IT IS not quite a return of vocations but a tightening of the labour market that has led to increased demand for parish jobs in the Catholic Church.
A total of 85 people applied for a post as secretary in a north Co Dublin Catholic parish in recent weeks, a spokeswoman for the Dublin archdiocese has revealed.
Such unprecedented interest meant there had to be two days of interviews before a candidate was selected. It is expected there will a similar level of interest in the parish pastoral workers posts advertised by the archdiocese in national newspapers last Friday, she said.
Last year, following on unexpected interest in such posts, 16 candidates were selected for training at the Mater Dei Institute in Dublin. They are to begin work in parishes of the archdiocese next June.
Successful candidates are being offered a salary ranging from €38,000 to €48,500, over seven increments, and are paid 70 per cent of the starting salary during the one-year training period. On completion of training they will be offered a three-year contract, as it is a pilot programme.
Applicants must be baptised Catholics with a primary degree in theology/religious education, or equivalent, as well as relevant experience, a valid driving licence and the use of a car. He/she will have a recommendation from his/her own parish.
Interviews will take place next month at which candidates will be selected for training from September. In June next year, approved candidates will be mandated by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to undertake a formal and public role in parish ministry.
There will be an information evening on the parish pastoral workers posts at Clonliffe College in Dublin on Thursday evening, beginning at 6pm. Application forms are available from the Human Resources Department, Holy Cross Diocesan Centre, Clonliffe College, Dublin 3. The closing date for applications is March 27th.
Meanwhile, the Dublin archdiocese is also inviting applications for the permanent diaconate. On ordination the new deacons, who will be men, can perform most of the functions of a priest, except celebrating the Eucharist.
Those invited to apply are married men aged between 35 and 56 or single men aged between 25 and 56 who also have the recommendation of their parish priest.
Becoming a deacon involves a four-year formation period.
Further details on both the diaconate and pastoral worker posts can be obtained at www.dublindiocese.ie
