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Vocations Guide to Priesthood
As Jesus toured the countryside, "He saw the crowds and was moved with compassion to the depth of His being, for they were bewildered and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd, then He said to His disciples " the harvest is great but the labourers are few, therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth labourers into His harvest" (Lk 10 : 2)
Although Our Lord spoke these words over two thousand years ago, the problem is exactly the same today. We are still in great need of more labourers for the harvest. There continues to be a great shortage of priests in our western world resulting in the closure not only of many parishes but also of seminaries. Everyone knows there is a problem, the difficulty lies in the fact that no one has really any real solution to this problem,
It is ironic that whilst most dioceses are struggling to supply their parishes with sufficient priests it is an acknowledged fact that there is no lack of vocations. Yes! There is no shortage of vocations. Our Heavenly Father always calls enough young men to be ordained priests. The problem lies with us. The Lord of the Harvest constantly invites labourers to work in His vineyard, but many do not hear His call because of all the chatter that is going on in their lives. These chosen souls do not realise that Our Heavenly Father is actually calling them by name.
PARISH VOCATIONS COMMITTEE / COORDINATORS
The facts speak for themselves
A survey carried out in ten parishes and in two secondary schools in Dublin on Vocations Sunday in May 2004, revealed that 10% of the 178 people under 25 who completed the survey answered 'Yes' to a question "If it were suggested to me, I would seriously consider a vocation to the priesthood or religious life."
In July 2006, the Italian newspaper Avvenire published an article entitled "Young People and Vocations," based on a survey, conducted by the Italian institute Eurisko, of one thousand young people between 16 to 29 years of age. The study showed that 10 youths out of 100 felt at some point a call to the priesthood or religious life (male and female), but the majority abandon the idea after a few months.