Scottish Catholic Observer

Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh is urging men to ‘Come and See’ if the priesthood is for them with a new initiative aimed at boosting vocations.

“The title Come and See refers to Christ’s invitation to a curious, youthful St Andrew upon their first encounter—that’s a reminder that this is not a call from me but from Jesus Christ Himself to join Him in the Sacred priesthood and in a wonderful, serious, beautiful, challenging, noble, dedicated life given to the service of God and of his Church,” the archbishop said at the programme’s launch last Sunday on the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

In a letter read out at all parishes in the archdiocese, the archbishop said the ‘priesthood remains an essential part of our identity as a Church.’

“I would also like to address a word to the young men in the congregation who are listening to this letter and may feel drawn towards the priesthood: I have known many good men who have given their lives to God heroically in the sacred priesthood,” he writes. “It is eminently possible and desirable to be a priest today and to have joyful, challenging and fulfilling life at the service of God and his people. There is no career that is more loving or noble than giving yourself for the life—the eternal life—of your fellow Christians and for the good of the whole world.”

He also praises the current clergy serving under him saying they do ‘a wonderful job, in spite of the many challenges and tasks they are asked to fulfill.’

Helping Archbishop Cushley to launch the Come and See initiative was 21-year-old Josh Moi from Galashiels who will begin studies for the priesthood at the Scots College in Rome this autumn.

“I think this new campaign is great. It looks wonderfully professional,” Mr Moir, who is about to graduate in philosophy and English literature from Edinburgh University, said.

— Find out more at  http://comeandsee.scot/

—This story ran in full in the May 1 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.