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The Last Supper, The Perea Master, 15th-16th century.
Background | Information Collected | Interviews | What use is this Survey? | Personal Details | Parish Involvement | Key Influencers of Faith/Belief | Attitudes toward Religious Life | Attitudes and Perceptions of the Clergy | Decline in Vocations | Concern for Vocations | Vocations Prayer
All Christians are called to live in the world without being of it.
But how do we know whether we are just in it, or also of it?
My feeling is that all Christians who are serious about their vocation have to face this question at some point.
Discernment remains our lifelong task.
I can see no other way for discernment than a life in the Spirit, a life of prayer and meditation, a life of deep communion with the Spirit of God. We are all called to this life.
Such a life will slowly develop in us an inner sensitivity, peace and rest.
We certainly will make constant errors and seldom have the peace of heart required to make the right decisions. But when we continuously try to live in the Spirit, we at least shall be willing to know our weakness, be forgiven and breath in the love of God in our lives.
The following presents The Catholic Church in the Diocese of Killaloe: The Views of the People ..A Research Report prepared for the Diocese of Killaloe to Inform a Vocations Strategy.
Background: During the Jubilee Year -2000- the Bishop and Priests of the diocese proposed to develop a strategy for the diocese to promote and encourage vocations to the priesthood and religious life. An initial step in the process was the commissioning of this survey on attitudes and practice among the Catholic population of the diocese. The survey was carried out independently by Shannon Showcase, an international marketing company based in Ennis.
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Information: Themselves Their level of parish involvement Who they believed to be the key influencers of faith/belief Their attitude and perception of the clergy The religious services they required The implications for them of falling numbers of vocations to priesthood and religious life Their views on the reasons for the decline in vocations and how this could be addressed.
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Interviews: A total of 938 people were surveyed (anonymously) during autumn and winter 2002. --Some people were surveyed in the street while others were surveyed over the telephone. On-street surveys were carried out in Ennis; Kilrush; Shannon; Nenagh; Birr and Roscrea. Telephone surveys were carried out in the following areas: Scariff; Killaloe; Shannon; Ennis; Kilrush; Roscrea; Nenagh and Birr.
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What Use is this Survey?: The survey will provide information for the development of a vocations strategy for the diocese. It will also inform the forthcoming Pastoral Plan for the diocese.
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Personal Details: - Two thirds female, one third make; 60% married, 26% single; three quatres had children; half had adult children; half had children under 18 years; 40% lived in the rural countryside, 30% in towns and villages and 30% in larger towns; 61.6% described thenselves as regular church goers.
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Parish Involvement: - 22.4% play an active part in their parish Overall, one quarter of people were asked to be involved in their parish 44.4% of those involved were asked One quarter would take on additional parish responsibility if asked to do so.
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Key Influencers of Faith/Belief:- Parents are the most important influencers of faith/belief in children Teachers are the most important influencers where the parents are non-practicing Catholics
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Attitudes Towards Religious Life: - 16.5% thought about pursuing the priesthood/religious life. The main negative aspect identified in pursuing a vocation was the lonely/difficult life. Recent scandals/bad press were identified as a negative factor by 15.2%. Over half of respondents would provide encouragement to a friend/family member who was contemplating the priesthood/religious life.
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Attitudes and Perceptions of Clergy: - 90% of resondents expressed satisfaction with the services provided by the clergy. The celebration of the sacraments was identified as what priest do best.
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Decline in Vocations: - Half of the people surveyed considered that the survival of the Catholic faith is under threat. One quarter considered scandals/bad press as a threat.The main threat to the survival of the Catholic faith identified by the respondents was that young people were not interested in religion and faith. It was thought they had too many other temptations/distractions.The main personal implications of a decline in vocations identified by the respondents would be a decline in the number of priests and church services at parish level.Two thirds believed that lay people should play a greater participative role in liturgies
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Concern For Vocations: - Recent controversies/scandals/bad press were identified as the main reason for the decline in vocations 45% were concerned about the decline in vocations. However, half did not have any suggestions for how this trend could be reversed The main way that priests/religious could encourage vocations was by way of providing encouragement to the young The main way that lay people could encourage vocations was to promote religion within their own families.
The following website contains information on vocations : http://www.vocations.ie/
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Vocation Prayer: Gracious God, you bless us, your people, in every season and provide for our needs through your providential care. Your Church is continually in need of priests, sisters, and brothers to offer themselves in the service of the gospel through lives of dedicated love. Open the hearts of your sons and daughters to hear your call to serve. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
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