The Joint Lectionary Project, a collaborative initiative between the Bishops’ Conferences of Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, met recently at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, to discuss next steps in the development of a new edition of the Lectionary, aimed at updating the proclamation of Scripture across the three island nations.
In a statement to the public, the Bishop’s Conference said “For over fifty years, parishes and communities across Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand have listened to Scripture from the same translations,” the group noted. “Now is an opportunity for a new edition of the Lectionary.”
The project was launched following a decision made in Adelaide in 2023 to develop a new Lectionary based on the Revised New Jerusalem Bible. The current Lectionary, still widely used, is based on the 1966 Jerusalem Bible, which the bishops say no longer reflects developments in biblical scholarship or contemporary language.
The commission, which includes Bishop Stephen Lowe (New Zealand), Archbishop Patrick O’Regan (Australia), and Archbishop Francis Duffy (Ireland), met alongside national liturgy secretaries and the project’s director, Mr Martin Foster. Together, they reviewed the first of four volumes, covering Sundays and Solemnities, and discussed the appointment of a publisher and future rollout.
The next phase includes completing the volumes for weekday Masses and saints’ feast days by May 2026, with the final volume for sacraments and funerals expected by year’s end. A pastoral guidebook, Preparing for the New Lectionary, was also launched at the meeting. Written by Fr Neil Xavier O’Donoghue, it offers a greater context for clergy and parishes ahead of the rollout.
A key part of the development process involves circulating draft texts to the bishops of the three conferences and a working group of men and women with expertise in Scripture and liturgy. Their feedback is gathered, discussed, and incorporated through monthly meetings. In many ways, the approach reflects a synodal way of working, one grounded in collaboration, listening, and shared discernment.
In their statement, the bishops expressed their gratitude to all those who have contributed to the project so far.
