Falling vocations - Church faces challenge

That the ordination of three priests in Dublin would make news would seem to be news in itself.

It is a measure of the changing face of Ireland that they were the first three priests ordained in the capital in two years.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, who presided at the ordinations, noted that the three new priests were entering their ministry at a very “challenging moment”.

He appealed to them to reach out to young people, to challenge them to become an active part of the Church.

At this time many more priests are retiring than are being ordained. One of those ordained is in his mid-50s and the other two are in their 30s. One of them, Fr Dan An Nguyen, is originally from Saigon.

With the number of priests declining, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said that a new service of laymen and women would play a much greater role within the Church.

The Dublin diocese will also undergo far-reaching reforms.