Seminary for Buffalo Catholic Diocese sees increase in men studying for priesthood

[_Abyssinia]

An uptick in men studying to be priests has emerged as a bright spot for the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo – challenged for years by membership declines, parish mergers and school closings.

Next week, Christ the King Seminary in the Town of Aurora will welcome its largest contingent of seminarians in two decades. Thirty-nine men – including 11 new enrollees – are expected to arrive at the 132-acre campus to study for the priesthood.

The seminary at 711 Knox Road hasn’t had that many priest candidates on campus since 1994, when 42 seminarians were enrolled. Seminary enrollment fell to 16 men in 2005 and ranged between 18 and 28 men in more recent years.

buffalonews.com/life-arts/religion/seminary-for-buffalo-catholic-diocese-sees-increase-in-men-studying-for-priesthood-20140811

 

[manualman]

LOL,
The comments section is a hoot. Local dissenters all complain about how “rigid” and “rules oriented” the bishop is, but his is a diocese with a GROWING number of vocations.

This is the case almost everywhere I look. The dioceses with leaders that boldly stand up for Christ and proclaim a gospel that requires sacrifice and backbone attract vocations. The leaders who seem to very nearly disbelieve that anything is evil (except maybe profitable business) end up with no vocations. Their message inspires nothing and nobody.

 

[commenter]

LOL,
The comments section is a hoot. Local dissenters all complain about how “rigid” and “rules oriented” the bishop is, but his is a diocese with a GROWING number of vocations.

This is the case almost everywhere I look. The dioceses with leaders that boldly stand up for Christ and proclaim a gospel that requires sacrifice and backbone attract vocations. The leaders who seem to very nearly disbelieve that anything is evil (except maybe profitable business) end up with no vocations. Their message inspires nothing and nobody.

For many years the in the Buffalo area, some parishes, a Catholic newspaper, and religious education programs, as well as the Seminary itself, encouraged the idea of the priest as social worker, or facilitator. Many programs spread the idea that the Mass was “consecrated” by the coming together of the congregation - that the priest was there only as a convener, or presider, but that “the people” made Christ present. Many priests sort of went along with this, sadly. The result was that some potential vocations never got nurtured - why make the sacrifice to be mostly a religious social worker? Why bother working in a parish if it is just a glorified community center? The supernatural element got omitted.

Things have been improving in recent years. The local Catholic radio station, home schoolers, prolifers, and others have been networking, putting out the message about Catholic doctrine and devotion wherever possible. There are not a lot of young priests, but they are all committed to Catholic doctrine, prolife, and religious liberty. A few new independent Catholic schools have been started. The increasing media attack on the priesthood in particular, and Catholicism in general, is helping to clarify what the struggle is, and who the real heroes are. Some of them are entering the seminary.

 

[manualman]

Sounds familiar. I lived in the Milwaukee archidiocese for a short time in the early 1990’s. 'Nuff said.

 

[Tigg]

For many years the in the Buffalo area, some parishes, a Catholic newspaper, and religious education programs, as well as the Seminary itself, encouraged the idea of the priest as social worker, or facilitator. Many programs spread the idea that the Mass was “consecrated” by the coming together of the congregation - that the priest was there only as a convener, or presider, but that “the people” made Christ present. Many priests sort of went along with this, sadly. The result was that some potential vocations never got nurtured - why make the sacrifice to be mostly a religious social worker? Why bother working in a parish if it is just a glorified community center? The supernatural element got omitted.

Things have been improving in recent years. The local Catholic radio station, home schoolers, prolifers, and others have been networking, putting out the message about Catholic doctrine and devotion wherever possible. There are not a lot of young priests, but they are all committed to Catholic doctrine, prolife, and religious liberty. A few new independent Catholic schools have been started. The increasing media attack on the priesthood in particular, and Catholicism in general, is helping to clarify what the struggle is, and who the real heroes are. Some of them are entering the seminary.

I have seen with my own eyes, the destruction that can be wrought with the ideology contained in your 1st paragraph.

Our most uplifting and fruit-bearing experiences and a basking in authentic spirituality occurred when we were in an area where the priests/seminarians were dedicated to orthodox study and sincerely desired to advance in their own personal holiness.

 

[the_phoenix]

Good news!

 

[ProVobis]

The result was that some potential vocations never got nurtured - why make the sacrifice to be mostly a religious social worker? Why bother working in a parish if it is just a glorified community center? The supernatural element got omitted.

