Friday, 11.09.2009
Thirty-six men to study for priesthood

THIRTY-SIX men are due to begin studies this year to enter the Catholic priesthood – the highest number in over a decade. The seminarians are aged from 18 to mid-40s and come from a variety of backgrounds, including medicine, IT, education, accountancy and tradesmen.

Twenty-six will study in St Patrick's College, Maynooth; seven at St Malachy's College, Belfast; two in the Beda College in Rome, while one candidate is entering college in Valladolid, Spain.

Two others will begin studies later this year.

Fr Paddy Rushe, national coordinator of diocesan vocation directors, said: "I want to acknowledge the hard work of vocation directors around the country... Despite ongoing challenges to the gospel values in the modern world it is encouraging to see evidence that God continues to inspire people to answer His call of service in the priesthood."

The Church said there were 24 seminarians last year and 20 the previous year, and it is the highest number of entrants since 46 seminarians began training in 1999.

Seven seminarians have also transferred from Scotland to Maynooth to complete their studies, following the closure of Scotus College in Glasgow. Monsignor Hugh Connolly, president of St Patrick's, welcomed the seminarians, saying: "You are about to begin a new and exciting journey, one that we share with you.

"This will be a time of tremendous personal growth... It will also be a time of transition as you adjust to a new environment and to a new way of life."

Speaking earlier of the increasing numbers, Mgr Connolly said that although the numbers going forward for the priesthood were modest by historic standards, the increase was "a welcome development".

He noted seminarians nowadays tended to be older than in the past and said he believed the increase was due largely to the targeting of men in the workplace.

"My own read on this is that various dioceses have struggled and worked hard to contact and engage with people in the workplace and that is why we have seen an increase in numbers," he said.

Bishop Donal McKeown, chairman of the Vocations Commission of the Irish Episcopal Conference, also welcomed the news saying that it was an encouragement to all those in parish communities and other organisations associated with the promotion of vocations. "Priests come from families and parish communities across the country; they are sons, brothers and uncles, work colleagues and friends – part of a Christian community," he said.

At the end of September the total number of seminarians in Maynooth will be 77. This is in contrast to the situation five years ago when members of the Irish Catholic Church hierarchy expressed concern that vocations were in freefall and that many parishes would be left without a parish priest.