Diocese hopeful of importing more priests to ease vocations crisis

The Bishop of Killaloe has said he hopes to bring more priests from India and Africa to Ireland in a bid to tackle the current vocation crisis.

Speaking about the increasing number of international priests now ministering in Ireland, Dr Fintan Monahan said that “they’re an indication of the changing Faith of the culture in Ireland”, noting that many parishioners in the Killaloe diocese are from the Asian and African continents.

“It’s kind of a reversal of the trend in many ways that Irish priests used to go abroad like to England, America, African and India – there is now really a reversal of the situation,” he told The Irish Catholic.

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“It is an indication of the changing times in Ireland because we are badly stuck for priests now we’re looking to the African and Indian continent to help us in that regard.”

Bishop Monahan explained that alongside the two Indian priests that have arrived in the diocese this year, there will be two more international priests coming, and potentially more following a review of current diocesan structuring.

He added that religious and laity should be praying for more priests to minster in Ireland and be encouraging young people to consider the call to the priesthood, as well as supporting lay involvement in the Church.

“[We need] home grown vocations, a little bit of help outside the country, and very much encouraging people to take responsibility for the Faith”, Dr Monahan said.

He also noted that the diocesan Indian priests have been well-received by the parish community and that their “interesting take” on Faith means they’re not shy about proclaiming the message of the Gospel and showing the power of prayer