The Archdiocese of Birmingham currently has 22 seminarians preparing for the priesthood at various colleges and the level of interest in the priesthood remains encouraging and we have a sizeable number of men undertaking our discernment programme with a view to applying to the diocese.
This seems to be a continuing the upward trend that has occurred over the last few years and it is interesting to note that although the age range of the enquirers is quite broad, there seems to be an upturn of interest among the younger age group including boys still at school or in sixth form. Other dioceses have noticed a similar trend, and it reminds us that it is never too early to recommend the priesthood to likely young men in our parishes.