Sydney, Australia, Aug 10, 2009 / 21:22 pm
The wake of World Youth Day has brought an increase in interest in religious vocations, as demonstrated in the response to Catholic Australia’s National Vocations Awareness Week.
Fr. Michael De Stoop, Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Sydney, said in a press release from the archdiocese that there has been a strong response from young people who want to know more about the life of a priest or a religious sister. There have also been inquiries about vocations in married and single life and vocations as a consecrated lay person.
One of the aims of National Awareness Vocations Week was to communicate to young people and their families the joy and deep happiness generated by living a religious life supported by the grace of God, Fr. Michael explained.
Fr. Michael said he believes the increase in interest in the priesthood and religious life is due to both the excitement and renewed faith generated by World Youth Day 2008 and the recent Vocations Expo in Martin Place which was part of the successful Sydney Congress Embracing the New Evangelism (SCENE).