Have Your Say 

Recent Comments

1. The increase in vocations in Sydney has little or nothing to with WYD, but rather that Diocese's willigness to stop playing games and fully embrace orthodoxy, especially in the Seminary.
   When will people wake up that staying true to orthodoxy is the only way to increase vocations.

   Posted By: Gareth

2. This is an odd story for many reasons. It is only a good news story in contrast to the extremely low base from which the numbers have started. Is the vitality of Catholicism so reliant upon ordinations? Six ordinations, two of which being missionaries, are not really the triumph that this article and some apologists are trying to make it into.
   Given, too, the particular, ideological emphases that are underway at 'ood Shepherd'perhaps there is a need to look more closely at what message the new ordinands have been inculcated with to spread into their new situations.
   If ordination is nothing more than a numbers game so to hatch, match and despatch to the multitudes, and keep the clerical institutions numbers up,well, the same abusive errors of the past are bound to be repeated again.

   Posted By: MJ

3. The rebuilding continues! May Cardinal Pell have a long life.

   Posted By: Michael Bernard

4. Four or six ordained for Sydney and ten new seminarians, for the state I suppose. It is good news and I wish them well.
   I am not sure what credit World Youth Day can take for any of it; and if it could take all the credit, would it be considered a fair return on the effort that went into WYD.
   An intake of 10 would be lucky to provide an output of 2. How many priests will retire, die, be suspended, or leave this year?
   Ministry in the Church is a bigger issue than the numbers of priests and seminarians.

   Posted By: Martin Nicol

5. Good wishes to these men for their courage and future ministry. The report, however, indicates two of the six are from Uganda, but will serve in Australia. Quite a number of the seminarians in Australia are overseas nationals.
   Have we become a missionary country again, dependent on imported priests? The website of the Seminary of Good Shepherd quotes Cardinal Moran on the opening of St Patrick’s College Manly in 1889,
   “No nation can be said to have attained the full perfection of its growth in the religious life, unless its own children shall be found aspiring to the sanctuary.”
   It would seem we have gone backwards; or maybe the Church powers simply don’t believe in responding to one’s environment.

   Posted By: Boutros Neru

6. The Church must be kidding itself if it thinks that World Youth Day influenced the 'large number' of ordinations (between four and six men). The YDO extravaganza in 2008 hardly allows for the number of years or preparation preceding ordination. I wonder how many youth have remained in the Church since that event. Their presence is notably absent from the one I attend.

   Posted By: Margaret

7. Even a good news story brings out the 'miserable' in people. I knew when I checked on the comments for this story that is would be voices of doom, gloom, pessimism and cynicism.
   It's great that young men are opening their lives up to the possibility of being priests. One? 5? 50? It's good news.
   
   God bless them on their journey, and may God bless those who care for those who feel drawn to this important vocation. Let us all daily pray for young people to hear the voice of God in their lives, no matter what their calling.
   
   Peace.
   
   

   Posted By: Cathy

8. The Church never has enough priests ...'the labourers are few'... But it has always had enough for the times. God has and will provide.
   With the decline in parishiners in the Church in Australia we will again have more than enough priests... It's parishioners we need.
   In a world of dispair the quiet Christian message of hope should fill the dark.
   One small candle can light a room; imagine six candles.

   Posted By: Mick

9. Correct MJ, I agree entirely. WYD 2008 cannot in anyway be responsible for these ordinations as these recipients of the priesthood (and I also wish them well in their ministry) would have been in their 5th or 6th years of 'formation'. In any event, WYD is an important gathering of Catholic Youth and a great initiative of JPII. Sadly the youth themselves are not really heard on this world stage rather the same old 'conservative' and 'orthodox' clergy.
   Funny that, clergy make up probably less than 1% of our Church, yet they control 100% of it.
   Catholic ministry in the 21st century needs clergy open to loving all in our world. My experience of the 'odd Shepherd' is that it is more like a haven for those who show little if any love for each other, let alone anyone else who needs the Love of God shinning in their lives through others.
   Let there be no doubt, Jesus tells us by his life and words, that our salvation is purchased through the deeds we make to others, not some superstitious or miraculous beliefs about the Church!
   Have a good look in history to see how unfettered power and authority of the clergy has harmed the soul of the Church, needless to say why JPII asked for pardon. I hold little hope for the future if the same old, same old is being dispatched.

   Posted By: Prophet

10. I think one is somewhat off the mark here. It takes some six years formation prior to ordination so to suggest that these ordinations are related to WYD 2008 is really not accurate.

    Posted By: John

11. Those so ready to dismiss World Youth Day as a factor in these seminarians' responses might do well to listen to the men's personal testimonies on the shaping influences in their calling; and to those entrusted directly with the process of screening candidates.
    Since their inception by Pope John Paul II, WYDs have been a stimulus to priestly vocations the world over. Why should Australia be any different, especially with the late Holy Father's
    widely published theology and spirituality of the priesthood, his reform of seminary training and , not least, his own inspiring witness?
    PS: Very well said, Cathy!

    Posted By: John

12. 'Between 4 and 6', out of a population of how many millions? And will this keep pace with those priests leaving, retiring or succumbing to illness etc? I imagine there'll be more than 4 or 6 leaving/retiring etc this year.

