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Decline in Poles taking up religious orders

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 21.04.2015 09:04
The number of Poles seeking to become priests or take up religious orders has fallen by about a quarter over the last five years.
Photo: GlowimagesPhoto: Glowimages

''This is part of a global trend, although in some areas – for example in the United States, Africa and Asia – the number of vocations has been increasing,'' said Bishop Marek Solarczyk of the Warsaw-Praga diocese, at a press conference concerning the phenomenon.

''However, Poland is still a power in terms of the number of priests,'' the bishop underlined.

''A dozen or so years ago, one in ten priests in Europe was a Pole, now it is one in seven.''

In 2009, some 3732 Poles were enrolled in diocesan seminaries, while at the end of September 2014, the number was 2851.

On 1 October 2014, the number of Poles preparing for ordination into the priesthood was 586, compared with 580 in 2013 and 664 in 2012.

Meanwhile, in seminaries for those training to become monks, there were 1703 men, about 107 fewer than on 1 October 2013. The most popular orders are the Franciscans, the Salesians, the Capuchins and Dominicans.

The popularity of female religious orders is also declining. Last year, 221 women entered such orders, whereas in 2014 the number was 247.

Falling popularity active female religious orders - in 2014 they joined the 221 women, while in 2013 it was 247.

According to Sister Krystiana Chojnacka, Chairperson of the Committee on Vocations, young people are less mature and have difficulties in persevering with their calling.

''Nowadays when candidates come they ask a lot of questions,'' she said.

''They want to know everything straight away.'' (nh)

Source: PAP

tags: Church, religion
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