Cathal BarryNot everyone experiences a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, but becoming a priest has been shortlisted in a directory of the top 50 jobs for the future.
The list, published last week by the Irish Independent, saw the priesthood beat out other popular careers such as engineering, computing and banking. A calling to the priesthood came in at number nine trailing a number of software development related professions.
“It might not be for everyone,” the article stated, “but there’s a dire shortage of Catholic clergy here.”
“Just 20 young men entered Maynooth College last September to study for the priesthood. With attrition rates of 40-plus, less than 12 are expected to be ordained in 2020 for the 26 dioceses of Ireland,” it noted.