Irish bishop lukewarm on new vocations initiative

A SENIOR bishop has thrown cold water on the newly announced national vocations initiative that the Irish hierarchy unveiled last week and is due to launch in 2017.

At their autumn general meeting in Maynooth, the bishops’ conference agreed to establish a National Vocations Office to nurture vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life.

In a statement, they said its mission will be threefold: to build a culture of vocation; to promote specific vocations; and to support those who work in the pastoral care of vocations. However, Bishop Michael Smith of Meath told The Tablet this week that he had seen “vocations offices come and go” over the years.

He was speaking after a special Mass to mark the centenary of the beginnings of the Maynooth Mission to China, later known as the Society of St Columban, when the bishops of Ireland gave their blessing to the venture in October 1916. Of the proposed new office, he commented: “I think it is for co-ordination and that is all it can do really. It is not going to be the catalyst for vocations, the catalyst has to be on the ground.”

Dr Smith said the vocations situation in his own diocese was “relatively healthy” and that the Diocese of Meath was currently able to meet its needs despite the population having doubled during his tenure. But he stressed that more vocations to the priesthood were needed.

Separately, the bishops also announced a day of prayer for survivors and victims of sexual abuse. The first will take place on the first Friday of Lent in March 2017.