The Catholic Church has announced a year-long initiative to encourage men to consider the priesthood.
An awareness campaign centered around the theme: 'Take the Risk for Christ' will begin at a conference on vocations in Maynooth next month.
The Year of Vocations to the Diocesan Priesthood will begin from 30 April, which is Vocations/Good Shepard Sunday.
Over 12 months, events will take place in parishes and at pilgrim sites around the country. There are also plans to provide "resources" for homes and schools.
Last year, ten seminarians began their studies for the priesthood, which was one more than in 2021.
It brought to 56 the total number of men studying for the priesthood in Irish dioceses in 2022.
A key objective of the Year of Vocations according to Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan is to start conversations within families, with priests and in parish communities "on the beauty of the vocation of priesthood".
Bishop Cullinan has said that feedback from newly ordained priests indicates "a strong correlation between their calling and encouragement received from a priest about their ministry, in other words taking the risk for Christ".
The Bishop of Waterford and Lismore described "God’s call to journey as a priest" in 2023, as "a counter-cultural and courageous decision".
He has encouraged any man who seeks to explore their calling to contact their local priest or diocesan vocations director.