For the first time in more than a decade, four Roman Catholic priests will be ordained in the Port-of-Spain Archdiocese.
Deacons Stephan Alexander, Kwesi Alleyne, Kenwyn Sylvester and Mikkel Trestrail will be ordained to the priesthood tomorow during a special mass at 10 am at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Archbishop Jason Gordon will preside over the ordinations.
The quartet was ordained transitional deacons on February 24 at St Philip and St James RC Church, Chaguanas.
The last time more local Archdiocese witnessed priestly ordinations of more than two or three deacons was on December 6, 2003, when five deacons were ordained by then Archbishop of Port-of-Spain Edward Gilbert.
Since then concerns have been raised concerns about the shortage of new priests, with former Archbishop Joseph Harris lamenting the lack of young men entering the Catholic seminary in 2015.
This lead to several foreign priests being brought in to service parishes, while the increasing shortage of priests around the country has seen several churches share priests from neighbouring parishes.
In the last 10 years, only 12 new priests have been ordained in T&T, including four that have been ordained since last August.
The last two priests ordained in T&T are not currently in service locally but are currently stationed in Ireland, Guardian Media was told.
It takes approximately eight to ten years in the Catholic Seminary to fully complete the process to become a priest.