6 new priests now start training at Maynooth

Six new seminarians have started their studies for the priesthood at St Patrick's College Maynooth.

Meanwhile, this year for the first time, the Catholic Church is offering a pre-seminary course for a 12 months duration, this is for anyone considering the priesthood but who is not entirely sure.

However, a press person for the Irish Catholic Church says that this pre-seminary course is not available in Maynooth.

It is available in some undisclosed places in Ireland, with Spain also being cited.

A press statement said: "Eight have begun the propaedeutic year in locations in Ireland and abroad."

It is understood that this course can be attained by contacting the local parish and that the Catholic Church will fund it.  Earlier this year, the Congregation for Clergy, in Rome – which have overall responsibility for seminary formation – issued a new document (Ratio), The Gift of the Priestly Vocation, which is the revised programme for seminary formation.  The Ratio strongly recommends to bishops around the world the introduction of a pre-seminary (propaedeutic) year for new candidates who wish to discern their priestly vocation.

Meanwhile, 19 new seminarians for Irish Dioceses have begun their formation and academic programme for 2017-2018.

The 19 new seminarians that are currently in formation are in Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth (6), the Pontifical Irish College, Rome (2), Saint Malachy’s, Belfast (1), and the Pontifical Beda College, Rome (2).

In addition, 62 lay students began first year undergraduate studies in theology and 18 began postgraduate studies at the Pontifical University at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth.  There are over 800 undergraduate and postgraduate students registered at the Pontifical University at Maynooth for programmes in theology, philosophy and canon law.

Commenting on this year’s intake of seminarians, Father Willie Purcell, National Coordinator for Diocesan Vocations said: “The call to diocesan priesthood is counter-cultural and challenging.  It therefore takes great faith and courage to respond positively to this call and to say yes to God.  In particular, I welcome the numbers of candidates availing of the propaedeutic year as it gives these men time and space to discern their vocation. With the establishment, in July, of the new National Vocations Office in Maynooth, we hope to be able to continue to support the great work that Vocations Directors do across Ireland.  In addition, as we prepare for next year’s World Meeting of Families, it is timely to recognise the importance of the family as the place where children first learn about faith and vocation.”