Decline in interest in priestly vocation alarms church people

By LUIS GORGONIO Fewer people have become interested in the priestly vocation, observed Catholic Church leaders who expressed alarm over the trend. “There has been a remarkable decline in youth's interest in joining the priesthood at a time when the Filipino Catholic Church needs some 25,000 priests," said Catholic priest Estelito Villegas of San Carlos Formation Center, a seminary, in Manila. Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle of Imus said the decline might not have yet reached critical levels like that of Europe and the United States, but it is already “alarming," he said. Tagle said Catholic priests number 8,700, each serving an average of 15,000 parishioners. Ideally, the ratio should be one for every 2,000, or at worse, one for every 5,000. Already saddled with daily sacramental duties like officiating masses, marriages, blessings of the dead, a priest with 15,000 parishioners has no time to think more deeply about serving the people, a Franciscan priest in Sta. Ana, Manila said. Tagle, who heads the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on the Doctrine of the Faith, said one of the causes of the decline in people’s interest to enter the seminary is “growing materialism." “From a predominantly agricultural, rural country, we are becoming more technological, scientifically advanced. However, progress leads to a consumerist lifestyle and a growing thirst for wealth. In such a context, the role of God in our lives and the priestly function take a back stage to money," Tagle said. Aside from materialism, sex scandals in the church and the reported corruption of some priests discourage young people from entering the priesthood, Tagle said. ONLY FEW QUALIFY Missionary priest Charlz Patritio, MSC, vocation director of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, said there are enough applicants for the priesthood, but the problem is only very few qualify. He said a good number of high school graduates express deep longings to serve. Patritio also observed a growing trend among children of overseas Filipino workers applying to enter the seminary. Most, however, fail the psychological tests. Most congregations look for academic excellence, sound religious values, psychological and emotional stability, and the capability of the families of candidates to support their studies. When asked whether he prefers quantity over quality, Patricio said, “By all means I’d go for quality and the formation program must be such that the formandi must be imbued with the values of consecrated service." PRIEST AS OFW Filipino priests are also leaving the country. Tagle said some 800 priests leave each year to work in Europe and North America. “We send Filipino clerics to other countries where shortages are even worse," he said. “We are sending Filipino priests to Spain, the country that brought Christianity to our shores in the 16th century," Tagle said. “We need priests here. But in our poverty, we share," Nelson Navarro, a commentator on religion, said in a web log. The migration of priests to other countries can be likened to the diaspora of eight million Filipino workers who have sought greener pastures overseas. “It works the same way," Navarro said. “If you go abroad, you have a better income, more opportunities and a chance to see the world. It's a big attraction." Cesar Mallari, who is about to finish his theological studies, said priests should not regard their work as a way to earn a living. “It is not good," he said. “It is looking at priesthood as a profession and not as a vocation," Mallari said. To attract aspirants to enter the seminary, Tagle emphasized the role of families in instilling the values of service and love to young people. Villegas favors concerts and television productions. Patritio proposes a rethinking of standards in the recruitment of aspirants and the strengthening of the formation process. - GMANews.TV