World Day of Prayer for Vocations: Why they are growing in England and Wales

(Vatican Radio) “Vocations as a sign of hope founded in Faith.” That’s the theme chosen for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations being celebrated on Sunday 21^st April. Father Christopher Jamison is Director of the National Vocations Office for the Catholic Church in England and Wales. He spoke to Vatican Radio’s Susy Hodges.

Listen to the extended interview with Father Christopher Jamison:

Father Jamison says vocations to both the diocesan priesthood and religious orders have steadily increased in the past few years and believes this is due to a number of different factors. Among those he lists “the growth of opportunities for young people to explore their vocation without any pressure to join any particular seminary or order. “We’ve created a growing number of places,” he says, where people can come to ask the question what is God calling me to do?”

Father Jamison says another factor is the growth in confidence, especially among young Catholics, after Pope Benedict’s visit to the UK in 2010. He believes the impact of this visit helped people “to take seriously the question of their vocation.”

Although there are not enough new priests to replace those who retire or pass away each year, Father Jamison points to many encouraging signs of growth “after a very bad period.” “I think we can still look forward to a Church which will have considerable pastoral strength,” he says. Another positive sign, he adds, "is that fewer people are dropping out from seminaries."

Father Jamison says their plan for the future is to see a vocations ministry “embedded in local parishes as an integral part of its life” to help with outreach.