Posted on 09/25/2013 10:54:54 AM PDT by NYer
WASHINGTON (RNS) After decades of glum trends — fewer priests, fewer parishes — the Catholic Church in the United States has a new statistic to cheer: More men are now enrolled in graduate level seminaries, the main pipeline to the priesthood, than in nearly two decades.
This year’s tally of 3,694 graduate theology students represents a 16 percent increase since 1995 and a 10 percent jump since 2005, according to Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA).
Seminary directors cite more encouragement from bishops and parishes, the draw of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and the social-justice-minded Pope Francis, and a growing sense that the church is past the corrosive impact of the sexual abuse crisis that exploded in 2002.
Ultimately, it was “a calling in my heart,” says Kevin Fox.
He walked away from his electrical engineering degree and a job in his field, working with CT scanners, to enter St. Mary Seminary in Wickliffe, Ohio, in his home diocese, Cleveland, this fall.
“I always had an inkling that I might want to be a priest and my parish priest told me he thought I might be called,” said Fox, 24. “But I put it aside.”
With a fresh degree from Case Western Reserve and his first post-graduation job, Fox soon realized the secular path “wasn’t filling my soul with joy.”
Now, after years of pure science, Fox is immersed in pure theology – and loving it. The challenges of the culture, such as crude jokes from strangers about the abuse crisis, have not dissuaded him.
“I feel the church has done a great deal to deal with (preventing) abuse and the seminary took a lot of care in screening and training us to make sure we are the good guys,” Fox said.
President-Rector Rev. Mark A. Latcovich during Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology Commencement Ceremony on May 8, 2013. Photo by Renata M. Courey / courtesy Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology
This image available for Web publication. For questions, contact Sally Morrow.
Fox is one of 72 students currently enrolled in the undergraduate and graduate programs at St. Mary, the highest number in decades, said the Rev. Mark Latcovich, president and rector.
Latcovich credits encouraging current seminarians and priests who are “our best recruiters. If they are happy and witnessing their faith and opening their hearts, that enthusiasm and joy is contagious.”
Young men today “want to give their life for something that counts. These men are tired of living in a culture of relativism. They want to say there must be something true, beautiful and good. They have discovered the beauty of God,” said Latcovich.
Monsignor Craig Cox, rector of St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, Calif., said the upward trend leading to their current record class of 92 graduate seminarians began six years ago.
He also cited “a renewal of idealism,” a stronger push for vocations by priests and bishops, and “receding damage” from the abuse crisis.
Cox, who sat in on admission discussions, says his students are drawn from Southern California to Las Vegas and range in age from 22 to 45. While they’re younger than previous classes, they bring “a great level of maturity” to get through a rigorous admissions process.
“Ultimately, I believe that the Spirit is at work,” Cox said.
CARA’s new statistical look at the church shows the seminary-to-priesthood patterns and other shifts in American Catholic life:
Blame demographics, says CARA’s senior research associate, Mary Gautier.
“Catholics don’t live where they lived 15 years ago. They’ve moved south and west, from urban to suburban areas and they didn’t take their parishes with them,” Gautier said. “The smaller, older lay-led places without a resident priest are often the first to be closed.”
The church keeps growing – 1 percent a year. CARA offers two totals, varying by the source: 78.2 million if you go by self-identification recorded in surveys; 66.8 million if you go by the “Official Catholic Directory” where parishes report their numbers.
Meanwhile, the declining numbers of people who identify with Protestant denominations has led to falling numbers in their seminaries since 2006, said Eliza Brown, spokeswoman for Association of Theological Schools, which represents more than 270 seminaries.
Between 2006 and 2012, the number of students enrolled in Master of Divinity programs at Protestant and non-denominational Christian seminaries fell from 31,532 to 29,249, Brown said.
“Their congregations are less able to afford for full-time, theologically educated clergy,” she said. “And students, who graduate with debts, can’t afford to take part-time or low-paying pulpit positions.”
Ping!
allow me to be cynical and say its job. I can’t help but think some are thinking that way.
Sick comments pretty much show the state of some people’s minds.
I think the Church now knows that many infiltrators were placed in the seminaries in order to implode the Catholic Church.
