The Diocesan Priests’ Training Fund

 

The diocesan priests’ training fund is based within the vocations department at the vocations centre, St. Mary’s College, Oscott.

 

The principal purpose of the fund is to finance the costs of recruitment and training for those preparing for ordained ministry in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

 

From September 2005, in addition to students for the priesthood, the fund has taken over responsibility for those training for the permanent diaconate.

 

At the start of the new academic year in September 2005, there were 18 seminarians, 10 of whom were at Oscott College, 1 at the Venerable English College in Rome and 3 at the Pontifical Beda College in Rome. In addition, there were 3 students taking the propedeutic year at the English College, Valladolid and 1 former Anglican clergymen on a non-residential programme. At the same date there were 7 students for the diaconate, and one priest of the diocese undertaking further studies abroad.

 

The fund also supports the work of promoting vocations to the priesthood throughout the diocese, largely through visits to parishes and schools, and through the production and distribution of publicity materials.

 

The fund employs a full time vocations promotion and publicity officer and two part time administrative and secretarial staff. It also pays the expenses and stipend of the priest vocations director and the costs of a house of discernment for those considering a vocation to the priesthood.

 

The fund’s main sources of fund raising are the annual second collection in parishes on Vocations Sunday and the regular giving scheme organised through parish secretaries. In view of the increasing demands of the fund, renewed effort is being put into parish appeals and the development of an online payment facility to recruit new contributors to the fund, who are encouraged where possible to register for gift aid.

 

To give one example, it costs over £200,000 to train one person for the priesthood!