EDITORIAL

A Dual Vocation Crisis

Posted

When people speak about a vocation crisis in the Catholic Church they are more often than not referring to the lack of priests. And while it is true that the number of priests has declined over the years, it is also true, at least in the Diocese of Providence, that the number of parishioners has declined. The truth is that there is a dual vocation crisis: less priests and less parishioners.

The Diocese or Providence is actively engaged in the process of working with priests and laity to confront both crises. The Vocation Office offers many discernment events throughout the year; individual priests invite men to consider the priesthood; and many of our lay people pray regularly for more vocations. In the same vain, priests and parishioners are engaged in pastoral planning discussions to envision and implement creative ways to merge parish communities and parish resources in the future. This pastoral planning is needed so that parish communities can become more vibrant and engaged in the work of evangelization and so that priests can be more effective in their ministries.