Dioceses urged to consult young people on vocations

The National Vocations Coordinator has hailed the “amazing” response he received to a pilot programme which consulted young people about the best way to promote vocations to the priesthood.

Fr Willie Purcell, based in the Diocese of Ossory, consulted with three groups of young people over recent weeks – a secondary school group, those involved in faith-based youth groups and a group of young men discerning a vocation to the priesthood.

“The aim was to get an overall view of what is the best way in Ireland at the moment to create a vocations culture within the culture of young people,” he told The Irish Catholic. “There was no agenda or questions – it was a conversation or listening process.”

Fr Purcell said three things became clear from the consultation: young people don’t know the full extent of a priest’s duties, social media is hugely important for creating an awareness of priesthood and the Church needs to understand the changing culture of young people in order to engage with them. 

“What was extremely encouraging in my encounter with the different groups was that they still saw a very definite place for priests within the community,” he said. 

Fr Purcell is compiling a report for other vocations directors to encourage them to carry out a similar exercise in their dioceses.