The events of 2009-10 galvanised many Irish Catholics into a realisation that their church was in deep crisis, and that things would never be the same again.  Our traditional lay tendency to wait for others to take the initiative had been shown to be deeply dangerous:  Irish lay Catholics had now to adopt a different proactive role if their church was to recover and renew itself - and Irish bishops were by then also promising an era of greater lay involvement.

The crises of 2009 brought a significant number of new members to VOTFI, especially in the Dublin area.  Opportunities were explored for mobilising support for survivors of abuse and for revitalising Catholic commitment to the renewed and vibrant church envisaged by Vatican II.

To reflect this new reality we in VOTFI reorganised ourselves.  The role of coordinator exercised by Sean O'Conaill from 2004-2010 was at Easter 2010 devolved to a Membership Support Team, some of whose leading members were Dublin-based.  Sean's location in Coleraine in Northern Ireland had never been ideal, and became disadvantageous to the growth of VOTFI in Dublin and other urban centres in Ireland.  Health concerns also advised that he should step down from the coordinating role at that time.

 The thinking behind the formation of the Membership Support Team (MST) was that leadership should not be controlling and directive, but should instead encourage members to be proactive and creative in their own locales in fulfilling VOTF's mission and goals.  We felt sure that this was a time of opportunity as well as crisis, and that it was the individual members of VOTFI who would know best how to rise to those opportunities, in their own space.  

The MST will continue to consult the wider membership through the online groups that have taken VOTFI to its position as an acknowledged force for constructive lay participation in the life of the church in Ireland.  Recent assurances from Irish bishops that lay people will in future be far more involved in the life of the church give cause for hope - and everything depends on lay people being eager and willing to take on that role. With this reorganisation VOTFI hopes to forward that vision of the church, in collaboration with all who have a similar vision.

VOTF™
Mission Statement

To provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church.

Our Goals

2. To support priests of integrity

3.To shape structural change within the Catholic Church.

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