Cathal BarryIn his first pastoral letter on vocations to the people of Kildare and Leighlin, Bishop Nulty said the priesthood might be for those interested in healing wounds, extending compassion, warming hearts and offering forgiveness.
The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin has challenged parents to encourage their sons to consider becoming priests.
In a special letter read out at Masses in parishes across his diocese for Vocations Sunday, Bishop Denis Nulty said parishes need to encourage young people who might be considering priesthood and reassure them.
“Parents and friends need to encourage, not discourage; young people need permission and reassurance to talk about and consider priesthood – my prayer is that this conversation will now begin,” Bishop Nulty said.
“Sometimes all that is necessary is for someone in the parish or the diocese to suggest the notion of a vocation to a younger person. You can be that someone today,” he said.
In his first pastoral letter on vocations to the people of Kildare and Leighlin, Bishop Nulty said the priesthood might be for those interested in healing wounds, extending compassion, warming hearts and offering forgiveness.
“Priests are called to be accessible, approachable, and available to people and their concerns,” he said.
Bishop Nulty urged the faithful to ask themselves, “When was the last time someone was ordained from our parish? How could I actively promote vocations?”
Potential vocations
“I believe that potential vocations are all around us – in our football clubs, in our bands, in our schools, in our colleges, in our families. Young people are interested in making a difference and in living a meaningful life which can be expressed in priesthood,” he said.
Separately, Bishop Nulty spoke of the importance of every priest being a director and promoter of vocations during his Episcopal Ordination in August 2013.
The bishop said then that the best examples of priesthood are “joyful priests who love their faith and who love the Church”.
“Every priest is a Vocations Director – we priests and people need a renewed vigour about our priesthood and a fresh courage to invite others to respond to that call,” he said.
The Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, which includes Co. Carlow and parts of Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Wexford, currently has three seminarians.