Why Are There So Few Vocations?;

We hope you enjoy your visit!
You're currently viewing Catholic CyberForum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our online cyberparish, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.
Join our community!
Messages posted to this board must be polite and free of abuse, personal attacks, blasphemy, racism, threats, harasment, and crude or sexually-explicit language.
If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Pages:
1
…
8
9

Why Are There So Few Vocations?;; Priests, monks and nuns ever fewer
Topic Started: Wednesday, 21. January 2009, 13:33 (330 Views)
Ned	Tuesday, 26. May 2009, 14:32 Post #121
Posts: 674 Group: Members Member #61 Joined: March 1, 2007	Bob Crowley Sunday, 24. May 2009, 00:16 Unless the people become convinced Christ is important in their lives, they will continue to drift away. Edited by Ned, Tuesday, 26. May 2009, 14:34.



Joe Valente	Tuesday, 26. May 2009, 20:43 Post #122
Posts: 311 Group: Members Member #227 Joined: April 3, 2009	In my young days priests from the diocese, priests from religious orders visited the school and parishes to promote vocations. This was a full time task to these priests and their other duties were light, giving them time to concentrate on the task in hand. Now with the shortage of priests neither the Diocese or the Orders can afford a full time Vocations Promoter. So the laity must try to help but help in a constructive manner. Earlier in this thread I recall some one suggesting that God allowed this shortage to enable the laity to become more involved in "our" common priesthood. I actually disagree with that. I think the mass rush of laity to get involved is perhaps a factor in today's shortage. So many of these people wanted to take over that young men propably thought that there was no need for more priests. In many cases their short lived enthuism left the priest almost an onlooker. So in my humble opinion lay involvement in the sacerdotal duties is no help in promoting vocations. Twenty years ago, when I had less free time but was much more active, I took our local Parish Centre for one week with the intention of putting on an old fashioned Vocations Exhibition. I contacted our local Bishop and got his permission, I contacted almost every religious order, male and female, in Ireland and invited them to participate. The response was overwhelming and some had to be turned away. The question of cost then arose, so with a few helpers I organised a few fund raising events and we were able to fit the place out with exhibition stands and hire a caterer to provide meals. We when wrote to every Grammar and Secondary School in N.Ireland (Catholic of course) we contacted the University chaplains and many local Youth and sporting clubs. We opened on a Monday morning with 42 stands and a time table for visiting schools etc which took us through from 9.00am on the Monday morning to 9.00pm on the Friday evening. A packed house every day. It is a week that lives in my memory for two reasons, unconnected with vocations. On the Wednesday evening at about 7.30pm I was having a smoke outside the entrance door with the Vocations Promoter from the Carmelites. We were enjoying the brief respite from the inside when a car approached and slowed to a crawl. Suddenly loyalist gunmen were firing at us, I never realised that a monk in his long habit could move so fast. ( If you are reading this now, Fr. Willie I bet you break into a cold sweat again) and I kept up with him. Needless to say we closed somewhat earlier that night for some "spiritual" fortification. The second memory is more pleasant, just a month before our exhibition Down had won the All Ireland Football final and we were lucky enough to have the team captain (Conor Deegan from Downpatrick) and a few of the winning team visit us and the bring the Sam Maguire Cup along. The two representatives from the Jesuits, showing true Ignatian initiative quickly commandeered Mr. Deehan and the cup and had themselves photographed and the photo was on the front page of the next issue of their magazine. Since that exhibition there have been at least 15 ordinations from the schools that attended and a few lay people have given a few years of their life to voluntarily work with religious orders on the missions. Not a lot but some success. There is nothing to prevent others doing some thing similiar in their own parish, or two or three parishes co operating. Give the young people an opportunity to meet with priests, to discus the life, to discover that priests are human. So come on, get to it. Just a little effort, a bit of letter writing, a bit of begging (we also managed some sponsorship from local traders) and there you go. For anyone living in Glasgow you can meet Fr. Willie Moran at the Carmelite Priory there, I am sure he will give you a more descriptive tale of the shooying than I have.
	What doth it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his soul


