‘Young people are pursuing theology degrees to deepen their faith’

Posted By: Frances O'Loughlin
Posted On: Jun 04, 2025

An article by Renata Steffens in The Irish Catholic on May 29 2025

Please find below an article that appeared in The Irish Catholic on May 29 2025

The Priory Institute in Tallaght had an open day last Saturday, May 24 for those interested in pursuing a degree in Theology or Bible Studies.

Frances O’Loughlin, who has been working in the Institute for over ten years said the organisation has “a good cohort in their 30s and 40s.” Ms O’Loughlin said, “That was a surprise to me. Many people who are working full-time, young married people” who are finding the time to pursue a degree in theology and are “interested in finding out more for themselves [about the Catholic faith].”

Layman Peter Weadack, who is a third level lecturer was present at the open day and thinks some people seek theology degrees “to help them understand their faith, or to deepen their faith or to reestablish their faith,” while for others “it’s as much or more, an academic journey.”

Mr Weadack was raised Catholic and was “always interested in the deeper understanding and a more academic understanding of my religion.” He said that “if I get a new phone or a new car, I always read the user manual, and I figured that I’d never actually read the user manual to my own religion.”

Sometimes, young Catholic are asked by their peers “how come you’re still going to Mass? We haven’t gone to Mass for years,” “what’s it all about anyway?” or “we have a new Pope now, what do you think of that?” Ms O’Loughlin believes that by having a degree in theology “they might feel more equipped to answer the theological questions behind these questions.”