Bishop Buckley, and other representatives of the diocese of Cork and Ross, attended the Institute of Guidance Counsellors’ annual careers fair for secondary students, at the Rochestown Park Hotel, to speak to young people about becoming priests.
He and others in the Church have been pushing for recruits because of the low number of new vocations. There were just two ordinations in the diocese of Cork and Ross last year, where there are currently just three men studying to become priests.
![Most Rev. Dr. John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Ross speaking with pupils of De La Salle, Macroom, Aidan McMahon, Ciaran O’Riordan, John O’Mullane and Liam Wall at the careers exhibition for secondary school pupils at the Rochestown Park Hotel. Picture Dan linehan]()
Most Rev. Dr. John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Ross speaking with pupils of De La Salle, Macroom, Aidan McMahon, Ciaran O’Riordan, John O’Mullane and Liam Wall at the careers exhibition for secondary school pupils at the Rochestown Park Hotel. Picture Dan Linehan
Fr Pat Nugent was the only priest ordained in Cork this year.
Teenagers at the fair expressed their concerns about the priesthood, like the lack of women and the celibacy vow, but Bishop Buckley said that he was not sure what impact changes to Church policy would have.
“Celibacy is a regulation of the Church,” Bishop Buckley said. “Certainly, in the years ahead, people might look at that, and I wouldn’t see any difficulty, if they see that it’s absolutely necessary. But whether it would help increase the number of vocations, I’m not sure.
“Other denominations, which allow ministers to marry, are seeing a shortage of vocations,” Bishop Buckley said.
Speaking at the fair, one girl said that the Church should consider allowing women priests, if it really wants to connect with people.
“If a woman became a priest, I would have no problem in confiding in her, or anything like that.
“I think a lot of girls, maybe, would be more comfortable in confiding in a woman than a male priest,” she said.
![Most Rev. Dr. John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Ross speaking with Secred Heart Secondary School pupils, Clonakilty Holly Sweetnam, Hannah O’Hea, Niamh Kiely and Rebecca O’Regan at the careers exhibition for secondary school pupils at the Rochestown Park Hotel. Picture Dan linehan]()
Most Rev. Dr. John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Ross speaking with Secred Heart Secondary School pupils, Clonakilty Holly Sweetnam, Hannah O’Hea, Niamh Kiely and Rebecca O’Regan at the careers exhibition for secondary school pupils at the Rochestown Park Hotel. Picture Dan linehan
Another teenager mulled over the idea of becoming a priest, but wouldn’t be the first priest in his family if he did join. “It kind of runs in the family. My granduncle was a priest, but I’m not sure if I’ll become one,” he said.
Another pupil had some very simple advice for anyone considering it.
“If you’re strong with your faith, go for it.”
Monsignor Aidan O’Driscoll, who joined Bishop Buckley at the stand, said that the pupils were “very inquistitive,” and were very aware of the shortage of vocations, having seen what had happened in their own parishes.
The two-day career fair continues today, and 5,500 pupils will have attended it by the time it is over.
