Vocations directors target ethnic minorities

MEN FROM ethnic minorities are to be targeted in an effort to boost numbers at seminaries in Britain.

The move follows a fact-finding visit to the United States by British vocations directors, during which they were introduced to the idea of “Hispanic breakfasts”, which bring ethnic community leaders and Catholic priests together. 

Fr Stephen Langridge, chairman of the Conference of Diocesan Directors of Vocation and one of those on the visit, said US bishops had noticed that while 54 per cent of Massgoers across America were Hispanics, only 2 per cent of seminarians were from the community.

“One thing they realised was that while many Hispanic youngsters were closely connected to the Church, they tended to remain in their ethnic groups and didn’t link in so much with the mainstream Church. As a result, they were less likely to see themselves as priests in the wider Church,” he said. Fr Langridge believed there was likely to be a similar story in the UK, not only in the Hispanic community but also in the Filipino and African communities. The first “listening” event will involve the bishop with responsibility for migrants, Pat Lynch, and ethnic minority chaplains, and will take place in January.
“Many families from Asia, eastern Europe and Africa are very strong in the faith,” Fr Langridge said, adding that he hoped some would consider a possible vocation to the priesthood.