Vocations at the forefront

“Good Lord, what do you want of me?”: it is the theme chosen by the Spanish Church for the Day of Seminaries 2015, due to be celebrated March 19, Feast of St. Joseph, patron Saint of Seminarians, in dioceses across the Country. The 2015 edition of the Day draws inspiration from Saint Teresa of Avila. In fact, the theme “Lord, what do you want of me?” refers to a famous poem of St. Teresa, whose fifth centenary of birth recurs this year. For this purpose, the Episcopal Commission for Seminaries and Universities have selected some of the texts that the Saint dedicated to vocation and to priestly ministry to accompany liturgical aids, the theological-pastoral reflection and the catechesis, traditionally distributed for the celebration. The Seminary Day is celebrated since 1935 to encourage vocations and sensitize society and Christian communities. The bishops released a message for the occasion. Figures on the numbers of seminarians in Spain, which have increased over the past year, were equally made known. The poor, privileged in the heart of God. “Being ordained ministers in the Church of Christ is to be servants of love “: thus begins the message of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference. In the document – which focuses in particular on the example of Teresa of Avila, on the occasion of the Spanish Jubilee Year commemorating the 500th anniversary of her birth – underlines that the current era needs ordained ministers who know how to fight “the realities that destroy true faith “. This contrast is made possible by “the belief that a retired life and contemplative life is to be associated with prayer.” In fact, from here, “from a prayer that leads to a life detached from oneself and from mundane reality” stems “a serious commitment for the poor, a commitment rooted in the appreciation of poverty in itself”, capable of “enhancing life without false honours and riches”. The Spanish Church underlined that the “preferential option for the poor” is a fruit of the Council, quoting Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation “Evangelii gaudium” that reiterates “the heart of God has a privileged place for the poor”. Overcoming the dichotomy between the economy and the common good. “Each ecclesial action – continues the Spanish Bishops in their message – should be marked by a consciousness open to God, enabling us to overcome mere economic interests”. Starting with openness to transcendence”, it will be possible “to form a new political and economic mindset that will contribute to overcoming the absolute dichotomy between the economy and the common good of society”. Finally, the Spanish bishops highlighted the commitment of the Church and of her ministers in “promoting among mankind the social structures that may resolve the conditions of so many poor people in the world”. Increasing numbers of candidates to the priesthood. Like every year, the figures on priestly vocations in Spain are published on the eve of the Day of Seminaries, celebrated March 19. In the dioceses where the day of St. Joseph is not a festive day the celebration is held Sunday March 22. In Spain the number of seminarians registered in the courses of the year 2014-2015 has increased by 2.7% compared to the previous year. A total number of 1.357 candidates are registered in the major seminaries of the Country, 36 more compared to 2013-2014. According to the yearly report by the Spanish Bishops’ Commission for Seminaries and Universities the number of candidates to the priesthood has increased for the fourth year running, which shows a stable tendency to growth, begun in 2011 with 1.278 seminarians, followed by 1.307 in 2012 and by 1 321 registered seminarians in 2013. Thus over the past two years there was a 6% increase. Nonetheless, the Bishops’ Commission made known that the number of priestly ordinations continues to decrease. In fact, 117 new priests were ordained in 2014, compared to 131 in 2013, 130 in 2012 and 122 in 2011.