Numbers Rise at Westminster Seminary in London

Asked why Allen Hall is thriving while vocations were in crisis across Europe, "Seriously, the first thing is prayer. We've actually got to believe in it."

LONDON (The Catholic Herald U.K.) - The Diocese of Westminster has seen a rise in the number of seminarians at Allen Hall, the diocese's seminary.This month 12 men started their formation at the seminary in Chelsea, west London, bringing the number up to 43. This is an increase from 40 men training to be priests in 2007 and 37 the year before that. Three of the new intakes are from the Neocatechumenal Way, the movement that has contributed greatly to vocations in the diocese in recent years.

One seminarian, former youth worker Andrew Charniec, said: "I am looking forward to finding out more about the Church and gaining more pastoral experience."Martin Plunkett, a seminarian who has been working in Willesden Green, north-west London, said: "I'm the oldest in the class, I'm 40. To be starting something at this age strikes me as a great gift from God. I am looking forward to the year ahead. My work in the parish has been a good foundation but I am really happy to be studying here."

Last Wednesday Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor celebrated Mass at the seminary to mark the start of the new academic year.In his homily the Cardinal said: "Allen Hall is a very special family of the diocese and of the Church. "Speaking of his own 52 years of experience as a priest he added: "There is real joy in being a priest, It's like the joy of another family that you inherit as a priest. There is a joy in preaching and inhabiting the Word."

Mgr Mark O'Toole, the rector of Allen Hall, said: "It is as ever a delight to see the Cardinal at Allen Hall again. I've been conscious since starting here, that the motto of AH is vivamus in spe (we live in hope). How fitting and how true that is, particularly when one sees the rich variety and deep faith of the seminarians and staff who live and work here."

Westminster is one of a handful of dioceses to see an increase in vocations, Birmingham being the other notable success.Fr Chris Vipers, vocations director for the Diocese of Westminster, said: "Our new seminarians this year have just begun their induction at Allen Hall and are very excited about the year ahead. Many have left behind homes and jobs and are generously giving themselves to the priesthood.Yes, it is very joyful here today. The overall intake is the biggest it's been for years. There's one from Northampton, it also welcomes people from across Westminster province.We've got two guys who were youth workers, one comes from stockbroking, another from the Anglican ministry. There's another chap who's been a novice for the Oratorians.Last Wednesday we had the opening Mass. We were seriously looking towards next year, and asking ourselves that, if the Lord blesses us, do we need to build another floor? It's quite intimate compared to some of the other seminaries, but it's feeling buoyant and vibrant."

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Asked why Allen Hall is thriving while vocations were in crisis across Europe, he said: "I've bottled it and I'm going to sell it. Seriously, the first thing is prayer. We've actually got to believe in it. Prayer can affect our way at looking at vocations.I've been doing this since 2002. A lot of people would say it's the hardest job around, being vocations director, but not if you believe that God is calling people."