It is expected that just one man will be ordained to the priesthood in the Dublin archdiocese this year. Last year two were ordained, compared to one in 1999 and three in 1998.
However, though the trend in ordinations over recent years has been downward, Father Kevin Doran, vocations director for the Dublin archdiocese, said that generally there were indications that "the rapid decline of recent years has been halted, if not very slightly reversed".
Last year also three men entered training for the priesthood in Dublin. Altogether, there are nine candidates in the archdiocese.
On the island as a whole 32 men will be ordained Catholic priests this year. This compares to 26 last year, 39 in 1999, and 26 in 1998.
Last year 25 entered for training on the island as a whole. Currently there are 139 such candidates on the island as a whole.
Father Doran pointed out that there are more diocesan priests in Ireland now than 100 years ago. In 1900 the figure was 2,980 while last year it was 2,999. In 1855 there were 2,366 diocesan priests in Ireland, compared to 3,450 in 1950.
The phenomenal "bulge" in the middle decades of the last century was the exception rather than the norm. It was then that seminaries such as Clonliffe College in Dublin were built, he said. What was happening now, he suggested, was a return to a more normal level for Ireland.
Currently 750 priests hold appointments in the Dublin archdiocese. Approximately 250 belong to religious congregations or missionary societies. An estimated 40 per cent are over 60, with less than 10 per cent under 30. Normally a priest is 25 before he is ordained. Seven diocesan priests will reach the retirement age of 75 in Dublin this year. However, many retired priests continue to serve.
Father Doran said that before admission to a seminary applicants would normally meet regularly with a vocations director. As part of this process they undergo psychological assessment and medical screening. They are also asked to consent to previous employers, and voluntary groups with which they have been involved, being contacted for references.