I definitely agree with this. Priestly functions have been diminished to consecrating the bread and wine, while the functions of the laity and deacons have increased. The deacon can recite the gospel and even give the sermon. According to CARA, roughly 20% of U.S. parishes don’t even have a resident priest pastor.

cara.georgetown.edu/caraservices/requestedchurchstats.html

 

[MacBP]

I wonder if this is in any way related to economy? I understand that seminaries would turn away candidates who go to seminary because they can’t find a job, but perhaps young, Catholic men are simply more open to idea of seminary because of a lack of options and that openness doesn’t alarm the seminaries.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

This probably has to more do with the fact that seminaries in other dioceses have closed and are now sending candidates for the priesthood to the seminary in Buffalo.

St John’s Seminary in Brighton, MA, also saw an increase of candidates, but they reported that it was because the seminary is now serving all the dioceses in New England, where other seminaries no longer exist.

So, although that particular seminary saw an increase of candidates, the over all numbers in New England is still way down and the increase will not solve the shortage of priests for New England.

Jim

 

[buffalo]

For many years the in the Buffalo area, some parishes, a Catholic newspaper, and religious education programs, as well as the Seminary itself, encouraged the idea of the priest as social worker, or facilitator. Many programs spread the idea that the Mass was “consecrated” by the coming together of the congregation - that the priest was there only as a convener, or presider, but that “the people” made Christ present. Many priests sort of went along with this, sadly. The result was that some potential vocations never got nurtured - why make the sacrifice to be mostly a religious social worker? Why bother working in a parish if it is just a glorified community center? The supernatural element got omitted.

Things have been improving in recent years. The local Catholic radio station, home schoolers, prolifers, and others have been networking, putting out the message about Catholic doctrine and devotion wherever possible. There are not a lot of young priests, but they are all committed to Catholic doctrine, prolife, and religious liberty. A few new independent Catholic schools have been started. The increasing media attack on the priesthood in particular, and Catholicism in general, is helping to clarify what the struggle is, and who the real heroes are. Some of them are entering the seminary.

 

[hwriggles4]

Great news about two other seminaries:

Holy Trinity Seminary in Dallas is also close to capacity. Something like 70 men are studying there for the priesthood. About nine dioceses send college and pre-theology seminarians to Holy Trinity Seminary. Vocations are up in the Diocese of Austin, Fort Worth, Galveston-Houston, and Dallas (particularly when compared to 10 years ago), and seminarians from outside of Texas (i.e. Little Rock, Charleston, and a few from Tulsa) are now sent to Holy Trinity Seminary if they are pre-theology (i.e. have a bachelor’s degree but need to get philosophy and theology credits prior to major seminary) or they are college seminarians workings towards a B.A. in Philosophy. Holy Trinity Seminary is adjacent to the University of Dallas.

Mount Saint Mary’s of the West, which is close to Cincinnati, has also had an upswing. It is pretty full. Some of this may have to do with the newer Archbishop of Cincinnati (Schnurr). More dioceses are sending candidates to Mount St. Mary’s of the West, and some of the more solid religious orders are now sending seminarians there as well.

 

[adawgj]

Glad to see that there is an increase. i hope to join them too, just need to get some life experience first and then I’m all set.

 

[ProVobis]

Some of this may have to do with the newer Archbishop of Cincinnati (Schnurr).

IMO, candidates for priesthood should have a burning desire to become priests, regardless of who is bishop. It may take up to 12 years to become ordained once they start the seminary and a lot of policy changes may take place during that time. Bishops get transferred and Popes resign. But a priest is forever. Compare that against multiple occupations held by most others in their lifetimes.

 

[Hazen_Pingree]

Catholic Radio. Wherever there is Catholic Radio there seems to be an increase in priestly vocations.I live in Michigan. We have stations serving the Archdiocese of Detroit, the dioceses of Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Gaylord and Saginaw. Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit is filled almost to capacity, and many of our men discerning priestly vocation are also going to Mundelein. The Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist (out of Ann Arbor) have become the fastest growing convent in the country. There’s also an order of nuns up in Alma Michigan in the diocese of Saginaw that are seeing renewed growth. Both of these orders are nuns in habits. In the last five years, there have been at lease five women who have become consecrated virgins (non-order - not living in community) in the diocese of Lansing alone. There is also a substantial increase in vocations to the deaconate. In 2013, they ordained 14 deacons (12 permanent and two transitional) in Lansing in addition to four priests. This year, Lansing will ordain two more priests and there are more in the ranks coming up within the next few years. It’s a renaissance in vocations in the Catholic faith. Wherever there is unapologetially Catholic radio station, there is a unhindered conversation about Faith broadcasting 24 hours a day. It’s happening. Support your local Catholic radio station.