The rector of Brisbane’s Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary is seeing an increase in men inquiring about the priesthood as the Church this week celebrates National Vocations Awareness week. Source: The Catholic Leader.
Fr Neil Muir said the Banyo-based seminary welcomed 16 men aged 19-39 visiting as part of Quo Vadis, a vocations retreat, last weekend.
He said he was impressed by the men who visited for the retreat and that it had been a good chance to share the life of the seminary with them.
The seminary had seen a surge in interest in the past five years.
Fr Muir said he had seen the residency at the seminary increase from eight to 19 at present.
“The only problem we face now is we’re running out of room to accommodate them because their numbers are growing,” he said with a laugh.
“It was a really positive experience.”
Vocation Brisbane manager Nick Kelly said the men who visited for Quo Vadis had come from many backgrounds – students, military veterans, academics, youth ministry and schools.
What united them was their interest in discerning a call to the priesthood, he said.
The highlight for him was Saturday evening Eucharistic adoration and evening prayer.
He said it was great to see the men “powerfully moved in prayer and worship to say ‘yes’ and take the next step before them”.
He said the presenters for the retreat had done an excellent job showcasing the depth of the priestly vocation, including Brisbane Archbishop Shane Mackinlay, Fr Josh Whitehead, Fr Michael Grace, Fr Nathan Webb, Fr Damian McGrath and Australian Catholic University mission and ministry associate director Mark Doyle.
FULL STORY
Sixteen men visit Queensland seminary to pray for their vocation at Quo Vadis weekend (By Joe HIggins, The Catholic Leader)
