Some U.S. Seminaries Report Surge in Enrollments Even as Nationwide Numbers Remain Flat...

[Michie]

Seminarian enrollment in the United States has been on a decadeslong decline as fewer young men seek out the priesthood and the number of active priests in the U.S. continues to dwindle. But some dioceses are reporting a notable surge in enrollment, signaling a potential turnaround in some regions.

Annual data from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, released in June of this year,showed “a continuation of relatively slow long-term decline” in priestly vocations at the pre-theology and theology levels, falling from over 6,400 men in 1970 to 2,759 in the most recent academic year.

Similar sharp drops have been observed in both college- and high school-level seminarian enrollment over the same time period. In recent years the decline in priests and seminarians has been observed globally as well.

Yet some seminary and diocesan officials told CNA that the number of seminarians they have in training for the priesthood has increased in recent years.

Continued below.

Some U.S. seminaries report surge in enrollments

What’s driving localized spikes in seminarian enrollment, and can it be replicated elsewhere?

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[RileyG]

Continued prayers for an increase in vocations

 

[Ave Maria]

Well, this is definitely some good news. We need more priests. That said, my 8-year-old son has expressed an interest in becoming a priest when he is older. He's expressed this interest to me a couple of different times. I think it would be truly awesome if he has a vocation to the priesthood. Nothing would make me more proud of him than to see him become an ordained Catholic priest. He will be receiving His first Reconciliation and first Holy Communion in the Spring of 2024. Please keep him in your prayers. His name is Colton.

 

[Michie]

Well, this is definitely some good news. We need more priests. That said, my 8-year-old son has expressed an interest in becoming a priest when he is older. He's expressed this interest to me a couple of different times. I think it would be truly awesome if he has a vocation to the priesthood. Nothing would make me more proud of him than to see him become an ordained Catholic priest. He will be receiving His first Reconciliation and first Holy Communion in the Spring of 2024. Please keep him in your prayers. His name is Colton.

Aw! Very nice. Praying for Colton.

 

[Love365]

Women are 50 percent of the population.

We could make women priests.

 

[Michie]

Women are 50 percent of the population.

We could make women priests.

Yeah you’ve said that repeatedly. It’s not happening. We’ll just have to make do.

 

[WarriorAngel]

 

[RileyG]

Well, this is definitely some good news. We need more priests. That said, my 8-year-old son has expressed an interest in becoming a priest when he is older. He's expressed this interest to me a couple of different times. I think it would be truly awesome if he has a vocation to the priesthood. Nothing would make me more proud of him than to see him become an ordained Catholic priest. He will be receiving His first Reconciliation and first Holy Communion in the Spring of 2024. Please keep him in your prayers. His name is Colton.

God bless Colton abundantly. Prayers

 

[RileyG]

Women are 50 percent of the population.

We could make women priests.

Won't happen. Women can live as mothers or nuns or consecrated virgins.

 

[Ave Maria]

God bless Colton abundantly. Prayers

Thank you so much!