The Catholic Church of Luxembourg has around 100 active priests. However, a number of priests are getting older and Luxembourg's Catholic Church is looking for young candidates to take on the role.
The Catholic Church of Luxembourg has around 100 priests, but many priests are getting older and will eventually retire from their pastoral duties. Therefore, the Catholic Church is looking for new candidates who would be willing to dedicate their life to the priesthood.
The Catholic Church is also actively seeking laypeople to attend to the day-to-day needs of the church. Presently, the Church has approximately 100 laypeople, comprising both laymen and laywomen, with a higher percentage of laywomen in this group.
In the last ten years, only one person was ordained a priest in Luxembourg. In order to become a priest, candidates must complete a five-year university degree, including subjects such as philosophy and theology.
Followed by their time at university, candidates take on 1-2 years of so-called pastoral years where they complete internships with the Catholic Church. These internships are specifically catered to the Catholic Archdiocese of Luxembourg in Luxembourgish and candidates experience the daily duties of a priest in practice.
To become a priest, individuals must possess a strong grasp of philosophical terminology and theoretical knowledge. It is essential that candidates can effectively apply the terms they have studied, ensuring that their use is accessible and relatable in contexts such as delivering sermons.
The Catholic Church of Luxembourg is also seeking laypeople. To become a layperson, individuals complete two years of training. One of the main tasks of a layperson is helping the church in conducting funeral ceremonies. Themes such as grief, sorrow, loss, death, life after death and how Christians view death are discussed at funerals. Attendants are offered a space to grieve and advice on how to deal with loss.
The Catholic Church of Luxembourg also has around 20 active deacons working for the church. Deacons are able to carry out more duties than laypeople. It takes around three years to become a deacon with courses offered in Belgium and Luxembourg.
Surveys suggest that there has been a decline in Christianity in Luxembourg. In 2008, almost 3/4 of Luxembourgish people identified as Christian, but in 2021, only 48% identified as Christian. 20% of Luxembourgish people identify as atheist.
Watch the full video report in Luxembourgish:
