Year of Vocation enrollment bears fruit
The National Seminary in Maynooth is preparing to celebrate a bumper ordination to the diaconate this weekend, with more than double the number of candidates compared to previous years, who originally enrolled following the Year of Vocation.
President of St Patrick’s College, Msgr Hugh Connolly said that while it was difficult to ascribe the increase in numbers this year to one factor, “the fact that people were praying for vocations of all kinds but especially for the priesthood and religious life, and that vocations had such a very clear profile in that year must certainly have helped”. “I think that must have helped to sow the seeds or strengthen the seeds already sown in the hearts of these young men,” he said.
Promote
The class of 15 students from dioceses across the country preparing to become deacons, first enrolled in the seminary following the Church’s Year of Vocation in 2008/2009, when the faithful were asked to promote and pray for all vocations.
“You could say they are an answer to prayers,” said Vice President, Fr Michael Mullaney.
Msgr Connolly said there is great excitement in the college in the build up to the ceremony, and the larger numbers of ordinands and dioceses represented “helps to give it more of a sense of occasion then perhaps the norm”.
Overjoyed
“We are very overjoyed with the fact that these men have progressed in their formation and been courageous enough to really commit themselves to this important step in the diaconate,” he said. “It is one thing to come to seminary five or six years ago and another to stick with it and to say I am willing to take on board this mission, which is a great witness to these men.”
Last year six students in Maynooth were ordained deacons, five were ordained in 2012 and seven in 2011.