Over 400 men in U.S. to be ordained in 2025; most felt called to priesthood by age 16

[Michie]

More than 400 men will be ordained to the priesthood in the U.S. this year, and on average they began to consider becoming a priest at just 16 years old, according to an annual CARA survey.

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) released its 2025 national survey of seminarians who are scheduled for ordination this year. Out of the 405 ordinands asked to respond, 309 participated in the survey from Jan. 10 to March 20.

The report is created in collaboration with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations and CARA to examine information on the men entering the priesthood in the U.S. each year.

The research found more than 80% of respondents are preparing for ordination to a diocese or eparchy, and on average they will be ordained into one they have lived in for 17 years before they entered the seminary.

Continued below.

More than 400 men in U.S. to be ordained to priesthood in 2025

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) released its 2025 national survey of seminarians who are scheduled for ordination this year.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[Gnarwhal]

I love data lol.

An interesting part to me is that 80% are ordaining into a diocese or eparchy, where for a long time we were hearing that most men were joining societies like the FSSP or ICKSP. I wonder if this signals a shift in the seminarians themselves, as in they're more modernist pro-novus ordo and protestant sympathizing, because the seminarians joining FSSP, ICKSP, and SSPX were doing so because they specifically were not.

 

[Federicco]

I love data lol.

Not many people love data. I love data too. I like to read top 10 lists too.

 

[RileyG]

Glory to God! Praying for many more young men to join the priesthood!