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Extra.ie
09-07-2025
- General
- Extra.ie
More men considering priesthood as young turn to the Church
More men are considering the priesthood, the Catholic Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Alphonsus 'Phonsie' Cullinan, has said. Speaking ahead of 'come and see' day in Mayo this Sunday for men interested in joining the priesthood, Bishop Cullinan said: 'There is something happening in the Irish Church. An increasing number of young Irish people are seeing that what the world alone has to offer is insufficient.' Bishop Cullinan said the reason for the surge was 'a spiritual hunger', adding that 'only something authentic will do'. He went on to claim there are 'also more men enquiring about priesthood' and that 'several vocations directors from around the country are receiving more phone calls'. Fr Byrne in his Parish Church in Abbeyleix, Co Laois. Pic: Michael Chester Talking to Fr Paddy Byrne of Abbeyleix Parish in Co. Laois said that he was 'surprised to notice a lot of young people joining his congregation'. He described the influx as a positive sign, saying: 'We've been touched by tragedy around the world, and young people are facing mental health crises. 'It's important that young people can turn to a spirituality that can inject confidence, offer them a sense of context and also offer a sense of resilience'. Ireland's national vocations coordinator, Father Willie Purcell, said he had received several emails from young men interested in joining the priesthood. He described an increased interest in the Church as young people 'becoming tired of internet culture'. Priest's hands holding a book. Pic: Getty Images He said the internet was not a place that could 'satisfy their deep yearnings'. Fr Purcell also said 'grandparents have a huge role to play' in teaching grandchildren about faith, leading them to turn back to the Church in a world he described as 'becoming deeply unsettling'. Fr Byrne also said he had been in contact with a number of younger men seeking to join the priesthood. He said 'there has always been a curiosity around priesthood, but what these men have is more of a vocation'. Fr Byrne also noted that the recent papal conclave saw young people take an interest in the Church. He added that Pope Francis's funeral was one of the biggest gatherings of world leaders in recent memory and that the solemn event 'showed the Church had a sense of integrity'. Pope Leo XIV. Pic: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images When speaking of Pope Leo XIV, Fr Byrne said he was a Pontiff who does not 'rally for bigotry, but for inclusion' and who 'in a time of deep crisis embodies hope'. Fr Purcell is encouraging young men interested in the priesthood to attend the 'come and see' gathering in Mayo. He said this is an event for men 'discerning their vocation to the diocesan priesthood', adding that 'whether you are at the very beginning of your discernment or seeking clarity after some time of reflection, the 'come and see' day will serve as a valuable stepping stone to see where God is calling you at this time'. When looking at the numbers who attended a single event last year, in comparison to registration for three events across this year, 'there definitely seems to be an increase in interest,' he said. Fr Purcell said the event offers an 'important opportunity' for men to share and reflect on their callings to God, adding that 'the day offers a welcoming and positive environment to share experiences of how God is drawing them towards diocesan priesthood'. The Catholic Communications Office was unable to provide the exact figures for the rise in young men seeking to be priests or for how many young people had begun attending congregations. The 'come and see' inquiry day will take place this Sunday, July 13, in Knock. The day offers a visit to Knock Shrine and a further celebration of Mass in Knock Parish Church.
