Sydney seminaries are full for the first time in 10 years, as 60 men prepare for the priesthood, three times as many as there were in 2000, the Sunday Telegraph reported. Eighty percent of the seminarians are under the age of 30, some of whom cite the World Youth Day as their inspiration, while others describe a calling to the life.
The youngest seminarian is 19, and the majority are in their early or mid-20s, the report adds, saying the men are determined to be part of a revolution bringing people back to the Church.
Father Anthony Percy, who runs Homebush's Seminary of the Good Shepherd, said having the younger generation aspire to be priests was encouraging, and would help resolve the problem of Sydney's priest shortage.
The facility has 40 men studying for the priesthood, 31 of whom are below the age of 30, the report said.
"There is definitely a renewed interest in the Church and the priesthood," Fr Percy said. "We had the ordination of four priests a few months ago ... that hasn't happened since 1983."
He said one reason for the shift in attitude was a reaction to a post modern world with fluid values.
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