Typical new US priest: 34-year-old who prays Rosary, takes part in Eucharistic adoration

[_Abyssinia]

The typical member of the priestly ordination class of 2017 is a 34-year-old cradle Catholic, according to a recently released survey of 444 of the 590 men slated to be ordained to the priesthood in the United States this year. The survey was conducted for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate.

The typical ordinand also prayed the Rosary and regularly took part in Eucharistic adoration before entering seminary, according to the survey.

77% of the men were preparing for the diocesan priesthood, with the largest ordination classes in Paterson, NJ (13 men), St. Paul and Minneapolis (11), and Wichita (10). Among religious ordinations, the Jesuits (27 men), Dominicans (12), and Capuchin Franciscans (8) have the largest ordination classes.

catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=31798

 

[Pulvis]

Wonderful!

 

[Crusaderbear]

Does anyone know how many priests retire every year? Wondering if the numbers are growing or shrinking…

 

[TK421]

From 2010 to 2015 they shrunk by almost 3,000 in the United States.

Worldwide there was a 2,000 increase, which isn’t enough to match the growth of Catholics in general.

 

[polki]

The world could definitely use more traditional Catholic priests.

 

[TK421]

There is no such thing as a non-traditional Catholic priest. The sources of our authority are Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

 

[Pulvis]

There is no such thing as a non-traditional Catholic priest. The sources of our authority are Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

I agree that the Sacrament of Holy Orders imbues the same grace to all Priests. I disagree as to how an individual Priest conducts himself in regards to the perinial teachings of the Church. Many are very conscientious to stay true to the Church, some not so much. They are human. It happens. No need to ignore facts.