A total of 26 seminarians are to begin their training for the priesthood at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, next month. Six of them will continue their studies at St Malachy's College, Belfast, when they complete their introductory programme at Maynooth by the end of next month.
The 26 first-year seminarians come from the following Catholic dioceses: Armagh (two); Cloyne (one); Cork and Ross (two); Derry (five); Donegal (three); Dublin (five); Kildare and Leighlin (three); Kerry (one); Meath (one); Raphoe (one), Tuam (one) and Waterford and Lismore (one).
It means that by the end of September, there will be a total of 71 seminarians studying at St Patrick's College.
Welcoming the new candidates, their families and friends to Maynooth, the president of the college, Mgr Dermot Farrell, said he was encouraged by the recent upward trend in vocations to the priesthood.
"There are always individuals who sense that they have a vocation; what we need is to find ways to invite them personally to consider the priesthood. Being admitted to seminary is only the first step in an enriching process of preparation that takes six or seven years . . . One day, God willing, these seminarians, will be ordained to the priesthood," he said.
Eight men were ordained to the priesthood from Maynooth earlier this year, eight in 2005 and eight in 2004.