INCREASING vocations to the priesthood in Brisbane archdiocese have been welcomed – but one commentator says “there’s a sting in this good news tale”.
Resources are taxed as space and finances run out and a call has gone out to Catholics in the archdiocese and throughout the province of Queensland to support this “exciting influx” of vocations.
Three men involved with harvesting this windfall – Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary rector Monsignor Tony Randazzo, Brisbane archdiocese vocations director Fr Morgan Batt and Seminary and Clergy gift manager Lindsay Stokes – have spoken of great opportunities ahead if the challenge can be met.
Banyo’s $4 million Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary, still less than half paid for, already needs to be extended.
Opened in 2008, it was originally built to cater to 16 seminarians but was extended two years ahead of time in 2010, to accommodate the 31 men in formation.
Three local men have joined the seminary this year and six more locals are due next year.
Fr Batt said the Canali House of discernment for young men considering the priesthood was also “chockers”.
Msgr Randazzo said there were several reasons for the growth in vocations, including the “stimulus package” provided by the arrival of Nigerian priests to the archdiocese under an ongoing agreement with Umuahia diocese.
Mr Stokes is spearheading a recently launched Archdiocesan Resource Development campaign to meet the seminary’s capital costs.
“We’ve gone from virtually zero to hero,” Mr Stokes said.
“Until the last couple of years we were only getting dribs and drabs in vocations to the seminary which also feeds Queensland’s other four dioceses.
“It’s taken about 12 months to raise $1.7 million towards the cost of the seminary.
“There’s $2.3 million to go so there’s already a sizeable task ahead – and that’s not considering further extensions already needed.
“Then there are current operating costs of about $1 million a year.”
Msgr Randazzo said an increasing interest in the priesthood was reported in all dioceses of the province of Queensland.
“When the apostolic nuncio opened the new building in 2010, we thought we’d been really clever planning so far ahead,” he said.
“In actual fact, 18 months later here we are already planning to build extensions, now realising we hadn’t planned far enough ahead.”
Mr Stokes said Msgr Randazzo and Fr Batt deserved much of the credit for the latest upsurge in interest to the priesthood.
“Also once things start to improve, nothing succeeds like success,” he said.
“However, they’re also building on what went before.
Msgr Randazzo said any success in his ministry was “because God’s doing the work”.
“I also believe the priesthood is a life that is a blessing – it is energising and refreshing and a life that brings great joy,” he said.
“This belief keeps me on track.”
The rector said the men provided from Nigeria had given “new purpose and energy” to the priesthood.
“Their presence has reminded us what it is possible to achieve,” he said.
He also spoke of the “high quality of young men responding to God’s call from around the diocese”.
“They are faith-filled, passionate about Christ and responding to the call to service,” he said.
Canali House through the “wonderful work” of Fr Batt was also providing “a pipeline of vocational discernment”, Msgr Randazzo said.
Fr Batt said one of biggest issues was the discernment house and its budget was not big enough to keep up with demand.
There are at least 30 young men at all sorts of different levels of discernment and of these five are now at Canali House.
“The house comfortably accommodates six including myself,” he said.
“However, another young man has arrived recently so the house is absolutely chockers.
“There’s even someone living upstairs in the lounge room.”
Fr Batt, Msgr Randazzo and Mr Stokes see a potentially bright future for the priesthood in the archdiocese and beyond – although it’s up to the people.
This bright future will not come into being without a cost, says Fr Batt.
“If the archdiocese really wants vocations to increase, then its people need to increase support,” he said.
“The vocations are definitely here.
“The question is what is everyone going to do about it?”
Msgr Randazzo said every generation “must plan, pray and work with the Holy Spirit to call forth priests to be servant-leaders to their people”.
Mr Stokes in his fundraising role had a pragmatic view.
“It’s a lovely problem to have, but it is a challenge – there’s a sting in this good news tale.”
