7 ordinations

[Starets]

This morning saw a packed house at the Cathedral Basilica as 7 men including one of our oblates were ordained to the priesthood. This was the largest "batch" of ordinations since the mid 60s. There are 7 more men heading off to seminary for the archdiocese and there are 35 men in various stages of formation in seminary already. 5 men are slated to be ordained next year. How is everyone else's diocese/archdiocese doing for ordinations to the priesthood?

[PrayerSupporter]

We had six men ordained to the priesthood today in the Peoria IL diocese -- and one was from our parish.  He is saying his first Mass at our parish tomorrow.

[John Paul]

Our Priests are being ordained today.About three for the Diocese of Springfield,Il.

[TheresaThoma]

Sadly are diocese isn't doing that well. 2 priests ordained this year however we had 7 priests retire. Currently it is looking like by 2020 we will only have 100 active priests in the whole diocese and we are a large diocese. 

My pastor wrote a letter about the priest shortage one line struck me " This is hard to hear, but this might be a gentle reminder that when we are not praying for vocations and actively supporting them, we find ourselves in situations like this. While we want a priest at our parent’s bedside, we must also be willing to really support our son who might be called to priesthood. It is not impossible to add priests in ministry in our archdiocese with just a little bit of prayer and practical support" Though he also added that this is also part of a wider demographic shift. Most of the baby boomers are now retiring and that includes priests.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

Earlier this month, the Archdiocese of Chicago ordained 14 men as priests, and 15 men as permanent deacons.

[Luigi]

Six last year and six this year.

Looking ahead, there should be an average of four ordinations per year for the next several years.

[:o)Katherine:o)]

From our diocese we have one that will be ordained in June. We have two from South America that will be ordained in July for our diocese. After that, next year we will have 3-4 men total from our diocese in the seminary. Two are from Poland and studying to become priests in our diocese. Our priests are retiring faster than men are joining the seminary and becoming priests.