Cathnews report:
Image from www.vocationcentre.org.au
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The number of seminarians in Sydney alone - more than 60 - is a testament to the interest in the priesthood among the young, reports the Catholic Weekly.
Over the past two years, 10 young men have been ordained in St Mary's Cathedral, with further ordinations scheduled for May this year.The figure is comprised from 39 at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, 21 at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary and others in formation with orders such as the Dominicans and the Capuchin Friars, theWeekly reports.
The Vocation Centre of the archdiocese of Sydney, the report says, is hard at work offering confidential spiritual guidance and retreats for those discerning priestly and religious life.
This year, it is offering two discernment retreats and will this month launch a Vocations Co-ordinators Resource Kit. The Vocation Centre is also helping parishes to be supportive and caring places for young people discerning their vocation.
This Sunday the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell, will commission the first group of lay volunteers who will implement the kit in their parishes.
Elizabeth Arblaster of the Vocation Centre says: "The lay people who have volunteered to be parish vocations co-ordinators know that we need to support priests in this work so that our young people hear vocations stories, see positive examples of all vocations and have a prayerful and informed community that will support them as they listen to God's call.
The Vocation Centre is also about the launch a new DVD on the priesthood as well as a weekly Vocations Show on the online Catholic radio station CRADIO, offering in-depth interviews, testimonies and the chance to ask questions about vocations.
"These retreats, reflection and inquiry days for young men considering whether Christ is calling them to the priesthood is a time for these men to go deeper, ask questions, and meet up with peers who are undertaking a similar journey" says the archdiocesan director of Vocations, Fr Michael de Stoop.
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