Why the record number of Seminarians?

[Tom317]

Editor: In this issue of the “Catholic Spirit” we have a special supplement on our diocesan seminarians. The numbers for those who are considering the priesthood in the United States are always presented as rather bleak. Is that the case locally?

Bishop Aymond: No. In fact, we are blessed abundantly by God and presently have one of the largest numbers of seminarians in the history of our diocese. We are grateful to God and to all who have encouraged vocations and for the 38 men who are presently discerning and studying in the seminary.

austindiocese.org/newsletter_article_view.php?id=885

 

[Digitonomy]

The bishop spins this in a very positive way, which will serve him well in the public relations he is called on to do for the diocese. But saying that there are record numbers because of the faith of the seminarians, or the communities from which they came begs the question, why weren’t there this many in previous years? Did people not have as much faith then?

So the more complete answer is major demographic changes in the Austin diocese. The diocese is almost 60 years old, long enough to have a decent history to compare previous classes of seminarians, but there has been huge population growth - I don’t think there would have been a chance for current levels in that area more than 10 or 15 years ago.

But it’s not just higher population that’s helpful. Newer churches, in areas of population growth, are I think more likely to have a positive atmosphere which makes choosing a vocation with the Church more attractive. Catholics in newly populated areas are more likely to attend church and be involved with their parish, if only to establish roots in an unfamiliar area. In older cities with too many parishes for the current Catholic population, many churches may feel empty, with relatively low attendance. And the population is likely to skew toward the more aged, the opposite of churches in newer neighborhoods. Austin has lots of sprawl, and therefore lots of newer neighborhoods.

 

[Tom317]

The bishop spins this in a very positive way, which will serve him well in the public relations he is called on to do for the diocese. But saying that there are record numbers because of the faith of the seminarians, or the communities from which they came begs the question, why weren’t there this many in previous years? Did people not have as much faith then?

So the more complete answer is major demographic changes in the Austin diocese. The diocese is almost 60 years old, long enough to have a decent history to compare previous classes of seminarians, but there has been huge population growth - I don’t think there would have been a chance for current levels in that area more than 10 or 15 years ago.

But it’s not just higher population that’s helpful. Newer churches, in areas of population growth, are I think more likely to have a positive atmosphere which makes choosing a vocation with the Church more attractive. Catholics in newly populated areas are more likely to attend church and be involved with their parish, if only to establish roots in an unfamiliar area. In older cities with too many parishes for the current Catholic population, many churches may feel empty, with relatively low attendance. And the population is likely to skew toward the more aged, the opposite of churches in newer neighborhoods. Austin has lots of sprawl, and therefore lots of newer neighborhoods.

It is a bit harsh to say the Bishop was spinnning…the numbers are good, and far better then most, that is the point.

 

[Digitonomy]

The numbers are very good. Why do they have record numbers? The bishop gives all the credit to the seminarians and their parishes, if I recall (can’t seem to get the article to pull up now), whereas the main reason is probably demographics. That’s spin, and it’s what the bishop or any good public relations person is called upon to do. Accentuate the positive.

 

[Tom317]

The numbers are very good. Why do they have record numbers? The bishop gives all the credit to the seminarians and their parishes, if I recall (can’t seem to get the article to pull up now), whereas the main reason is probably demographics. That’s spin, and it’s what the bishop or any good public relations person is called upon to do. Accentuate the positive.

When you say he is spinning, you degrade the good numbers. IMO, we should applaud the Dioceses that are doing well, not speak of Bishops spinning when they clearly are just telling good news.

 

[Digitonomy]

If we just want to feel good about the high numbers, fine. But the article asked a question, which the bishop didn’t really answer. That was what I was trying to do in post #2.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

If we just want to feel good about the high numbers, fine. But the article asked a question, which the bishop didn’t really answer. That was what I was trying to do in post #2.

