Twenty-one new seminarians have begun their academic programme and priestly formation for Irish dioceses. This means there are now a total of 74 men preparing for Ireland’s priesthood. One of these has begun the journey to become a priest in the Diocese of Ossory.

This dedicated Year for Vocation took place across the island of Ireland over 2023 and 2024.  In the summer, Vocations directors from each dioceses met at the Thurles gathering which was the first in a series of vocations director meetings to be held in the four diocesan provincial regions of Cashel & Emly, Tuam, Armagh and Dublin. The first in a series of regional meetings of vocations directors took place in the Pallotines retreat centre in Thurles. Vocations directors from the dioceses of Dublin, Ossory, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, and Cashel & Emly, joined with Bishop Phonsie Cullinan, chair of the Bishops’ Council for Vocations; Father Willie Purcell, National Vocations Coordinator; and Rev Eric Cooney of the National Vocations Office, to discuss vocations and to highlight how directors can be assisted in their ministry, for example, by identifying which resources might best support their important work.

The meeting also heard that, so far this year, there have been an increase in inquiries seeking details on discerning a vocation to the diocesan priesthood in Ireland.  Vocations directors felt that the renewed interest in vocations to the priesthood was as a result of, not only the events associated with the Year for Vocation, but also thanks to the various positive ways in which diocesan priesthood had been highlighted in the media.

The meeting agreed that it is important that vocations to the diocesan priesthood continue to be highlighted on social and legacy/mass media, as well as on the ground in person in parishes and dioceses.