RTÉ News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
After Francis: What the future of the papacy means for Ireland and the world
Analysis: The papacy still matters for the Irish Church, particularly in how it approaches inclusion, women's leadership, LGBTQ+ Catholics, and rebuilding of trust When Jorge Mario Bergoglio stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in 2013 as Pope Francis, he did so with a quiet simplicity that would define a transformative papacy. He chose the name of a saint known for humility and love for the poor, and from his first words, "Buona sera," it was clear that this would not be a papacy of excess. Now, more than a decade later, and as speculation swirls around who his successor may be and the future of the Church, it is worth asking: what legacy does Pope Francis leave behind, and what might come next, for both the global Church and a country like Ireland, where Catholicism remains present, but often conflicted? A global pontiff in a globalised Church Francis was the first pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit, and the first to take seriously the demographic shift in Catholicism away from Europe and toward the Global South. His priorities reflected this shift: a Church of the peripheries, concerned with poverty, injustice, climate crisis, and the wounds of marginalised people. Through encyclicals on the ecological crisis such as Laudato si', his reflections on a love that transcends physical proximity in Fratelli tutti, and his emphasis on accompaniment over judgement in Amoris Laetitia, Francis's papacy challenged the spiritual and political conscience of the Church. He denounced "the globalisation of indifference," championed interfaith dialogue in places like Abu Dhabi and Iraq, and called for a Church that "goes forth" in mission as opposed to gazing inward. From RTÉ News, Thousands queue to pay respects to Pope Francis Francis also reformed Church governance, gradually shifting power away from the Vatican's rigid bureaucracy toward a more synodal model where bishops, and laypeople, are called to discern the Spirit together. While Francis' papacy was one of mercy, encounter, and authentic listening, it did not all go smoothly. Efforts at Church reform, particularly those relating to financial transparency and sexual abuse were met with significant resistance. Critical voices accused Francis of being ambiguous on doctrine and, in trying to please progressives and traditionalists, he did not satisfy either. Francis and Ireland: A complex relationship In a nation where the Church has lost moral credibility as people still reckon with the deep wounds inflicted by clerical abuse and institutional cruelty, Francis' tone of compassion, humanity, and focus on social justice struck a chord with Irish Catholics. His papal visited in 2018, however, was met with mixed emotions. While thousands gathered to welcome him, there was also a justifiable anger and disappointment from survivors of Church-run institutions. While Francis did express sorrow for victims, his carefully worded apologies appear to have fallen short for many saviours. For many Catholic's, however, his visit symbolised an effort to re-engage with an Ireland that had changed dramatically since John Paul II's visit in 1979. The Ireland of today is increasingly, secular, and understandably sceptical of institutional claims to moral authority. And, yet, a spiritual hunger remains - one that Francis' inclusive vision may have helped to subtly invigorate. His words on the environment, inequality, and migrants echo the concerns of many Irish young people, and his challenge to "build bridges, not walls" is harmonious with a nation tormented by memories of exclusion and exile. What comes next? As conclave begins, the college of cardinals play a decisive role in determining whether Francis' vision will endure or not – at least, in theory. With the borage of interest in who will succeed Francis, there is a sense that there are several leading contenders. Amidst them is Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna who, known for peace-building and pastoral outreach, could consolidate Francis' reforms with gentle authority. Another, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a Filipino Cardinal with global experience and significant communication skills, could bring youthful energy and empathy that may further globalise the papacy. On a conservative side, Cardinal Robert Sarah or Cardinal Marc Ouellet may satisfy Catholics hoping for the Church to 'return' doctrinal clarity and traditional moral teaching - a move that would only serve to further alienate many Irish Catholics who already find themselves on the margins. A possible 'compromise' may find itself in Cardinal Peter Turkson who may maintain continuity between Francis' social vision and what some Catholics consider greater certainty and clarity of Church doctrine. Whatever the outcome, the next Pontiff faces a Church-divided by the polemics of left and right as well as in terms of relevance and retreat. Francis' successor will need not only theological acumen, but emotional intelligence, diplomatic savvy, and a deep ability to listen to the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, as well as those beyond the Church. Ireland's stake in the future For Ireland, the election of the next pope will not suddenly reverse decades of secularisation and the Church's loss of institutional authority in Ireland. And, yet, the papacy still matters for the Irish Church, particularly in how she approaches inclusion, women's leadership, LGBTQ+ Catholics, and rebuilding of trust, if not Church structures. Irish Catholics - especially younger generations - are looking for integrity, authenticity, and spiritual nourishment, a Church that faces its history honestly, embraces diversity with grace, and remains rooted in the radical message of the Gospel. Francis didn't solve all of the Church's problems, but neither has any Pontiff. His papacy did serve as an interruption. Francis' emphasis on the Church as a field hospital stood in stark contrast to stifling voices within the Church that call for retreat and fortification. Francis' called for the Church to move from a place of condemnation to conversation: whether this shift continues rests not only on the outcome of the conclave, but on the personhood of his successor – will he have the courage to keep walking the road that has been laid by Francis?