I have observed that the most innocent and honest men are often the most easily fooled because they cannot imagine the duplicity and cupidity that exist in others.
Funny. I thought it was the JPII generation. At least they are crediting PBXVI with something too. As for Pope Francis, I think it is too soon to credit him with influencing young men to enter the seminary. But, give him time.
Of course, the main reason is the world is getting tired of secularism and selfishness. Suddenly Jesus Christ is catching on with the younger generation. All glory be to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Two decades, did you say?
1998: U.S. Priests and seminarians survey: more vocations in orthodox dioceses
2003: Is There a Priest Shortage?
2004: Crisis in Vocations? What Crisis
2006: Vocations Are Up at English-Speaking Seminaries
2007: No shortage of priests in Atlanta, more than 50 seminarians
2007: Top U.S. Catholic seminary sees spike in enrollment
2010: Good News About Vocations – Part 1 of 6
2010: The Coming Explosion in Vocations: Seminaries & Convents Filling Up Fast!
2011: Need some good news? Lots of vocations!
2011: Catholic Seminary Enrollment Up, But Numbers Seen as Only Part of Story
2012: Number of Priests Worldwide Continues Steady Increase
One more thing. I am a bit surprised that the phenomenon of more seminarians has not also been seen in Protestant Seminaries. Since I really think it is mostly the Holy Spirit at work in renewing Christianity here. Does anyone have an idea about this?
Do you think the expansion of candidates to include women, and now also the gay community is turning off the straight men?
Catholic parishes which are returning to the concept of altar boys instead mixed boys and girls, are seeing a lot more boys interested in becoming altar boys. Just a fact to share with everyone.
Statistics done by the USCCB have always stated that there was about 3 % of unmarried Catholic men from the Age 25-35, who have seriously given thought to the priesthood.
That actually adds up to a large number. The biggest problem has always been a combination of inept recruitment efforts, family and social pressure, and prejudicial bias against orthodox teaching. The prejudice is largely (not totally) gone in most seminaries. The larger problems are inept recruitment, and family and social pressures against going to the seminary.
Thank you very much for the article. Well Done.
I wish to add, however, as someone becoming increasingly sceptical of the new Pope, that his few months in the Chair of St. Peter has had little, nothing, or less-than-nothing to do with the growth.
It has most certainly preceded his accession. I have given him the benefit of the doubt, but he continues to demonstrate to me the reason for the lightning strikes on the Vatican and the earthquake at Castel Gandolfo after Pope Benedict XVI resigned.
I will continue to remind my brothers of this because it was and is a clear and present warning, not to be ignored with happy talk. We may have a real problem on our hands, and I mention this to goad myself and others to more prayer and sacrifices for this Pope and the Church.
I hope and pray that this increase in candidates is true and that good men now feel "safe" in becoming a priest. How sad that many good men may have left the seminary, or not even gone into a seminary, because of the gay take-over. We can only hope that they will continue to be vigilant about who is accepted and that there will then continue to be an increase in the number of men wanting to be priests.
http://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Good-Men-Seminaries-Generations/dp/0967637112
I was one of them. In the early '80's, I knew something was wrong. But was too young to know the depths of depravity ....
Now, my priesthood is centered around my wife and family, rather than the Church as my bride and family (In persona Christi). If God calls me later in life after my marriage, if He wills it, I will serve Him.
This year’s tally of 3,694
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This is a very tiny number compared to the number of Roman Christians in the US. There are multiples of that number of non-Roman seminary students enrolled...
I know a really good guy who may be heading in this direction. I say a prayer for him every now and then, and for the Biblical course of The Church.
Why do you use the word “orthodox” and not the word “conservative” instead? Thank-you.
Catholic parishes which are returning to the concept of altar boys instead mixed boys and girls, are seeing a lot more boys interested in becoming altar boys....Makes sense! And, in time, being more interested in becoming "priests" as well. Also parishes that have Eucharistic Adoration, I believe, show an uptick in vocations. We have a parish nearby with a DAILY Traditional Latin Mass (in addition to Novus Ordo), and Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and they have four seminarians. Pretty cool...
Panic among FR Harold Camping followers! Now that they were winning so decisevely (in their own minds, but no matter.)
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