That seems to be the winning formula in Albany, which just ordained its largest number of priests in decades:

In this era when vocations to the priesthood are as sluggish as the economy, the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese is celebrating the ordination of five priests, two of whom who entered religious life as a second career. It’s the diocese’s largest number of new priests in 28 years.

“A lot of young men who could enter the priesthood hesitate to make the commitment,” said the Rev. Matthew B. Wetsel, 29, associate pastor at St. Peter’s Church in Saratoga Springs. He was ordained last month by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

“It is a big commitment to make, and a lot of men feel pressure,” Wetsel said. “If you become a priest, you have to give up marriage, and I think a lot of men fear not getting married some day.”

Wetsel, a Schalmont High School graduate, thought about the priesthood while at Siena College. “It took some time to decide, and I prayed about it before completing the application,” Wetsel said. “What really helped me was … meeting with other men who were considering the priesthood at that time.”

At pasta dinners arranged by the diocese, young men gather at rectories with a parish priest, enjoy a meal and listen to the bishop and other priests “tell how they knew that God was calling them,” said the Rev. James J. Walsh, the diocesan director of vocations.

Prospective seminarians can be from 16 to 50 years old. Men up to 60 may be ordained. The dinners, which began last year, average a dozen participants, usually college and high school age men. Those men attending are not under pressure to share their thoughts, “They can just listen,” Walsh said.

Check out the rest — and pray for vocations!