Nine new priests are to be ordained into Irish Catholic dioceses this year, an increase from six ordinations last year.
So far, the cross-border archdiocese of Armagh will ordain three priests this year, with Down and Connor ordaining two, while a new priest will also be ordained in the diocese of Cloyne, Clogher, Derry and Dromore.
Overall, all bar five of the 26 dioceses and archdioceses have ordained a new priest since 2021 or will ordain one this year. Dioceses of Achonry, Clonmacnoise, Ardagh, Clonfert and Ossory have not ordained a priest in more than 10 years.
Speaking about these new ordinations, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, and chair of the Catholic Bishop's Council for Vocations, Phonsie Cullinan, said: "It is a joy to see young men, and indeed not so young men, stepping out of the crowd to follow the call of Jesus Christ in the priesthood".
One recent ordination was Fr Stephen Sherry, who was ordained by Bishop of Clogher, Larry Duffy at the end of April. Having graduated with a degree in English and History, Mr Sherry entered the preliminary seminary year in 2018.
Now at 30 years of age, Fr Sherry is one of the youngest priests serving in the diocese.
"I started to discern my vocation 12 years ago when I was trying to study for my Leaving Cert and wondering what did I want from my life and what did God want from my life", he said.
He continued: "The small voice said 'we do need more priests' and I felt that maybe that was the call for me. But I had my Leaving Cert to do, so I did that first".
Fr Sherry added that entering the priesthood was an "exciting" time, one where he knows his vocation will be fulfilled.
"In Ireland in 2026 it is a very different church than it might have been 50 years ago," the bishop said. "While we may face lots of challenges, decreasing numbers, maybe practice rate, I think it is a very blessed, very privileged time. Any time of change can be a great time of opportunity and I think that is what it will be for me".
It was reported that three dioceses have said their youngest serving priest is 29 years old, while nine dioceses have said that their youngest priest was aged between 30 and 35 years.
Last September, 13 men have started their academic programme as seminarians for Irish Catholic dioceses.
