I googled him and am amazed at the amount of coverage that a single new priest has recieved. Is it really that unusual to have a good new American priest these days?
One has to be careful how they use numbers. Is the Catholic church really “growing” ?
Catholics traditionally baptize their infants (that brings them into the number count of Catholics), and they usually make sure the kids make their first communion, but very few are actually observant Catholics.Less than 50 % of Catholics in this country and 25% in Europe attend service on Sundays .
There are very few 3rd world conversions, in fact the Evangelical Protestants and Mormons seem to have the edge in getting Catholics there to convert to their faith.
The drop in priests might be tied to the societal acceptance of gays, they no longer have to hide out in the “celibate” priesthood to explain being without a wife to family and friends
I all depends what the diocese and parishes of the area are like. Traditional, orthodox congregations produce vocations, “progressive” ones dwindle. It’s as simple as that. It’s common sense: why bother taking the time and energy to even go to church, let alone become a priest, if God is just a big softy and we can clap our hands and be happy?
Hopefully the young priests that are being ordained will fill some of these spots.
Pray for the conversion of all in America!
May God continue to bless Michael Burbeck! What a great deacon he must be!