There has been an increase in the number of men joining the priesthood, it was claimed today.
In the Dublin diocese alone, five men have been accepted into the seminary since the beginning of the current academic year.
The diocese also had a stand at the FÁS Opportunities Conference in Croke Park in March.
Today is Vocations Sunday, and director of Vocations Fr Eamonn Bourke said he believes a number of factors have influenced the increase.
“There seems to be more a sense of optimism in the Church in the last couple of months, plus there seems to be a sense of disillusionment with the way society has gone,” he said.
“People want to give back something now and they see they the priesthood as a radical way of giving back something to the community and to the Church themselves.”