The number of candidates entering the priesthood in England and Wales reached its highest point in a decade in September this year, with 56 men becoming seminarians.
Fr Stephen Langridge, chairman of vocations directors for England and Wales, said that the number of seminarians had been “rising slowly but surely”, and that there may be further increases “as people respond to the visit of Pope Benedict”.
The rise has been attributed in part to recent work in vocations, and in particular the Invocation festival held in Birmingham in July for those aged 16 to 35 trying to discern a vocation. About 300 are thought to have attended, and a second festival has been arranged for June next year.
