Because of the decline in vocations, St John's Catholic seminary in Waterford is to close from June this year. In a letter read at all Masses in the diocese of Waterford and Lismore yesterday, Bishop William Lee said the closure had been recommended by a committee he had set up and he was in agreement with that recommendation.
"The main reason for the closure is the serious decline in numbers of students over the years," Dr Lee said.
At its peak in the 1940s, St John's College had over 100 students. That figure is currently down to 13. The seminary was built in 1807 and has been on its present site at St John's Hill, Waterford, since 1871.
In April last year Bishop Lee set up a committee of priests, religious and lay people to look at the future of St John's under the chairmanship of the former president of Maynooth College and vicar-general of the diocese, Mgr Michael Olden. The committee consulted all the priests in the diocese, the staff at St John's and its seminarians.
Bishop Lee said yesterday that the fall in student numbers at St John's was "itself due to the fall in vocations to the priesthood in the Western world.
"We all hope and pray that this fall in vocations will be temporary and that the day will come, before too long, when many young men will once again come forward to offer their lives in the special service of the Lord.
"In the meantime, we have to cope with the situation as we find it and make our decisions accordingly."
He saluted all the priests who had passed through the seminary "for their incalculable contribution to the spiritual, pastoral and social life of the community" and acknowledged the valuable work done by staff at the seminary.
He said it was his fervent hope that St John's College would continue to be an important asset in the diocese and asked for prayers as new ways of using the facility were considered.
