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In 2001 there were only 26 seminarians in England and Wales. Things are now changing.
With more than 200 seminarians, the England and Wales Bishops’ Conference has confirmed the number of men training for the priesthood in England and Wales is at its highest level for nearly twenty years.
This is the first time seminaries have reached this figure since 1994.
One hundred and eighty-five of these are training for diocesan priesthood, the remainder belonging to religious orders.
Thirty-five ordinations are due this year, and increase from 20 in 2011. The figure is expected to rise to 38 in 2013.
Marist Vocations promoter in New Zealand, Fr Pat Brophy SM said there had been a drought of vocations for a number of years, but things are beginning to change.
“We are fortunate to have a small but steady stream of young men entering Marist Seminary in Auckland.”
He confirmed there were six Marist seminarians at various stages in their formation programme studying to be Marist priests.
Brophy who is finishing as Marist vocations promoter to work in Mexico is enthused by the increase in enquiries. “Just today I met with a prospective candidate, and incoming Marist vocations direction, Fr Mark Walls SM had told me he is following up another five possibilities.”
Late last year it was reported the national seminary, Holy Cross Seminary, had a capacity of 27. In 2012, with more than twenty students it is more than two-thirds full.
Fr Merv Duffy SM, Dean of Studies at Good Shepherd College, the Catholic theological college where seminarians study for priesthood said, the College has thirty seminarians, many of them opting to come to New Zealand to study for priesthood.
Duffy said it is difficult to know for sure but he expected around 60% to remain in New Zealand after completing their studies.
Sources
Correction
There was miscommunication between Fr Merv Duffy and the CathNews. The 30 seminarians are all, except for two Marists, studying to work in New Zealand dioceses. One of the Marist seminarians is studying for the Marist Oceania Province, the other for the NZ Province which may well have him work outside this country.
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