Monsignor ‘encouraged’ as 26 begin studying for the priesthood

THE Catholic church is enjoying a change in attitudes towards religious life with a 25% rise in the number of men who are starting to study for the priesthood at Maynooth.

Yesterday 26 seminarians arrived at St Patrick’s College to begin their studies in theology and take the first steps on the road to becoming a Catholic priest.

This is the largest class to start at the 309-year-old college in recent years and is double the number that arrived in 2003.

However, eight ordinations at the other end of the cycle have caused a drop in the total amount of seminarians enrolled at St Patrick’s from 75 last year to 71 who will begin the semester in September.

Speaking at the arrival of the seminarians to Maynooth, president of the college Monsignor Dermot Farrell said it was positive for the Church that people are now looking positively at religious life but that each candidate would will need a lot of preparation before they are ordained.

He said: “I am encouraged by the recent upward trend in vocations to the priesthood. There are always individuals who sense that they have a vocation, what we need to do is to find ways to invite them to consider the priesthood.

“The seminary is more than bricks and mortar, it is an experience of the Church’s life that enables candidates to grow in the love and knowledge of Jesus.

“I would ask Catholics to pray for vocations and support candidates for the priesthood because every Catholic needs generous and holy priests.”

Each seminarian will have to undergo at least six years of education before being fully ordained.

As in 2005, a noticeable portion of the seminarians have come from Ulster. The province has provided 11 out of a class of 26.

In each of the last three years, eight men have been ordained into the priesthood from Maynooth.