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Strong rise in Australian priesthood enrolments

Published: March 17, 2013

There has been a sharp rise in the number of young men training to become Catholic priests, reports the ABC.

In the past five years, seminary enrolments in Australia have risen from about 235 a year in 2007 to 350 in 2012.

Queensland rector Monsignor Tony Randazzo says his seminary is busier than it has been for two decades.

"It's indicative that young people are coming forward enthusiastically to give themselves for a life in service in the church," he said.

"Young people have embraced the gospel in a new kind of way."

While Benedict XVI's tenure as Pope was beset by sexual abuse scandals, the issue does not seem to have done anything to stop men from devoting their lives to the church.

"They have a really solid conviction, have a really solid conviction that they need to be in the world, proclaiming the good news," Monsignor Randazzo said.

Priest in training Tom Zaranski says while his faith in recent months has been tested, joining the priesthood was the best decision of his life.

"I think there's an amazing energy in the church," he said. "It is a very positive place to be and we've got great news to tell people."

FULL STORY Priesthood enrolments numbers on the up (ABC)

 

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Recent Comments

  1. Just a clarification about these figures.
    There has been a sharp rise in the number of young men training to become Catholic priests, as the ABC reports. However, the report could be interpreted as referring to the number of young men entering seminaries each year.
    In fact, the figures refer to the total number of seminarians in diocesan and religious order seminaries in Australia.
    According to the annual Official Directory of the Catholic Church in Australia, total numbers of seminarians in Australia since 2007 were as follows:
    2007: Diocesan 179 and religious 58 = 237 total.
    2008: 174 and 56 = 230.
    2009: 221 and 62 = 283.
    2010: 217 and 52 = 269.
    2011: 253 and 81 = 334.
    2012: 268 & 78 = 346.
    The 2013 figures have not yet been published.
    While the increasing numbers are a welcome trend, it is too early to say that they indicate a resurgence in vocations to the priesthood among Australian men.
    Quite a number of these seminarians have come to Australia from other countries to train for the priesthood. This is especially true of the two Redemptoris Mater diocesan seminaries in Sydney and Perth.
    The website of the Sydney Redemptoris Mater seminary reports that, among its 20 seminarians in December 2012, only two were from Australia.
    Dr Bob Dixon
    Director
    ACBC Pastoral Research Office

    Posted By: Bob Dixon

  2. With due respect to those involved, it is not quantity we should be getting hooked on again, but 'quality'
    A good Priest could have also been a good husband/father.
    A different choice is made freely, not because marriage/parenthood are seen as something lesser but sacramentally equal to Priesthood.
    Baptism is the most important moment in the life of the Christian.

    Posted By: Da. Davies.

  3. Thanks heaps for relaying this news despite the problems linked with it discussed by Dr Bob Dixon.
    The clarification from Dr Dixon would not have come if you hadn't published your article in the first place.
    My own view is that, so long as we have more seminarians, it doesn't matter whether they hail from Australia itself or other countries.
    As it happens, I was raised in America by a NY/NJ Jewish community -- yes, Jewish parents and grandparents on both sides of the family, hailing from Poland (close to Russia), Austria, and Germany.
    I became a Catholic after my conversion in Australia. My Jewish heritage continues to be enormously important to me for obvious reasons!

    Posted By: Dr Susan Reibel Moore

  4. 'You are either a 100% priest or no priest.' - St. Don Bosco.
    The job (in the sense of the service to God and man) of a priest is the greatest of all jobs in the world.
    May Jesus, Mary, and Joseph watch over all our Priests throughout the world. Amen.

    Posted By: Felix

  5. Susan: it might mean that we are robbing other countries and, if that's the case, it does matter.

    Posted By: Francis

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