The Catholic Church in Ireland has begun a year-long initiative to encourage men to consider the diocesan priesthood.
An awareness campaign begins today, which is Vocations/Good Shepherd Sunday.
Fr Vincent Stapleton who is a curate in the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly believes he had a vocation from when he was a boy.
Following his first Holy Communion he used the ironing board to say mass. His brother was drafted in to ring the bell.
When he became a teenager, he decided "it wasn't so cool", so he "blotted it out" and concentrated on his great passions of hurling and sport.
He became a primary school teacher, but admits he found teaching "quite challenging" which returned him to his faith.
Preparing classes for confirmation also helped rekindle the flame of faith in him.
"One day, one of the children said I think you would make a great priest, and I nearly dropped to the floor when I heard that. So, after six years of teaching in the primary school just out the road, I entered the seminary on 23 August, 2009. And thank God it's been onwards and upwards since."
When he completed his studies, Fr Stapleton was lucky to return to his home county of Tipperary as a Curate in the Cathedral parish of Thurles.
The young priest was a novelty.
"I think people are used to me now, but when I’d turn up at hurling matches; you'd have people turning in their seats to look and they’d say, a young priest and we haven't seen a young priest in so long.
"I'm the only priest in the diocese who's under 50, but we have an absolutely fantastic group of priests and they've given huge service. A lot of them are in their 70s and they're working harder now than when they were in their 50s. I slotted like a hand into a glove here."
Fr Stapleton has found the priesthood energising and fulfilling.
"It’s orientated towards people and relationships, and I never know what the new day is going to bring. So, I find myself very enthusiastic about the whole thing. I'm nearly eight years here in the parish, and my life is very fulfilled."
Asked if he ever faces negativity in the role, he says "not so much".
"I suppose it depends on where you're getting your validation from, and my validation comes more so from within. I get my validation from the sense of God's closeness and from those around me who love me. So, if somebody outside that circle is not too happy with me, that's not going to bother me a huge amount."
The theme of the year of vocations within the Catholic Church in Ireland is to 'Take the Risk for Christ'.
Fr Stapleton is grateful that he took that risk.
"It's like putting money on a good, solid horse, you know. You're going to get some dividends down the line."
Anthony Hartnett from Donegal has also taken the risk.
The young Seminarian who has spent seven years at St Patrick’s Pontifical University in Maynooth has found it fulfilling.
"On an intellectual level, you have the opportunity to really engage...and on the deeper level of the heart, you're able to really just place yourself in God’s hands and it's amazing what God can do when you give him that openness."
The Catholic Church in Ireland has acknowledged that young men taking up a vocation is arguably countercultural, but Anthony has adequate support.
He’s able to talk openly with his friends – many of whom are practising Catholics and open to exploring their faith - about issues like celibacy and obedience to a hierarchy.
"Being able to still recognise that it is countercultural, but on the other hand, recognise that God is inviting me to something really good and exciting, I'm just really grateful," he says.
Fellow Seminarian Stephen Sherry attended University after his Leaving Cert, to give himself time to consider his options, before going to Maynooth.
"I spent four years in the University of Limerick studying English and history - all of that time discerning my vocation to the priesthood.
"So, it was a very slow and considerate on my part...and then yeah, I decided to take the leap."
Stephen’s parents knew that he was considering the priesthood from early on, but most of his friends and family didn’t know.
"I had two different types of people, people who were religious and thought that's like something that Stephen might do, that would suit him very well.
"And then people from college who might not have really had any faith but saw that, you know, it's something that suited me."
Stephen says that while he has experienced moments of doubt, he would never have had the opportunity to say it wasn’t for him until he took the risk.
"I would say to anyone who might be thinking about it, you know it's a good life. I've thoroughly enjoyed my studies so far, so if you have any thought that this might be for you, take the risk because there's no harm in it at all."
The awareness campaign around the year of vocations is specific to Ireland.
The Catholic Church here is challenged by the dwindling number of priests nationwide and the increased workload on those in the vocation.
Last year, ten seminarians began their studies in Maynooth which was one more than in 2021.
It brought to 56 the total number of men studying for the priesthood in Irish dioceses in 2022.
The campaign kicks off on the 60th anniversary of the initiation of the annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations, instituted by Saint Pope Paul VI in 1963 during the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council.
On Friday, Pope Francis said the Spirit often comes in "completely unexpected ways" as it did for him.
"...on 21 September 1953, as I was on my way to an annual school celebration, I was led to stop by a church and go to confession. That day changed my life and left a mark that has endured to the present day.
God’s call to the gift of self tends to make itself known gradually: in our encounter with situations of poverty, in moments of prayer, when we see a clear witness to the Gospel, or read something that opens our minds," he said.
Vocations Ireland which is part of the Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland will hold events throughout the year aimed at highlighting the various vocations in the Church.
At the helm of the wider initiative is the Waterford Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan.
As chair of the Council for Vocations in Ireland, Bishop Cullinan hopes that the campaign will begin a discussion amongst families and in communities nationwide.
He acknowledged that is a "courageous decision" for any man.
Those that wish to discuss or explore the matter further can contact their local priest or diocesan vocations director.