    Posted By: Cobber

13. MJ: 'Is the vitality of Catholicism so dependent upon ordinations?'
    Yes, since the celebration of the Eucharist is the 'source and summit' of the Catholic faith, priests are required in every age to stand in the place of Christ and offer his salvific sacrifice which atones for sin and reconciles us with God and one another.
    Historically, regimes who wish to destroy the Church make priests their prime target - why would they bother if the ordained priesthood were less than essential to the life of the Church? Christ, true to his word and himself, has not permitted this to happen, neither by means of human weakness among the ordained, nor by persecution from without; nor, it can be said, by those who seek to disvalue the ordained priesthood from within the Church herself.

    Posted By: John

14. Prophet: 'Clergy make up probably less than 1% of our Church, yet they control 100% of it.'
    Do you really think so? I am a married female, laywoman and I believe my involvement in the church over the past 25 years has made an impact.
    'Control'? I'm not sure that that is something to aspire to. Most priests I know would say that there is not much scope for challenging people these days, let alone controlling them!
    I don't think the leaders of the Catholic church have much 'control' over its members. People can choose to listen and follow the teaching of the Catholic Church, but I don't see Catholic priests and bishops exercising 'control' if people disagree.

    Posted By: c.d.

15. One would have thought that study for the Priesthood would take more than the 2 years since World Youth Day or even the 1 year since the announcement of the Year for Priests. Do you think there could be more bona fide reasons?
    In any event, let us pray for an increase in vocations to the Priesthood and Religious life and for the support of those already in such vocations.

    Posted By: Bob

16. Scripture makes it clear that our salvation was purchased by Jesus' death on the cross and is by grace alone, not by good works. Our good works are the evidence, not the means.
    When Peter was made head of the Church, it was not by democratic means. The Church was not meant to be a demoracy then, nor is it now.
    I am baffled by those who persist in reading and then commenting on Catholic News articles, with no other apparent purpose than to grind their bitter axe against the Church and those who believe and follow its teachings.
    There are lots of other good and worthy denominations out; perhaps they would be best advised to investigate them to discover views and teachings more in line with their own.

    Posted By: Sue

17. WYD has definitely inspired at least 2 young people I am aware of to consider priesthood.
    The 40 days for life prayer group currently praying for a stop to abortion in front of the abortion clinic has over 400 members of which I would estimate that at least 80% are young people under 30 - they are currently praying the rosary around the clock. My 20 year old has been there almost every day since it started and some days has been putting in 6-7 hours and he is not the only one.
    It is easy to criticise the young - but God's house has many rooms and like Benedict 16 wrote: there are as many ways to God as there are people. And I am sure the number of priests will continue to rise. If there is a lack of young people in your church it is most likely because neither your priest nor the congregation is doing anything to welcome them!

    Posted By: annemie

18. As a lay woman that has been involved in both vocations ministry and preparations for WYD08 at a local, national and international leve, I undertook some research on the question 'Does WYD promote a culture for the support and increase of vocations to the Catholic Church?' This was looking at men and women's vocations to the priesthood and religious life. I corresponded with Vocation Directors from several Dioceses that had held WYD events and interviewed these persons. Overwhelmingly these Directors reported that WYD had a direct influence on the support and promotion of vocations in the diocese but also in the hosting country. The main area of such support was an increase in family awareness of vocations for their children, prayer support for vocations by parishes and also willingness of young men and women to 'give it a go' and respond to the calling that they believe God has directed them to because of the postiive role modeling of religious and priests at WYD08. One Vocation Director I interviewed was a young boy at WYD in his home town and directly connected his vocation to the priesthood with that event. Finally the message from these dioceses was 'it won't happen overnight... but it will happen!'

    Posted By: Jo Grainger

19. John: Leaving aside some inherent problems that I can see in your sacramental theology and your ecclesiology for now, let's follow the logic of your point to its conclusion. So why should there be any concern for the decreasing levels of church attendance if what you say is true? What does it matter if the percentage of regular mass attenders drops to 9%? To 5%? To zero? Just so long as the lone priest is there, turned toward the tabernacle, offering yet another atoning sacrifice in an empty building?
    Yes, I can see how essential such a version of priesthood would be.

    Posted By: MJ

20. Hopefully they will all be very carefully screened for any sign of clericalism, and if it is found asked
    to leave.
    It has been the source of too much agony in our Church.
    I would like us to spend much more time and effort on the Sacrament of Marriage. After all that is where vocations come from in the first place!

    Posted By: david anthony davies

21. Our priests are precious. even if we had one priest only, he can still bring Jesus to us. I seem to remember the words of the devil to St John Vianney 'If there were three such priests as you, my kingdom would be ruined.' May Our Lord bless the souls of priests.

    Posted By: Stephen

22. MJ: It is Christ's universal salvific sacrifice which the priest is called to lead when celebrating the Eucharist. Heaven and earth are intimately involved in this most sacred of events.

    Posted By: John

23. Sue: There is no evidence in the Acts of the Apostles or the writings of Paul that Peter was head of the Church. Leader of the Apostolic 12 but never recognised as head of the Church. That honour goes to Jesus.
    What do you mean by democracy? There is evidence that the Church of the scriptures was somewhat democratic in the sense that the apostles and the presbyters met to make decisions. Pope Leo I re the election of bishops: Let the one who is to rule over all be elected by all.
    'St' John Henry Newman contends that a terrible mistake is made when decisions regarding teaching, even dogmas, are made without consulting the sense of the faithful (sensus fidelium) or the agreement of the faithful (consensus fidelium), cited by Robert McClory in As It Was In The Beginning The Coming Democratization of the Catholic Church, 2007.

    Posted By: Francis

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