Catholic Union Deputy Director, James Somerville-Meikle, writes:
This week it was revealed that the proportion of people in England and Wales who are married or in a civil partnership has fallen below 50 per cent for the first time. The figure dropped to 49.4% in 2022, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This statistic is just one of a number of indicators that points to people living more individualistic lives, fearing making a commitment to anything or anyone. It is into this headwind of individualism that the seeds of vocation to so many callings are being blown off course.
We see that not only in the declining marriage rate, but in the problems that some Catholics schools are having in finding good teachers, and in the number of empty rooms at our seminaries.
In a recent interview with the Catholic Truth Society, Fr Nicholas Crowe from the Dominican Friars in Blackfriars, said that what we face is not a vocations crisis, but a “formation crisis”.
The headwinds we face to the mission of the Church are unlikely to subside any time soon. All of us – young and old – will need to redouble our efforts to be formed and be formators of our faith so that we can say “yes” or “I do” whenever God calls.