36 men from dioceses across Ireland enrolled in this year’s
weekend gathering on 18 and 19 November, in the national seminary of
Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, to help discern if God is calling
them to the priesthood.
According to Father Willie Purcell, director of the National Vocations
Office of the Irish Bishops’ Conference, “The weekend offers those
discerning a vocation to the diocesan priesthood an opportunity – not
only to meet with the formation team and college community to experience
life in the seminary – but also to meet with likeminded young men who
are on the path of discernment to the priesthood. Saint Patrick’s
College, Maynooth, provides a safe and conducive environment for
participants to ask questions of the formation team, while also enabling
them to reflect on following the example of the life of Jesus. Those
attending pray together and join the seminary community in the
celebration of Mass, hear accounts of contemporary priestly ministry and
meet with students who have begun formation towards priesthood.
“Bishops are currently hosting a Year for Vocation to the Diocesan
Priesthood. In this regard, any man who is contemplating a vocation to
the priesthood and wishes to further explore their calling, should make
contact today with the National Vocations Office, on info@vocations.ie,
where they can obtain resources and contact details for their local
vocations director. Our feedback indicates that seminarians, and newly
ordained priests, are grateful for the witness, encouragement and
accompaniment of another priest during their own discernment process.”
This is the third year that the national seminary, in collaboration with
the Bishops’ Vocations Office, hosted this gathering. Our theme this
year, ‘Come and See’, was drawn from the invitation of Jesus in John 1:39 – 41,
when disciples ask Jesus where He was staying. and wanted to know Him
and hoped for an opportunity to do just that. Rather than being too
busy or important for these eager young men, Jesus invited them by
saying, ‘Come and you will see.’
Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan is chair of the Bishops’ Council for Vocations
and is leading the 2023 – 2024 Year for Vocation to the Diocesan
Priesthood, on the theme: ‘Take the Risk for Christ’ (‘You have not
chosen me, but I have chosen you’ John 15:16 ). The Year for
Vocation involves organised prayer and awareness initiatives and will
conclude on Good Shepherd Sunday, 21 April 2024. In a particular way
during this dedicated year, prayers to encourage vocations to the
priesthood are being prayed during daily and weekend Mass in dioceses
and parishes across Ireland.