Posted on 04/15/2005 6:10:21 AM PDT by NYer
WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 14, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The U.S. ordination class of 2005 continues to reflect a trend toward older, better-educated men with a large percentage born in foreign countries, according to a new survey.
The survey was reported by sociologist Dean Hoge, who heads the Life Cycle Institute of the Catholic University of America.
He wrote the report after considering trends in ordination classes since 1998 and comparing them with data on the men being ordained in 2005.
"The average age at ordination rose from 34.8 to 37.0," Hoge said.
"The level of education prior to entering the seminary rose," he added. "Whereas in 1998, 30% had less than a B.A. or B.S. degree, in the 2005 sample only 28% had less than a B.A. or B.S. degree."
"The percentage who had received a master's degree or a professional degree beyond the B.A. rose from 13 to 32. This is a notable change in only seven years," Hoge reported.
"The percentage born outside the U.S. rose from 24 to 27%," he added. "The four principal countries of birth today are Vietnam, Mexico, Philippines and Poland.”
Hoge based his “Report on Survey of 2005 Priestly Ordination” on results of a survey conducted by the U.S. episcopal conference's vocations office.
By the March 31 survey deadline there were 286 responses, 251 from diocesan ordinands and 35 from ordinands in religious congregations. Not all dioceses and religious orders responded.
Half of the diocesan ordinands are under age 35.
For 2005, the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have the largest number of ordinands with 16 and 15 men, respectively.
Six percent of the ordinands are converts to the Catholic faith. The range of age at conversion is from 11 to 35.
Our pastor is 37, brilliant and from Slovakia.
He encourages Altar Boys and lets boys as young as 4 serve at our Holy Masses. We have 8 seminarians.
God Bless Priest from other countries.
OOOOOOPS!
Make that "Priests".
Chicago is great. I met recently a young (37) seminarian at Mundelein who I guess is for the Seattle Diocese. Solid mad, solid faith. Made one or two great disparing jokes about Hans Kung, so fine by me.
Our favorite priest was a Slovakian, born right over the hill from Medjugorje. He became a priest right after WWII and the communists wanted to get him. Five of his brothers and sisters died to protect him from the communists, only one remained alive. He died about ten years ago now, and his sister, a few years later. He was wonderful and we miss him.
Now we have an Indian priest who loves change in the church and quotes Martin Luther in his homilies.
I would mention that to the Bishop. If he does nothing, go higher.
WOWIE KAZOWIE! Please do not infer that all priests from India are so far afield -- ours was not and the one that I loved so much was a Bishop from there -- very correct, believe me.
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