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Pontifical Work for Vocations to the Priesthood
Congregation for Catholic Education
Vatican City
e-mail vocation@cec.va tel. 0039 06 69884315 fax 0039 06 69884172
4th April 2007
Dear Vocation Directors,
In this last month of the vocational year 2006-2007, let us meditate together on the last part of the Message for the World Day of Prayer for vocations of last year which reminds us that prayer is truly necessary for the increase in the number of vocations for the priesthood: “Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest” (Mt 9:37). This is the text of the message of the Holy Father for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2006:
“Remembering the counsel of Jesus: ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest (Mt 9:37),’ we acknowledge the great need to pray for vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. It is not surprising that, where people pray fervently, vocations blossom. The holiness of the Church depends essentially on union with Christ and on being open to the mystery of grace that operates in the heart of the Christians. Therefore, I should like to invite all the faithful to nurture an intimate relationship with Christ, the Teacher and Pastor of his people, imitating Mary who kept the divine mysteries in her heart and meditated them diligently (cfr. Lk 2:19).”
The Holy Father Benedict XVI, knowing very well the necessity of priests and consecrated life so that the Church may accomplish her mission in the world today, wanted to insert the present situation of vocations into the context of his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum caritatis, in Part One, Section IV, under the titles: The Eucharist and the Sacrament of Holy Orders and The clergy shortage and the pastoral care of vocations (# 25) and Gratitude and hope, (# 26).
The clergy shortage and the pastoral care of vocations
25. “In the light of the connection between the sacrament of Holy Orders and the Eucharist, the Synod considered the difficult situation that has arisen in various Dioceses which face a shortage of priests. This happens not only in some areas of first evangelization, but also in many countries of long-standing Christian tradition. Certainly a more equitable distribution of clergy would help to solve the problem. Efforts need to be made to encourage a greater awareness of this situation at every level. Bishops should involve Institutes of Consecrated Life and the new ecclesial groups in their pastoral needs, while respecting their particular charisms, and they should invite the clergy to become more open to serving the Church wherever there is need, even if this calls for sacrifice. (78) The Synod also discussed pastoral initiatives aimed at promoting, especially among the young, an attitude of interior openness to a priestly calling. The situation cannot be resolved by purely practical decisions. On no account should Bishops react to real and understandable concerns about the shortage of priests by failing to carry out adequate vocational discernment, or by admitting to seminary formation and ordination candidates who lack the necessary qualities for priestly ministry (79). An insufficiently formed clergy, admitted to ordination without the necessary discernment, will not easily be able to offer a witness capable of evoking in others the desire to respond generously to Christ's call. The pastoral care of vocations needs to involve the entire Christian community in every area of its life. (80) Obviously, this pastoral work on all levels also includes exploring the matter with families, which are often indifferent or even opposed to the idea of a priestly vocation. Families should generously embrace the gift of life and bring up their children to be open to doing God's will. In a word, they must have the courage to set before young people the radical decision to follow Christ, showing them how deeply rewarding it is.”
Gratitude and hope
26. “Finally, we need to have ever greater faith and hope in God's providence. Even if there is a shortage of priests in some areas, we must never lose confidence that Christ continues to inspire men to leave everything behind and to dedicate themselves totally to celebrating the sacred mysteries, preaching the Gospel and ministering to the flock. In this regard, I wish to express the gratitude of the whole Church for all those Bishops and priests who carry out their respective missions with fidelity, devotion and zeal. Naturally, the Church's gratitude also goes to deacons, who receive the laying on of hands "not for priesthood but for service." (81) As the Synod Assembly recommended, I offer a special word of thanks to those Fidei Donum priests who work faithfully and generously at building up the community by proclaiming the word of God and breaking the Bread of Life, devoting all their energy to serving the mission of the Church. (82) Let us thank God for all those priests who have suffered even to the sacrifice of their lives in order to serve Christ. The eloquence of their example shows what it means to be a priest to the end. Theirs is a moving witness that can inspire many young people to follow Christ and to expend their lives for others, and thus to discover true life.”
Finally, some statistics for 2005:
1. In the period 2004-2005, there was a minimal increase of 0.13% in the number of priests, diocesan and religious, in the world. From 405.891 in 2004, the number of priests increased to 406.411 in 2005. The increase varies from continent to continent: in Asia and Africa there was an additional 3.80% and 3.55% respectively, there was a slight variation in Europe and America and a decrease of 1.8% in Oceania.
2. During this period, the contribution of Africa and Asia to the number of priests in the world was 20.28%, that of America was 29.8%, while that of Oceania remained a little more than 1%. The only continent that had a fall in the number of priests was Europe: in 2004 there were 199.978 European priests which represent 49.3% of the total number, while in 2005 the percentage went down to 48.8%.
3. The number of students of Philosophy and Theology in the diocesan and religious seminaries increased from 113.044 in 2004 to 114.439 in 2005 which amounts to a 1.23% increase. This variation was positive in Africa (3.46%), in Asia (2.90%) and in America (0.6%), while in Europe there was a fall of 1.9%. The number of seminarians in Oceania remained 950.
4. In 2005 out of 100 candidates to the priesthood in the world there were 32 in America, 26 in Asia, 21 in Africa and 1 in Oceania.
Thank you for your collaboration and support of the activities organized by P.W.V.P., and may you celebrate a holy Easter in your Christian community and have a fruitful harvest of vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life.
Fr Francis Bonnici