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adawgj
Guest
Has the FSSP done well in growing in vocations or has it declined in vocations too like in some dioceses?
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Usige
Guest
I would say they are doing pretty well. My wife was at Mass when all the seminarians in the US were in town several months back. I believe she said there were something like 50+ seminarians. If I remember correctly they just had 4 or 5 men ordained to the subdiaconate and have been averaging 6 to 8 ordinations each year In the US. That has been fairly consistent for the last 6 years or so. This is outside of the handful of diocean priests that have petitioned to join. I have also heard that they may be adding a second seminary in the Americas. It is unclear if this would be in Latin America or a minor Seminary in the US.
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ServantPD
Guest
Would there be a reason for a reduction in vocations? I mean, the FSSP is kind of in the epicenter of the traditional burst of vocations that hasn’t yet shown signs to diminish.
If I had to guess, they’re just as well as they’ve been in the past few years. And they’ve been pretty well, to put it mildly!
If I had to guess, they’re just as well as they’ve been in the past few years. And they’ve been pretty well, to put it mildly!
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dans0622
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bobballen_18
Guest
Well, I have always heard that their seminary is full, and that they cannot accept all applicants every year even if they wanted to, due to lack of space at the seminary. So in terms of the size of their seminary, they have certainly “done well” in vocations lately.
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stjude70
Guest
I attend a Church
that has aFSSP priest. It would be wonderful if they would expand to my area. We need priests here very bad. The Church I attend has many many large young families. Priests will be inevitable.
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adawgj
Guest
Yes I would hope the FSSP expands out more toward the areas where priests are in big shortage like in the Midwestern states where one priest might be the head of seven parishes.
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stjude70
Guest
We need priests desperately however if there are not changes made I am afraid the Church is going to be in dire trouble. Church closures are destroying the Catholic faith. It is very hard to explain to non catholics & catholics why viable self supporting churches are closed.
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ProVobis
Guest
I agree, it’s tough to explain how self-supporting churches are closing, but it’s a decision made by the bishop, and it’s generally a tough one. It could be lack of priests, but it could be that if he feels merging two or more parishes will be more cost-effective overall, he has no choice. Many dioceses are heavy in debt, some faced with lawsuits, on top of rising parish costs as well. While it looks like some Masses are overflowing, the truth is that this can’t always be counted on and donations have fallen off per capita. English Masses are predominately over-50 and women. The retirees give more but they aren’t going to be around forever. Pope JPII made a smart decision restoring the old Mass and creating the FSSP order. The EF seems to draw a significant number of younger folks and the bigger families.
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stjude70
Guest
I know of a town where the Catholic Church was closed in the 60’s. There has been a price to be paid. They have a high percentage of violence and drug arrests. Jesus was taken from the tabernacle and the community. In the local elementary school only about 33% of the children know about God. Those are the facts the Church is missing. Jesus is the most important of all. Finances are secondary to souls. I believe there needs to be a study of communities where tabernacles have been emptied and the people that have been left behind without Jesus True Presence being there.
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stjude70
Guest
According to Canon law when an Altar is consecrated and has an Altar stone that was consecrated it is is to be used into ETERNITY! !!! How can Bishops go against Canon Law or do they just not know Canon Law or just not follow it…
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dans0622
Guest
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stjude70
Guest
I was told that at Mass Last Sunday by my priest. I do not know where to start looking in Canon Law. My priest says the traditional Latin Mass. I trust very much what he says.
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stjude70
Guest
There is also something else I am wondering. Does it say in Canon Law that a Church can’t be closed due to a priest shortage? 
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dans0622
Guest
Hello,
Well, we can certainly say that a consecrated altar should, ideally, be used for its purpose until the end of time. But, I am certain that canon law makes allowances for altars losing their consecration.
Perhaps the priest is pointing to the fact that an altar can’t be treated with contempt and even if the church building is “closed”, the altar is still consecrated. Sadly, it has happened from time to time that altars have been discarded or neglected…
As for church closings/priest shortage: no, canon law doesn’t mention such a specific scenario (see canon 1222). That being said, I think “the Vatican” would find it wrong to close a church building simply because there are not enough priests. If the building can be maintained and Mass can be celebrated there on occasion, the building should stay open. That is the “gist” of what I recall from the recent cases involving church closings in the Cleveland Diocese.
Dan
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stjude70
Guest
You are right Dan. However that is not what happens in every case. I believe parishioners of "Extinguished Parishes are shunned " That is the case in my Diocese.
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