Papal visit triggers “tsunami” of New York seminary applications
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Yonkers, N.Y., Apr 26, 2008 / 03:45 am (CNA).- St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers, New York, has received dozens of applications following Pope Benedict’s visit, the New York Daily News reports.

"It's been like a tsunami, a good tsunami of interest," said Father Luke Sweeney, the Archdiocese of New York's vocations director.  “I've been meeting people all week and have a lot of e-mails I haven't had the chance yet to respond to. It has been incredible.”

For the first time in 108 years, the seminary had been preparing for a year with no students.  Only 23 seminarians are expected to be ordained for New York City over the next four years.  A study carried out by Catholic World Report claims the archdiocese’s ratio of priests to congregation members is among the worst in the country. 

Currently there are only 648 diocesan priests for the Archdiocese of New York, which has 2.5 million Catholics.

“We are facing a severe shortage,” Father Sweeney said.  The vocations director recently launched a recruitment campaign that uses the slogans “The World Needs Heroes” and “You Have To Be a Real Man If You Want to Become a Priest.”

“We were hoping the Pope would convince many who were considering the priesthood to make the next step. It looks like he did,” he said.

The Pope spoke to a rally of 25,000 young people on the seminary’s grounds last Saturday, April 19. 

Father Sweeney described how the Pope’s words affected one new applicant.

“One said he came, saw the crowd, heard what the Pope said and then called us," the priest said.  "He said his questions and concerns were answered when he heard him speak.”

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: Nancy J
Washington State 04/28/2008 11:55 AM EST
We are our brothers' keepers! As works of spiritual mercy we can pray for an increase in vocations, encourage our children and grandchildren and other young men we know to consider the priesthood, make financial donations to seminaries, speak respectfully of the priesthood and support our pastors among other things. The Holy Father did his part, now let's do ours! Thank God we live in a free country where we can worship freely.
We are blessed!
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Published by: Lynn O. Peterson
Santa Monica 04/28/2008 11:13 AM EST
Great news! We use the Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest (SCAP) Rite here to serve nursing homes and other retirement communities. Our most fervent prayer is for vocations in such numbers that the SCAP will no longer be needed.

Happy St. Louis de Montfort Day and Totus Tuus, my fellow Catholics!

LL
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Published by: Gabriel Espinosa
Monticello/NY 04/28/2008 06:59 AM EST
"The vocations director recently launched a recruitment campaign that uses the slogans “The World Needs Heroes” and “You Have To Be a Real Man If You Want to Become a Priest.”"

Utterly ridiculous! Being a priest is not about being a hero or what is perceived as a "real man" by todays standards. being a real priest is to be a man of no significance so that the glory of God may shine forth through him. The world does not need heroes. The world needs men who are willing to strip themselves of their vanity and become nothing so that God can truly use them to accomplish His ends.

This is the message you should be sending out, not your vain self fulfillment message which frankly is falling on deaf ears. Send out the message I suggest and you will reap a harvest!
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Published by: John Oostrom
Richmond Hill Ontario,Canada 04/27/2008 07:53 PM EST
May God bless America with this phenominon about the enquiries regarding the priesthood.
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Published by: francisco
houston/tx/usa 04/26/2008 02:44 PM EST
God answering a prayer? hmmm lol it looks like it. "God works in mysterious ways" is definitely applicable here...
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Published by: Maria Nave
Latrobe, Pa 15650, USA 04/26/2008 11:21 AM EST
I felt that Pope Benedict gave us a taste of Christ among us. Praise God. We truely need good vocations. I will pray.
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