At their Autumn General Meeting, Bishops prayed for vocations to the priesthood and asked the faithful to remember in the prayers those who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood and religious life at this time.
Bishops commended the Council for Vocations for its ongoing work to promote the ‘Year for Vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood’ around the island, and on social and traditional media. Since its inception on Good Shepherd Sunday, the Year for Vocation has provoked an increase in interest in what it means to be a diocesan priest in contemporary Ireland. Such feedback has been especially apparent in the context of the vocations conference in Maynooth, the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage, various media profiles of seminarians and priests, Irish participation at World Youth Day in Lisbon, the prayer gathering during the national novena in Knock to launch the vocations cross, the Lough Derg vocations pilgrimage, and at the recent national and international ploughing championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois.
Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, chair of the Bishops’ Council for Vocations said,“Today, answering God’s call to journey as a priest is a counter-cultural and courageous decision. Future priests need support to discern their vocation. I encourage any man who seeks to explore their calling to priestly ministry to make contact today with their local priest or diocesan vocations director.”
For those interested in seeking a deeper understanding of diocesan priesthood, a ‘Come and See – Take the Risk for Christ’ information weekend will be held on 18 and 19 November in Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth. For further details on this event, email [email protected]
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