Catholics fear lack of priests and nuns

Catholic schools are being encouraged to promote religious career options to pupils, as the church tries to boost dwindling numbers of priests and nuns.

A paper issued by the Catholic Education Office and sent to Catholic primary and secondary schools, urges career advisers to more strongly promote religious career options, such as training for the priesthood or joining a religious order.

"While religious orders and the seminaries do not normally accept students until some years after they have left school, it is really important to have this option placed in front of students considering their careers," the paper said.

The office's deputy chief executive, Susan Apathy, said it was important for young Catholics to be fully aware of their options.

"Young people are at their most idealistic in their mid to late teens."

The office was supporting the National Bishops' Conference calls for greater promotion of religious vocations, she said.

Catholic Communications director Lyndsay Freer said: "Fewer people are coming forward. We're suggesting to young people that they look at a religious life."

Figures supplied by the Catholic Church show almost 90 fewer priests in New Zealand in 2007 than in 1995, and the number of men training for the priesthood had also dropped.

There are 1200 sisters and brothers attached to the 43 religious orders - in 1988 there were 1900.

De La Salle order spokesman Brother Mark McKeon said an ageing membership meant many of the order's traditional projects, which include teaching and social work in remote areas of Australia and the Pacific, would be under threat if the organisation could not attract younger members.

"Our average age is 65 ... It's essential we get some new men joining to continue our work."

It was becoming increasingly hard to sell some aspects of the brotherhood's life such as the vows of chastity and "to live simply", Brother Mark said. "It's a hurdle that young men find hard to jump over.

"There are also challenges surrounding living a simple life, but we believe they are ones people can match."

- © Fairfax NZ News