Scottish Catholic Observer

The new Glasgow vocations drive, Do This In Memory of Me, got off to an impressive launch last week. Yes the Scottish Church need more priests, everyone knows this, but this new approach looks like it could well yield success. The video—which you can watch online and which launched the campaign—was genuinely moving: a powerful representation of the difference priests can make in the lives of many.

In addition to featuring priests talking about their life, it also includes members of the laity talking about priests that have shaped their life.

This is a moving and powerful lesson in how remarkable a thing it is to be a priest. A parish priest is there with families at moments of great joy, such as weddings and Christenings, and their deepest lows such as funerals.

It is a remarkable privilege to share the Faith and the lives of their flock. This video brings this home.

“I wanted it to appeal to a really wide audience,” Rachel Irving, the director, said. “It really opened my eyes to what priests do and how much time they give up. It’s their full lives—every aspect really revolves around it and that is really unique.”

This whole campaign will—we hope and pray—lead to more vocations, but more than that it should make us all think again about what it means to be a priest. Archbishop Philip Tartaglia said at the launch of the campaign that is harder now for young men to consider the priesthood than it was in his day.

“Our story of vocations to the priesthood in recent years shows that the challenge is daunting for young men,” the archbishop said. “Despite the limitations of my own humanity, I am constantly surprised and delighted by working for the Lord as a priest. So I do not hesitate to call all young people to follow Jesus. And I do not hesitate to call young men to follow Jesus in the priesthood and allow Him to make them into good shepherds just like Him.”

We need to consider how to create an environment where young men see the priesthood as an normal option. Part of that can be achieved through prayer.

As Pope Francis said: “Behind and before every vocation to the priesthood or to the consecrated life there is always the strong and intense prayer of someone: a grandmother, a grandfather, a mother, a father, a community. Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer; and only through prayer can they persevere and bear fruit.”

All of us should be praying for vocations every day. This is key to the future of the Church.

PIC: PAUL McSHERRY