Rose of York	Tuesday, 26. May 2009, 21:28 Post #123
Administrator Posts: 14,099 Group: Admin Member #2 Joined: September 25, 2006	Joe Valente Tuesday, 26. May 2009, 20:43 I think the mass rush of laity to get involved is perhaps a factor in today's shortage. So many of these people wanted to take over that young men propably thought that there was no need for more priests. Yes, many wanted to literally take over, they saw that as a progression from lending a hand, supporting the clergy. Quote: Twenty years ago, when I had less free time but was much more active, I took our local Parish Centre for one week with the intention of putting on an old fashioned Vocations Exhibition. I contacted our local Bishop and got his permission, I contacted almost every religious order, male and female, in Ireland and invited them to participate. The response was overwhelming and some had to be turned away. The question of cost then arose, so with a few helpers I organised a few fund raising events and we were able to fit the place out with exhibition stands and hire a caterer to provide meals. We when wrote to every Grammar and Secondary School in N.Ireland (Catholic of course) we contacted the University chaplains and many local Youth and sporting clubs. Laity got stuck in, organising, with the approval ot the bishop. They did not just decide to "do something". Laity raised the funds. Laity made arrangements for catering. The religious orders and the clergy were free to carry out the functions that are theirs. Quote: Since that exhibition there have been at least 15 ordinations from the schools that attended and a few lay people have given a few years of their life to voluntarily work with religious orders on the missions. Not a lot but some success. What do you mean, not a lot? Some dioceses don't get one new seminarian in a year. Quote: There is nothing to prevent others doing some thing similiar in their own parish, or two or three parishes co operating. There IS something to prevent some others doing something similar. There was a shouting match in our church because one young woman walked up to me and suggested a group of us organise a barbecue in the grounds. The shouting was "stop interfering only Mrs X is allowed to organise things." The parish priest heard and did not intervene. I suspect he has been worn into the ground by Mrs X and her cohorts. Joe has hit the nail on the head. Lay rule can get out of hand. A strong priest leads a strong parish.
	$Posted Image$ Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards


Deleted User	Tuesday, 26. May 2009, 23:01 Post #124
Deleted User	There are strong characters in any parish the trick is to get them to work in harmony. That requires a strength and dedication that I believe is part of the grace of ordination. To be a man apart is the reason why we are celibate and why all the clamour to relax the rules on celibacy should be resisted because all you will get are ordained Laymen not Priests. I know that sounds a bit daft but think about it and you will see that it is true. They are looking for the cream the good bits of parish ministry and the comforts of family life; in short they want their cake and eat it. I know that there are times when I will stand against the crowd and I must have time to pray and walk apart from the crowd so that I have space to listen to the Lord and refresh myself in his care. The priesthood is a way of life not a job; I remember my old scripture prof telling us about Jeremiah and he banged his bible on the dais and said in a booming voice; " Gentlemen may the Lord save us from professional priests, You must be amateurs and do all for the love of God" sadly I only remembered enough of the rest of his lessons to scrape a pass in scripture but that one lesson I shall never forget. One final thought what if Mrs X is the priest�s wife?
Deleted User


PJD	Wednesday, 27. May 2009, 06:57 Post #125
Posts: 2,337 Group: Members Member #11 Joined: September 26, 2006	"in short they want their cake and eat it." That just about sums it up. [IMO] PJD



Rose of York	Wednesday, 27. May 2009, 09:01 Post #126
Administrator Posts: 14,099 Group: Admin Member #2 Joined: September 25, 2006	Penfold Tuesday, 26. May 2009, 23:01 There are strong characters in any parish the trick is to get them to work in harmony. Here is a link to an old discussion, relevant to the issue. Collaborative Ministry - Or Demarcation Dispute?
	$Posted Image$ Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards


Deleted User	Wednesday, 27. May 2009, 13:38 Post #127
Deleted User	Thanks Rose I shall browse through it with a slice of cyber cake and a mug of tea.
Deleted User


Rose of York	Friday, 29. May 2009, 20:47 Post #128
Administrator Posts: 14,099 Group: Admin Member #2 Joined: September 25, 2006	Here's another for you, Penfold. Take a large glass of wine with Collaborative Ministry - or demarcation dispute?
	$Posted Image$ Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards


