Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - “The Present and Future of Vocational Development” is the title of the report published by the Archdiocese of Seoul, which is a compilation of the results of a study made over the course of a year among various dioceses, among parishes and faithful. The report was compiled by the Archdiocese’s Vocations Department, in collaboration with the Center for Pastoral Studies in Seoul.
The study’s purpose was to observe the priestly vocations in their perspectives, desires, and the environment from which they come, in order to draw up future pastoral plans for the local Church.
Those asked to participate in the study were those preparing to enter the seminary, seminarians, priests, relatives of priests, and faithful.
According to the report, 68.5% of those preparing to enter the seminary began taking a certain interest in the vocation to the priesthood in their pre-teenage years, in primary school. The youth said that what helped them was the times of conversation/sharing, retreats, and days of reflection dedicated to vocational discernment.
89% of the priests that participated in the study confirmed these results, saying that they place a great emphasis on these programs in the seminary and in the daily vocational discernment process, and in the pastoral ministry in the parishes. This creates a “virtuous circle” that helps the youth to make courageous decisions for their future.
The relatives of seminarians and priests, in being asked for their input, observed the effectiveness of programs for discernment and vocational reflection, in which their families were also involved, preparing them to accept the possible calling of God to one of their children to take up the path of consecration.
Fr. Luke Koh Chan-geun, Director of the Vocations Department for the Archdiocese of Seoul stated that: “The number of aspirants to the priesthood reflects the faith present in our society, in the Church, and in our time. A life of faith without an active commitment and without prayer does not give life to new vocations,” he said, recalling the importance of faith and prayer in the family. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 7/5/2008; righe 29, parole 342)
