Scottish Catholic Observer

I want to be honest, almost blunt: the wolf is no longer at the door, he is turning the handle and coming in. I am talking about the growing shortage of priests and our need for vocations to the diocesan priesthood.

This year, while visiting the deaneries of my archdiocese, my theme was the Pope’s call to us to undertake the task of the New Evangelisation here in Scotland. As I was doing so, I became powerfully aware that many priests concelebrating Mass with me were like myself, only a few years from official retirement. As I looked around, I wondered what our deaneries would look like when they were reduced by three or four priests. Already we are at over-stretch—will tomorrow mean breaking point?

Over the years, we have linked parishes and already we have clusters of three parishes with only one resident priest. Can we simply go on linking parishes until one priest ministers to four, five, six; where will it end?

You might say we have cried wolf before and yes, we have been here before. Five years ago, we faced the same situation. The crisis was upon us and then God gave us, what could be described as a stay of execution. The St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese now has seven parishes staffed by priests from Poland and Africa, with a further three where the assistant is from the Philippines, Africa or Poland. Catholic yes, diverse certainly, but is it a long-term solution or a temporary fix?

As I reflected, I wondered: is God giving us a breathing space, time to pray and time to act? And if he is then, as archbishop I must seize the moment.

Not that it is all bad news. The good news is that we have a steady flow of men offering themselves for our archdiocese. Nine in seminary at present and around six knocking at the door.

Last year, I ordained Anthony Caruana to the priesthood and this year, God willing, Graham Turner will be ordained. Also John Deighan was recently ordained to the diaconate and I, myself, hope to ordain Jeremy Milne to the diaconate in a few weeks time. I thank God for the generosity of each of these men and, indeed, for the generosity of each of our seminarians: every one of them has made and continues to make real sacrifices in order to follow God’s call.

This presents us with another challenge. I share something of mine. Other bishops will have a similar story to tell—except those dioceses having no students in seminary at this present time. The cost of seminary training, like everything else, is on the up and the Taggart Trust, which helped fund our seminarians, is placed—at the donor’s will—in bank stock.

Consequently, we had to rely more and more on the income from that special collection for seminary training. You really should know that the income from that special collection last year amounted to £25,500—but the cost for one student each year at the Pontifical Scots College in Rome is £18,000, while the cost for one student each year at the Beda College is £19,000.

Last year, we had a deficit of £92,000 and an expected deficit in this year of £121,000. Now while we will need to do something positive to meet this deficit, I want to be quite clear that no one whom we believe to have a discernable vocation will be turned away because of money. Priests to serve our Church, not money, is my priority.

Beginning from this year’s Vocations Sunday, I want to encourage individuals and groups throughout our archdiocese to join me in a ‘crusade of prayer.’

As well as our World Day of Prayer for Vocations—Sunday May 15, 2011—I am calling for a special week of prayer in my own archdiocese for vocations to the priesthood and to the religious life from Pentecost Sunday—Sunday June 12, 2011—until Trinity Sunday—Sunday June 19, 2011. These dates mark the opening of the two Carmelite Communities still in our archdiocese: the Carmel in Falkirk on Sunday June l2, 1931 and the establishment of our Carmel in Dysart, Fife on Sunday June 19, 1931.

If we need 20 or 25 new priests for 10 years time, then let us ask the Lord of the harvest for what we need. Remember no priest, no Mass, no absolution, no anointing. We might say no priest, no Church as we know it. With this crusade of prayer, I want to begin once more parish promotion groups, become more focused in our asking and reminding not simply of the vocation of all the Baptised to serve but of the specific and essential service of priests in proclaiming the word of life and celebrating the Eucharist.

However, we must commit also to thanking our retired priests for answering their call to the priesthood, as well as giving wholehearted support to our seminarians and the priests we have. Their positive sacrifice for the sake of the Church calls for a response from those they serve or will serve in the future. If we want priests, then now is the time for action. Who knows what God will do if we, all of us, are open to His will.