Deleted User	Tuesday, 30. June 2009, 14:10 Post #129
Deleted User	In this year of priests I think this topic should remain at the centre of our thoughts. I consider that a national vocations centre should be established in which men and women could come to spend time discerning and exploring their vocation independently of a commitment to a particular order or diocese. I also think that there should be greater education in parishes of the types of ministry, and ways in which people can serve the church. As I see it people are given a limited choice. If all the vocations director offers, and this is usually the case, is the diocesan priest hood with training in the seminary favoured by the current bishop of the diocese, a man who may well be suited to the priesthood in a rural ministry or an urban ministry may never be given the option. Also some who leave seminaries feel they have let the side down or failed in their Vocation, I think they ought to be given chance to return to a national centre for reselection, unless there is clear reason to show that they are not suitable. It may be that the priesthood is not for them but that they would be an excellent brother or permanent Deacon. Women may discover the great variety of callings open to them in the religious life. After time in the centre the person could then apply to a bishop, abbot or religious superior of their choosing and with the benefit of the insights gained in the Vocations Centre be better able to address the questions put to them by the Bishop and his team. In the Military selection is complicated but for example before arriving at the officers selection board at Cranwell most candidates should have benefited from a pre-selection process and taken steps to read up on the requirements of particular branches and the fitness and health issues required. In my experience of the priesthood most selection is dependant upon the personalities of the Vocations Director and the Bishop and anyone who suggests that they may be called to serve in some other diocese, order or specialist ministry is discouraged and we loose good people. Cost of training and the age of candidates are slowly being addressed but there is still a lot that needs to be done. I still believe that seminaries should form the core of the priests training because it is not just a period of academic study but also a period of cultivation, seminaries were established in the reforms of the Council of Trent to be seed beds in which priests should grow in their vocation. While it is true that in life post ordination many priests will live alone there is still a communal element to the priesthood that needs to be cultivated. The fraternity of the priesthood may be obvious in a monastery but it also exists in the diocesan clergy it is important that in our training we are reminded of our responsibilities to each other. When I started training we had a 6pm curfew and one needed a chit to go out beyond that time from the Dean. By the end of my second year the curfew had been moved to 10pm but we could make are own judgment if we felt it justified to stay out beyond that time. If staying out overnight then permission was sought but it was normally granted on the nod. In other words finally we were being treated as adults and not schoolboys. Most seminaries are now fully geared up to deal with University students rather than sixth formers and personal integrity has replaced the Dean's roll call and checklist. Some seminaries failed to adapt and are now closed or struggling to remain viable. Unfortunately many who ask their parish priest about life in seminary will be told of the Good Old Days and gain a false perception that may well be of putting. Also there are different seminaries with differing methods. All this is however dependent upon people recognising their vocation in the first place and that is were the main focus should be. Priests, parents and parishioners should not shy away from having open and frank conversations with people and encourage them to at least explore the possibility. Encourage young folk to take a retreat in one of the many existing retreat centres, particularly if your child does not go to a catholic school try to ensure that when they are 12-14 and again at 16-18 they are given the chance to attend a youth retreat. Try to let the go to Lourdes with a group such as HCPT or as a helper. Lead by example and let your younger children help when you are doing the cleaning in the church or arranging the flowers, the odd bunch of daisies and leaves at the feet of the 'Infant of Prague' may not please the judges at Chelsea but I used to take quite satisfaction knowing that the youngster who had 'arranged them' was now a quiet and responsive member the congregation, full of pride but quiet and happy, in time perhaps he may be an altar server and who knows one day I may live long enough to kiss his episcopal ring. Vocations start at the moment of baptism and from that moment on it is a collective responsibility of all of us to encourage and cultivate them.
Deleted User


Rose of York	Tuesday, 30. June 2009, 15:16 Post #130
Administrator Posts: 14,099 Group: Admin Member #2 Joined: September 25, 2006	Penfold Tuesday, 30. June 2009, 14:10 Lead by example and let your younger children help when you are doing the cleaning in the church or arranging the flowers, the odd bunch of daisies and leaves at the feet of the 'Infant of Prague' may not please the judges at Chelsea but I used to take quite satisfaction knowing that the youngster who had 'arranged them' was now a quiet and responsive member the congregation, full of pride but quiet and happy, in time perhaps he may be an altar server and who knows one day I may live long enough to kiss his episcopal ring. Vocations start at the moment of baptism and from that moment on it is a collective responsibility of all of us to encourage and cultivate them. Good point, Penfold, and if I may add, we should work at including the teenagers and younger adults in all aspects of parish life, including using their organising abilities, not being treated as little helpers. That may help keep more of them in our communities. If they leave, when they begin to mature and feel excluded, rhey are unlikely to become priests, deacons or religious. As you said, some people should have to step down from their roles after serving for a specified period.
	$Posted Image$ Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards


