tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616479968271501281.post641563599862335278..comments2022-11-19T14:19:59.893+00:00Comments on Irish Dominican Vocations: 16 new seminarians for Irish Catholic ChurchAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11286690147183340956noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616479968271501281.post-31148610461502974772010-08-27T18:54:01.864+01:002010-08-27T18:54:01.864+01:00You may be interested in this report in the Indepe...You may be interested in this report in the <i>Independent</i>: <br /><br />http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/irelands-sons-turn-their-backs-on-the-priesthood-2063257.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616479968271501281.post-72903858050940047042010-08-26T11:06:44.194+01:002010-08-26T11:06:44.194+01:00Am uncomfortable with the term 'vocations cris...Am uncomfortable with the term 'vocations crisis' because I don't think that the crisis exists! There are many, many vocations out there. It needs a major shift in thinking and action to arrest the situation in which we find ourselves - from the top down and the bottom up!<br /><br />Have added your blog to list!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11286690147183340956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616479968271501281.post-1167112861545530282010-08-26T01:03:38.527+01:002010-08-26T01:03:38.527+01:00"we lapsed back into this laissez faire attit..."we lapsed back into this laissez faire attitude towards vocations again"<br /><br />There may a nasty ideological undercurrent to the bishops' apathy. Archbishop Martin recently gave a talk on getting the laity more involved in the running of parishes, and making sure that every parish is governed by a representative council. There's been a hugely exaggerated emphasis on the 'active participation' of the laity in the last 45 years. For many in the Church the prospect of priestless parishes is something to be welcomed.<br /><br />I can't help but think that Ireland would benefit from having younger (and also foreign) bishops. It's rare to see a priest under 60 these days; young men aren't going to want to join what many see as a sinking ship.<br /><br />Also, as the age profile of priests rises, the duties incumbent on younger priests also increase. The vocations crisis is a nasty cycle.<br /><br />BTW, could you please put my blog on your blogroll? I just put up yours on mine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616479968271501281.post-28305984169091064892010-08-26T00:31:11.651+01:002010-08-26T00:31:11.651+01:00There's no doubt that the reports have had an ...There's no doubt that the reports have had an effect on the numbers but there's a more worrying underlying difficulty which I tried to allude to in the post - namely that vocations promotion and direction really is not getting the attention that it deserves. This is an awful pity and really flies in the face of the Lord who asked that we work earnestly to bring labourers into the harvest. <br /><br />In Ireland, this is not taken seriously by the majority of dioceses or religious congregations despite much 'talk'. Really, in terms of vocations, the time for talk and navel gazing is long since over and way past time for action.<br /><br />I'm kind of blue in the face in calling for full-time vocation directors to be appointed across the board - even though that will hurt dioceses and congregations in terms of manpower etc, but if we are really serious about it, then there is no other choice.<br /><br />The 'Year of Vocation' had a little impact in trying to create a culture of vocation. But when that year ended we lapsed back into this laissez faire attitude towards vocations again.<br /><br />Finally, it would be easy to point to the publication of the Murphy and Ryan reports as a source of our difficulties - but that would be to absolve ourselves of our own inertia around vocations. Somehow, I think my thoughts and pleas will be falling on deaf ears. <br /><br />Thanks for your interest in this blog entry.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11286690147183340956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616479968271501281.post-52173119189549808632010-08-25T23:12:14.296+01:002010-08-25T23:12:14.296+01:00Wow, down by half. I suppose that's the effect...Wow, down by half. I suppose that's the effect of the Murphy and Ryan Reports. Have the recent scandals made it a lot more difficult to promote vocations?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616479968271501281.post-11333744806543154532010-08-24T14:43:48.587+01:002010-08-24T14:43:48.587+01:00Excellent news Father . I am sad that my home dioc...Excellent news Father . I am sad that my home diocese of Elphn seems not to have anyone considering the priesthood this year .St Ann's Parishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07873653335217251032noreply@blogger.com