Catholic Seminary Enrollment Up, but Numbers Seen as Only Part of Story
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Semper_Zelare
Guest
This is EXCELLENT NEWS!!! 
I think it’s a shame that we can’t talk about good news anymore. Well, I think the threads about good news should be just as long as those about bad news.
First of all, this is the biggest single thing that could bring the Catholic Church into much brighter days in the future: having good priests who aren’t afraid to proclaim the truth. The truth was never supposed to be easy to preach. It is, in its nature, since Jesus Christ spoke it, counter cultural to its core. It takes boldness to speak these truths. But, we’re all called to be bold bc we CAN boast in one thing: Jesus Christ.
The practical reaction to this, is as we the laity encounter these new orthodox priests coming out of seminary, we need to be writing the Bishops how good they are. And encouraging them. Send them letters when they speak truths in Church that don’t get spoken about in a lot of Churches these days.
Crowd pleasing priests need to realize that for every 8 or 9le’s lives, it’s better to have 1 or 2 people fired up in their faith.
It’s our job as laity to be enthusiastic. When we get bad, crowd pleasing priests, complain with enthusiasm :tsktsk:
kpeople:. When we get good, orthodox priests, speaking boldly and with zeal, we need to rejoice enthusiastically :egyptian: :extrahappy
and to their superiors). 
I think it’s a shame that we can’t talk about good news anymore. Well, I think the threads about good news should be just as long as those about bad news.
First of all, this is the biggest single thing that could bring the Catholic Church into much brighter days in the future: having good priests who aren’t afraid to proclaim the truth. The truth was never supposed to be easy to preach. It is, in its nature, since Jesus Christ spoke it, counter cultural to its core. It takes boldness to speak these truths. But, we’re all called to be bold bc we CAN boast in one thing: Jesus Christ.
The practical reaction to this, is as we the laity encounter these new orthodox priests coming out of seminary, we need to be writing the Bishops how good they are. And encouraging them. Send them letters when they speak truths in Church that don’t get spoken about in a lot of Churches these days.
Crowd pleasing priests need to realize that for every 8 or 9le’s lives, it’s better to have 1 or 2 people fired up in their faith.
It’s our job as laity to be enthusiastic. When we get bad, crowd pleasing priests, complain with enthusiasm :tsktsk:
kpeople:. When we get good, orthodox priests, speaking boldly and with zeal, we need to rejoice enthusiastically :egyptian: :extrahappyand to their superiors).
J
jasonjessica09
Guest
What would be even better is if these seminarians want to be involved with celebrating the Tridentine Latin Mass. Perhaps we could see a huge rise in this rite in the next 10 years.
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rlg94086
Guest
Hooray? :clapping:
In my, albeit limited, experience, the younger priests are often more orthodox than many of the older priests. Two priests ago at our parish, we went through a transformation - no more ressurectifix, more “smells and bells,” better vestments, better music, blessed silence, perpetual adoration, etc, when a young priest came in. Our newest priest has only been ordained a little over a year, and he is in a similar mode. Luckily, the one in between didn’t change anything during his three years. He was a good priest, but would have removed statues and such, if he had his way.
Our family made the transformation, too. I was confirmed in a parish (in CA) with liturgical dancers and terrible, guitar folk music. I wouldn’t go back to that if you paid me.
In my, albeit limited, experience, the younger priests are often more orthodox than many of the older priests. Two priests ago at our parish, we went through a transformation - no more ressurectifix, more “smells and bells,” better vestments, better music, blessed silence, perpetual adoration, etc, when a young priest came in. Our newest priest has only been ordained a little over a year, and he is in a similar mode. Luckily, the one in between didn’t change anything during his three years. He was a good priest, but would have removed statues and such, if he had his way.
Our family made the transformation, too. I was confirmed in a parish (in CA) with liturgical dancers and terrible, guitar folk music. I wouldn’t go back to that if you paid me.
M
manualman
Guest
Indeed. I was at an adoration and prayer event last weekend attended by about 100 people from 4-60 years of age and the crowd included 4-5 seminarians. Looks to be a good crop coming up!
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Redbaron998
Guest
Pray for us who are still in such parishs
(Thankfully no dancers but the bongo drumns are driving me insane.) My Fiance and I have already started talking about switching parishes after we get married, but its still hard to leave the Parish that I came into the Church with, still things are reaching a breaking point.Anyways on topic, great news about Priests. I have read similiar things about religious vocations for nuns and brothers going up as well.
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Leegal
Guest
I’m in a similar position. The guitar really bothers me at Mass – and it just does not work. I thought we had gone passed that as none of my family’s parishes in other locations have used the guitar. We also do “gospel” with clapping. Well, the choir claps and some parishoners; I sing. I’m in a Korean Catholic and Spanish Catholic area. Confused? So, am I. But the priest is inspiring and I like the fact that he will hear confession at any time, though he’s the only priest in the parish.Pray for us who are still in such parishs
Anyways on topic, great news about Priests. I have read similiar things about religious vocations for nuns and brothers going up as well.
In December we will have a Mariachi band at service for Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mariachi bothers me in a secular setting (brass), so I don’t know how I would feel about it during a service. But somehow God wants me there, at this parish for now. I would parish “shop”, but it feels disingenuous. I may attend in the spirit of community - it’s not a Sunday service. At least, I am mulling it over.
Good news on the increase in vocations.
R
rlg94086
Guest
Will do. I noticed one of the other parishes we attended as a family in CA was dramatically different, when I visited a few years later. I don’t know if was a priest change or just the general movement away from the 70s-style liturgy, but it was nice to see. I hope you see a similar change in your parish or find one nearby that has good liturgy.Pray for us who are still in such parishs
Anyways on topic, great news about Priests. I have read similiar things about religious vocations for nuns and brothers going up as well.
H
Holly3278
Guest
Glory and praise be to God forever! :extrahappy: This is wonderful news! This is truly an answer to prayers. Maybe we will see a true revival of Catholicism in the United States soon!
This is truly an answer to prayers. Maybe we will see a true revival of Catholicism in the United States soon!
P
purplesunshine
Guest
I wonder how many of those did programs like Lifeteen. I hope many of them did from the seminaries of New England I know that many, many, are very close to teen ministry.
from the seminaries of New England I know that many, many, are very close to teen ministry.
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rlg94086
Guest
Our priest did. His parents took him to it. They still go, but he can’t stand it.I wonder how many of those did programs like Lifeteen. I hope many of them did
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