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CV NEWS FEED // Ireland is seeing an uptick in priestly vocations, as 21 new seminarians from Irish dioceses are starting their first year in seminary.
Including these 21, 74 men total are studying and preparing to become priests to serve in Ireland, according to a September 18 report on the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference news webpage.
In April 2023, Ireland’s national seminary in Maynooth had just 20 seminarians, according to a report from the Irish Independent at the time. This does not account for the number of seminarians who are studying at other seminaries in preparation to serve in Irish dioceses.
The September 18 report highlighted by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference notes an encouraging increase in priestly vocations for Irish dioceses.
The chair of the Bishops’ Council for Vocations Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan described the news of the 21 seminarians starting their first year as “really heartening.”
Highlighting the total 74 in seminary formation now, Bishop Cullinan said, “We thank God for each of them.”
The Bishops have been particularly promoting diocesan priestly vocations for the last year, Bishop Cullinan explained, adding, “All around the country people prayed that the call to priesthood would be heard.”
Families, parishes, and communities had conversations about the priesthood that took place due to traditional media, social media, and parish efforts, he said.
“In addition, and based on feedback, faith-filled encounters with priests and committed lay people encouraged the idea that God is still calling men to priesthood,” the Bishop remarked. “Such a positive notion was firmly planted in minds and hearts.”
He thanks God for those who have answered His call to the priesthood, but added, “We are all well aware that we need many more to respond. Therefore, there can never be any sense of complacency.”
In October 2022, The Tablet reported that Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) research found that of the 2,100 priests in active ministry in Ireland, 547 of them were aged between 61 and 75. An additional 300 were over 75 years old. At the time of The Tablet’s report, just 52 priests in active ministry were younger than 40.
Bishop Cullinan said in the September 18 article that “[t]he example of good priests up and down the country who walk with and lead their people to worship God, and care for their neighbours in good times and in bad, continues to inspire.”
He concluded, “Let us pray that all those who have chosen the path of priesthood will find fulfilment and bring the truth and the healing of Christ to our broken world.”
