for the future of the church in the Limerick Diocese.
Bishop Leahy said that he hopes to take this forward as a “job description” or a “programme for Government” and implement as many of the proposals as possible and as soon as is possible.
