Edinburgh, Scotland, Jul 10, 2017 / 23:38 pm
Twelve men are set to be ordained priests in Scotland this year, a 20-year high that Catholic leaders credited to prayers and other work to encourage vocations.
"It is great news to see the biggest number of ordinations to the priesthood for over two decades," said Bishop John Keenan of Paisley. "I want to thank our people who have been praying faithfully in their daily rosary groups for vocations all these years and who now have the joy of seeing God answer their prayers."
Since the year 1997, when 12 men were ordained priests, Scotland has averaged five ordinations a year. In 2008, there were no ordinations.
Bishop Keenan heads Priests for Scotland, the national vocations office for the Catholic Church. He told the Scottish Catholic Observer that there seems to be a rise in the numbers of men approaching vocations directors to apply for seminary.