Irish Churches meet to foster closer relationships and learn from each other

Image: Irish Catholic Media Office

The now annual meeting of representatives of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference, and the Church of Ireland House of Bishops, took place at the Columba Centre, Maynooth, on 21 September 2026. The meeting's wide-ranging discussions were set in the context of prayer and fellowship.

After the meeting Bishop Brendan Leahy, who is a member of the Catholic Bishops' Council for Ecumenism and Dialogue, said: "While all the bishops attend many meetings, the beauty of this annual gathering is its simple purpose: to foster closer relationships, provide mutual updating and offer an opportunity to learn from one another.

"It is an expression of what is sometimes called 'receptive ecumenism' where we learn from listening to one another's experience and insights. The relaxed but engaging conversations make it a meeting I very much look forward to each year."

Bishop Michael Burrows also commented: "I fully share Bishop Leahy's views concerning the value and scope of our conversations, and I too look forward greatly to them year-by-year. It is a pleasure for me to work with Bishop Brendan as co-convener of such warm and fruitful annual gatherings. This week's meeting strengthened our bonds of friendship and provided a context for very substantial discussion of issues from AI to education and school governance."

The topics considered included: Education issues, in particular, the recent Primary School Surveys on divestment and related matters; AI in the light of Pope Leo IX's encyclical published in May, Magnifica Humanitas; Synodality and the Catholic Church's upcoming National Synodal Assembly to be held on 17 October; and, Issues relating to the celebration of marriage.

This annual informal meeting is a response to the invitation from the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity and Mission to foster such types of meetings.

Present on behalf of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference: Bishop Martin Hayes, Bishop of Kilmore, Bishop Brendan Leahy, Bishop of Limerick, Bishop Gerard Nash, Bishop of Ferns and Bishop of Ossory, Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin, Bishop Donal Roche, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin.

Present on behalf of the House of Bishops:Bishop Michael Burrows, Bishop of the Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe; Bishop Ian Ellis, Bishop of Clogher; Bishop Ferran Glenfield, Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh; Bishop Adrian Wilkinson, Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossor