Madam, - Fr Gerard Moloney (Rite and Reason, November 20th) paints a bleak picture of the fall in the numbers of priests in Ireland, and the reality of parishes with no priest. The figures speak for themselves.
As he says, it would be easy to blame the institutional church for having no plan A or Plan B in responding to this challenge. But I do not think it is as simple as this. I believe that no priest, bishop or church member could have foreseen the steep fall in vocations in recent years. The collapse, as Fr Moloney describes it, happened far more quickly than anyone could have envisaged. We were all caught unawares.
However, we do have a choice. We can wallow in self-pity, lamenting the fall in vocations and continuing to blame "the church" and the bishops for not having plans, or we can see this new reality as a time of positive challenge - an opportunity to gain new heart and go out with renewed courage and vigour to encourage vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
I see this as an exciting time in the history of the Irish church, filled with new opportunities. From my experience I believe that men and women are still being called to the priesthood and religious life, and it is up to us now to support them, encourage them and empower them to follow that calling from the Lord.
Parish communities must now take responsibility for finding and encouraging priests from within their own numbers. They need to ask themselves: "What can we do to foster vocations?"
Priests themselves must be willing to hold their heads high and rediscover within themselves that fire of the love of God that first brought them to the Lord in generous service. Priests have suffered much in recent years by association. But now is the time for them to have confidence and courage in who they are and what they stand for.
Celibacy and the other sacrifices a priest makes today for the sake of the kingdom of God are immensely positive examples of their love for God and his people. Priests need to be proud of these sacrifices, not embarrassed.
And the members of the believing communities around our country must be willing to ask themselves the hard question: "Am I being called to the priesthood or religious life?" They cannot keep leaving it to someone else.
The Catholic Church in Ireland needs sisters, brothers and priests. Answering this call will take sacrifice and courage.
It is up to each and every member of the church to take responsibility for promoting the same. - Yours, etc,
Fr EAMONN P BOURKE,
Director of Vocations,
Dublin Diocese,
c/o Archbishops House,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.