Of course, your explanation that the “main reason” is demographics isn’t based on a thorough study of the diocese; based on just your assertion that it is the reason one gets the impression that your are overlooking the spiritual components of the phenomenon. I think it’s very dangerous when speaking of numbers of seminarians to talk about “the” or even “the main” reason. There are way too many factors that go into the process of discernment. Armed only with demographic reasoning one gets the impression that we could have avoided the decimation of our presbyterate by simply clustering the Catholic population differently.

 

[Digitonomy]

Of course, your explanation that the “main reason” is demographics isn’t based on a thorough study of the diocese

Very true. Like most who post here, I don’t often study the issue in great depth before posting, so I’m usually eager to hear from those more knowledgeable who can expand on or shoot down my views.
Andreas Hofer:

I think it’s very dangerous when speaking of numbers of seminarians to talk about “the” or even “the main” reason… Armed only with demographic reasoning one gets the impression that we could have avoided the decimation of our presbyterate by simply clustering the Catholic population differently.

This is a fair point. But unless a diocese experiences no change in the Catholic population, I think demographics are going to play a very big role in the number of vocations in any diocese. This is particularly true in an area like Austin, with extraordinary growth in recent years.

As to the clustering of the population in parishes, I also think we do better to close dying parishes earlier rather than later. As tragic as the loss of traditions and memories may be when a parish is closed, it’s better to have one healthy parish than two or three anemic parishes. There is a spiritual price to pay for those who won’t be able to make it to the new more distant church, but IMO there is often a greater price paid by families whose parish offers little opportunity for spiritual growth, because its population is so small it can’t support the school or activities to draw families into the parish and nurture that growth. Can’t tell you how big an impact that has on vocations, but it seems self-evident that it would have some effect.

 

[iserve]

You do make an interesting point- the Catholic population here in the northeast has shifted dramatically from the city to the suburbs, and it certainly seems as if many Catholics have left the area completely in search of a more hospitable economic climate in the South. I know that for myself, I continue to stay in the area primarily because of an excellent faith community, but if it were to fall apart, I think that would add considerably toward a choice to relocate. It just makes me wonder if the decline of urban parishes in the Northeast has added to the flight of Catholics to the South and Midwest, where Catholic communities are booming and sprouting up everywhere. Two of my family members who are there are very enthusiastic about this, and surely, this would in turn lead to more vocations in those areas.

 

[Tom317]

The numbers are high, can we just be happy they are high? We have heard so many reports of vocations being down, now there is at least one cazse where vocations are up…let us rejoice in that news and pray that sort of news begins to spread.

 

[Franze]

Good news, thanks for sharing, the South of USA, I would like to visit sometimes, It seems fantastic.

 

[OriginalJS]

I will go along with the conclusion that the numbers are high and that this is encouraging. From my limited reading, critical analysis of church attendance, membership, giving, and other issues are extremely complex. You are not going to find in-depth information in publications for general circulation. I don’t fault the publishers (or the Bishop) for this. It is just too complex to be handled simply.

 

[jc-servant]

I’m just happy for the Diocese of Austin and the greater church that there appears to be an upsurge in religious vocations. We just had an announcement at our Lifeteen mass yesterday that we have our first young lady from the parish entering discernment at a convent. She will be there 8 months then return home for a visit before deciding if she will take 1st vows. Yippee!

I’m at a relatively young, suburban parish near Dallas where we pretty much had a lack of priestly vocations until the past 2-3 years. We began perpetual Eucharistic adoration dedicated to fostering more religious vocations from our parish in May 2005. Now we have 11 young men who are discerning.

All of our young men came through Lifeteen and despite what many people think of that ministry in general, ours is very orthodox in teaching. They always bring very orthodox priests and religious (in full habits) on teen retreats and mission trips (and invite them many times per year to our parish to interact with teens) which I believe has helped to increase the number of young people discerning for religious life. I don’t believe it is just demographics or why would some suburban parishes have lots of vocations and some none.

The U. of TX in Austin has developed a strong Catholic ministry for students just as TX A&M has had for many years. They could be part of the reason for the upsurge in religious vocations.

stannparish.org/fform/formations/9/information.html?id=354