Rose of York	Tuesday, 20. October 2009, 00:55 Post #131
Administrator Posts: 14,099 Group: Admin Member #2 Joined: September 25, 2006	http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=15006 Independent Catholic News New publication for those considering priesthood For every man considering his vocation in life, a new, free publication is now available in every Catholic senior school, university chaplaincy and diocese in England and Wales: �The Catholic Priest - Answering God�s Call�. Its initial print-run is over 10,000 copies and demand is expected to be high. Speaking at the launch on Thursday, Archbishop Vincent Nichols said: �I think that it�s a lovely act of providence; that even as this period of grace (of the relics of St Th�r�se) comes to an end, there is this re-launch of this call to the whole Church to be attentive to the voice of God, and especially to the call of God to serve in the priesthood.� The Chairman of the National Office for Vocation, Bishop George Stack said that the publication was designed: �to give access to people perhaps who are not ready to make a commitment to priesthood or religious life, but are certainly interested in exploring the possibility.� �The Catholic Priest � Answering God�s Call� is in its second edition and was originally written by the Bishop of East Anglia, The Right Reverend Michael Evans. Fr Paul Embery, the former Director of the National Office for Vocation, revised the text to bring it up to date and make it fresh and appealing to today�s enquirers. It is a joint venture by the Vocations Initiative of the Catenian Association on behalf of the Catholic Bishops� Conference of England and Wales and the Bishops� Conference of Scotland. Anthony Brindle, the Catenian Association member who coordinated the publication said: �For a number of years, every Catenian circle, has prayed for vocations before every monthly meeting. There has been a tsunami of prayer and I hope that it will bear fruit.� In the opening foreword, Archbishop Nichols writes: �This book gives a clear description of what priesthood is today, for the Catholic Church at the beginning of the 21st Century. It will assist any reader to understand the role of the priest and I believe that it will be a valuable resource for any young man who might want to discover what it is to be a priest or to pursue some idea that he may have a vocation. Undoubtedly, God continues to call men to priesthood. Books like this will help those who hear the call to recognise it for what it is.� The book is divided into 11 chapters: My Vocation as a Christian Priesthood and the Church: An overview What is a priest? What does a priest do? What is it really like: a priest�s view Could it be me? Initial steps: your bishop and your calling What do I do next? How do I apply: the selection process Formation for priesthood You are a priest forever: ordination and beyond There is also an introduction by the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Cardinal Keith O�Brien. To obtain a copy of the book write to: enquiries@ukvocation.org Reproduced in full, with permission
	$Posted Image$ Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards


artemis836	Tuesday, 20. October 2009, 01:01 Post #132
Posts: 58 Group: Members Member #254 Joined: October 19, 2009	I think the reason is we as a society are affraid to give people a nudge. We sometimes worry so much about letting people work things out on their own and make their own choices that we forget that sometimes people need a little polite kick in the pants to get them moving. Children, for example, will not just decide to take part in a bunch of school activities or excell in their academics. They need a little encouragement. And when you really think about it we're all not as far off from children as we really think we are.
	"Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions." ~GK Chesterton Professor Winters' Mysteries Discernment for the Diaconate - My Blog


Joseph	Tuesday, 27. October 2009, 23:08 Post #133
Posts: 564 Group: Members Member #37 Joined: October 18, 2006	Rose of York Tuesday, 20. October 2009, 00:55 New publication for those considering priesthood For every man considering his vocation in life, a new, free publication is now available in every Catholic senior school, university chaplaincy and diocese in England and Wales: �The Catholic Priest - Answering God�s Call�. Its initial print-run is over 10,000 copies and demand is expected to be high.... To obtain a copy of the book write to: enquiries@ukvocation.org Would it be unreasonable to expect to find a copy or two of such an important publication at the back of all our local churches? But then I suppose you would find people like me taking a copy merely to read it out of interest, even though I could never be a potential candidate. But would that really be a bad thing to do? Edited by Joseph, Thursday, 29. October 2009, 21:43.
	Joseph


1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · The Mass , Liturgy, Sacraments, Priesthood · Next Topic »

Pages:
1
…
8
9