A
ASimpleSinner
Guest
Where are the vocations these days? Listed below are some numbers and observations I have collected.
In 2 years the FSSP will turn 20 - they are celebrating ordinations monthly. I am NO insider, but from what I hear, they seminary in KS is bursting at the seems - senior seminarians are graciously agreeing to “double bunk” in rooms intended to be single rooms for senior seminairians… and that was built way back… o, 8 years ago? It was full the day building was complete.
The Norbetines in Orange County are having a vocations crunch- they are too crunched in to a small property and need a BIGGER place.
In less time than the most orders have been around Bl. Theresa of Calcutta’s Missionaries of Charity have grown to over 4,500 nuns and is active in 133 countries. The numbers of the priests and brothers are ALSO growing
The Diocese of Arlington is about to have more priests than rectories to put them in. What to do?
Newark recently did ordain 17 men to the priesthood.
Do you know what else Denver, Newark & Arlington have in common? For all their vocations, neither of them can be found on the list of the top-12 diocese with the highest seminarian to Catholic ratio which includes:
In the US as many as 95 married men, mostly Anglican some Lutheran, Methodist & a Presbyterian or two have become Catholic priests.
In the past 20 years over 8000 Orthodox clerics - the descendants of the crushed Greek Catholic unia - have returned to Rome and they built a new university in Ukraine…
In the past 20 years over 500+ Evangelical ministers have joined the ranks of the Scott Hahn march to Rome sweet home…
Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist haven’t finished building their new motherhouse yet and are already almost out of room…
The Legion of Christ has suffered from scandal that has lead to the retirement of its founder. Time will tell what the effects of that scandal - and weather it is true or not…. But here is the thing about that conservative order so fiercely loyal to the Holy Father: “the Legion’s nine seminaries have turned out 650 ordained priests. That is up from 210 priests in 1990. The Legion’s ranks also include about 2,500 seminarians studying to be priests.
The Nashville Dominicans report they have more Sisters than ever in their 142-year history - median age is 36…
Here is a list of orders that are growing and that celebrate the Tridentine Mass (a rite the most of the bishops in dying diocese would likely cross the street to avoid!):
Converts?
see: stu.lmu.edu/wbeutel/write/convert.htm
Who else can share a little about some of the exciting new and renewed communities, diocese, orders, monasteries etc that I missed. To be sure, I am certain I have missed many!
In 2 years the FSSP will turn 20 - they are celebrating ordinations monthly. I am NO insider, but from what I hear, they seminary in KS is bursting at the seems - senior seminarians are graciously agreeing to “double bunk” in rooms intended to be single rooms for senior seminairians… and that was built way back… o, 8 years ago? It was full the day building was complete.
The Norbetines in Orange County are having a vocations crunch- they are too crunched in to a small property and need a BIGGER place.
In less time than the most orders have been around Bl. Theresa of Calcutta’s Missionaries of Charity have grown to over 4,500 nuns and is active in 133 countries. The numbers of the priests and brothers are ALSO growing
The Diocese of Arlington is about to have more priests than rectories to put them in. What to do?
Newark recently did ordain 17 men to the priesthood.
Do you know what else Denver, Newark & Arlington have in common? For all their vocations, neither of them can be found on the list of the top-12 diocese with the highest seminarian to Catholic ratio which includes:
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Yakima, Washington
- Savannah, Georgia
- Cheyenne, Wyoming
- Rapid City, South Dakota
- Wichita, Kansas
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Alexandria, Louisiana
- Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida
- Steubenville, Ohio
- Spokane, Washington
- Bismarck, North Dakota.
In the US as many as 95 married men, mostly Anglican some Lutheran, Methodist & a Presbyterian or two have become Catholic priests.
In the past 20 years over 8000 Orthodox clerics - the descendants of the crushed Greek Catholic unia - have returned to Rome and they built a new university in Ukraine…
In the past 20 years over 500+ Evangelical ministers have joined the ranks of the Scott Hahn march to Rome sweet home…
Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist haven’t finished building their new motherhouse yet and are already almost out of room…
The Legion of Christ has suffered from scandal that has lead to the retirement of its founder. Time will tell what the effects of that scandal - and weather it is true or not…. But here is the thing about that conservative order so fiercely loyal to the Holy Father: “the Legion’s nine seminaries have turned out 650 ordained priests. That is up from 210 priests in 1990. The Legion’s ranks also include about 2,500 seminarians studying to be priests.
The Nashville Dominicans report they have more Sisters than ever in their 142-year history - median age is 36…
Here is a list of orders that are growing and that celebrate the Tridentine Mass (a rite the most of the bishops in dying diocese would likely cross the street to avoid!):
- Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel
- Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem
- Canons Regular of the Mother of God
- Religious Institute of the Holy Cross of Riaumont
- Benedictines - Triors
- Benedictines - St. Pierre de Clairac
- Benedictines - Randol
- Benedictines - Le Barroux
- Benedictines - Gaussan
- Benedictines - Fontgombault
- Benedictines - Clear Creek
- Institute of St. Philip Neri
- Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrer
- Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest
- Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
- Apostolic Adminstration of St. John Mary Vianney
Converts?
see: stu.lmu.edu/wbeutel/write/convert.htm
Who else can share a little about some of the exciting new and renewed communities, diocese, orders, monasteries etc that I missed. To be sure, I am certain I have missed many!