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To: mimaw

I do hear of parishes like yours, on occasion. I must be either very out of the loop or this is not the norm. I have attended churches in the following places as a parishoner

New Jersey
South Carolina
Florida
and as a visitor in
Delaware
Tennessee

In all of the parishes I have attended, there have been at the very least, 3 priests at each, with 2-5 deacons per church. The one I am at now, there is a Pastor, plus a full time priest, a retired priest who does Mass on occasion AND a priest who has no parish right now so our pastor is allowing him to stay at the rectory and do masses for a stipend. We also have a full time deacon. There are 5 other catholic churches in the area (within 30 minutes of my home) and all of them have at least 3 priests as well. Our seminary is graduating 17 more this spring, with full classes each year after (my son will be entering seminary next fall).

Fear not, vocations in traditional seminarys and convents are way up, many have waiting lists. My theory is that some of the more liberal orders, seminaries, and dioceses may be suffering a shortage, but as the old ones die off or are retired, there is a young, traditionalist, vibrant bunch just waiting to fufill their call.


16 posted on 10/25/2009 6:02:48 PM PDT by wombtotomb
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To: wombtotomb
I hope your right but when my father took a turn for the worse we were not able to get the last rites performed before he died as our priest was giving them at a nursing home. Some of our parishes have at least two priests and laity but there is not an over abundance of priests here.
19 posted on 10/25/2009 6:09:29 PM PDT by mimaw
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To: wombtotomb

I met a brand new group of nuns in the Diocese of Spokane while I was at the Serra Club conference on supporting vocations together.
I may not have the name quite right, but they had beautiful havy and white habits — Sisters of Mercy of the Mother of God, I believe.


26 posted on 10/25/2009 6:17:35 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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