GREAT SHORTAGE OF PRIESTS

Bishop puts some of the blame on worldliness in the home
CALLING attention to " a great shortage of priests" in his diocese, the Bishop of Southwark says in a pastoral letter, read on Sunday, that OHE reason may be a spirit of worldliness in the homes, "It would be it fearful thing to Use pressure or parental authority to force young people into the religious life or the priesthood.
" It is no less fearful to discourage them without cause or to stifle with indifference or neglect what may be
a genuine call from Almighty God."
Only three deacons are due for ordination to the priesthood next Whitsun, says the Bishop, but the diocese, with at least 230,000 Catholics, should have at least 20 new priests from the diocese itself each year.
The lower classes at the senior seminary are larger, but at the junior seminary there are only about 40 students for the diocese.
Mgr. Cowderoy remarks that even the supply of priests lent to the diocese by Bishops in Ireland is no longer as plentiful as in the past.
Moreover. the Bishop has to announce that the Daughters of the Cross have found it impossible to continue to supervise the domestic arrangements at the Wonersh seminary ; they, too, are suffering from a dearth of vocations.
Their place is being taken by the Franciscan Sisters of the Divine Motherhood.
Bishop Cowderoy urges all his people to pray for a great increase in vocations, and calls upon young men and youths of the diocese " to consider most seriously whether they may not have the joy of receiving a vocation to the priesthood."