Vocations to priesthood are on the rise in England and Wales: a trend that has appeared over the last few years and has been confirmed by the latest figures, showing that Allen Hall, the seminary of the diocese of Westminster, and the seminary of St. John’s in Wonersh, Surrey, have had 12 new students each. Now Allen Hall has 43 seminarians, versus 32 in 2005. According to statistics from the National Catholic Office for Vocations, the office in charge of vocations for the Bishops Conference of England and Wales, in 1982 seminarians were 144 and just 39 in 2001. In 2006 and 2007, 44 students were enrolled in seminaries. "We can confirm that vocations are on the rise again", states to SIR Judith Eydmann, spokesperson for the National Catholic Office for Vocations. "There is new interest in Catholic life, which has been helped by the death of John Paul II and the appointment of Benedict XVI. Such youth movements as Youth 2000 are producing a new generation of young people who are fond of a more authentic spirituality. Even the so-called ‘discernment groups’, groups of prayer and support for people who are interested in religious life but are too young to attend the seminary, have helped keep alive an interest that was dieing out", concludes Judith Eydmann.” ” ” “
