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.