Catholic Church praying for more priests, vocations

The Catholic Church has expressed hope for more young men and women to consider vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

According to Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, he is fervently praying for more young men and women to consider becoming a priest or a nun.

“I am praying for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life especially as the local Church prepares for the observance of the Year of the Clergy and the Religious, which begins on December 3, the First Sunday of Advent,” Bagaforo said over Church-run Radio Veritas.

“I am praying for our youth to be gifted with the calling to serve the Lord and His Church,” he added.

The observance of the Year of the Clergy and the Religious is part of the Church’s preparation for the celebration of the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines on March 16, 2021.

According to a report in 2014-2015, the number of Catholics around the world was estimated at about 1.3 billion or 17.7 percent of the world population.

The number of young people who enter the religious life, however, continues to decline in Europe.

In Africa and Asia, the report added, more than 1,000 seminarians are expected to enter the priesthood by next year.

The Holy Father Pope Francis is set to discuss the topic Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment during the Synod of Bishops in 2018 as he expresses hope for more young people to enter the priesthood and religious life.