One of the oldest seminaries in Ireland is to close because of a decline in the number of students for the priesthood.
The seminary side of St Patrick’s College, in Thurles, Co Tipperary, has been suspended, and students will now be take up their studies in St Patrick’s, Maynooth.
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A statement from the Catholic Press Office issued this morning said: "A situation has now been reached where it is no longer feasible to sustain the appropriate seminary experience to meet the demands of priestly formation today".
But the College intends to expand as an institution offering degree courses, having recently signed up to the CAO system. It will also continue as school of religious learning, offering courses in theological and philosophical studies and as a place of retreat.
Among the alumni of St Patrick's College, which was founded in 1837, are former Superior General of the Columban Missionary Society Dr. Michael O'Dwyer of Holycross; Dr Lawrence Scanlan, the first bishop of Salt Lake City; and Dr John Cantwell, the first archbishop of Los Angeles.
The Trustees of St. Patrick's extended their "gratitude [for] the generous service of staff, both clerical and lay" and expressed their appreciation to its benefactors.
In today’s statement the trustees said: "The decision to suspend seminary work in St. Patrick's College will, understandably, cause disappointment to past students and friends of the college. However, circumstances rendered unavoidable the present painful decision".
They also said they hoped the number of vocations would increase in the future, leading to a reopening of the seminary.