Murray: Sambi: Prayer, Family Will Bring More Preists
Sambi was ordained a priest in 1964 and, five years later in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council, the young Italian priest began serving with the diplomatic service of the Secretariat of State.
When asked specifically about the priest shortage facing America, Sambi noted, “the problem is not just in the United States.” The Archbishop further explained that while it is true that the past few decades have witnessed a decline in young men entering the seminaries, recent data suggests the Church is beginning to see an upswing in vocations. Specifically in the South and Midwest, seminaries are seeing a resurgence of men seeking to devote their lives to Christ. Data provided by the 2006 Official Catholic Directory shows that the Diocese of Memphis has quadrupled the number of seminarians over the last five years.