The number of priests ordained by bishops of The Society this year is a cause for rejoicing. But the number of priests reaching retirement age makes it essential for all who belong to The Society to continue to pray for vocations, and do all they can to foster them.

There are still places left on this year's Vocations Conference for men in the catholic tradition (St Stephen's House, Oxford: 2-4 September). Do you know anyone who should be considering a possible vocation to the priesthood? If so, please encourage him to participate in this conference. For further details, see www.here-i-am.org.uk.

This year, bishops of The Society are ordaining twelve men to the priesthood, eleven of them for stipendiary ministry. Nine of these eleven are 35 or younger and six are 30 or under.

Their average age when ordained to the diaconate last year was 31. Across the Church of England as a whole, the average ages were 37 for men and 42 for women.

36 of the men ordained as deacons in the Church of England last year were aged 25-29. Of these, six (one in six) have now been ordained to the priesthood by bishops of The Society.

A list of this year's ordinations by the bishops of The Society is published here.

See also: www.here-i-am.org.uk