Bad news for vocations

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate has released a new report containing bad news on vocations to the priesthood. Enrollment in U.S. Catholic seminary theology programs has dropped for the first time in five years.

Enrollment also dropped in high school and college seminaries and permanent diaconate formation programs.

Enrollment in seminary theology (postgraduate) programs is the most significant indicator of future ordinations. In the fall of the 2002-03 school year, there were 3,414 postgraduate students, down 170 from the year before -- although that's still an increase of more than 300 from the low of 3,114 in 1997-98.

At the same time, collegiate seminarian enrollment of 1,376 has hit a modern low and is down 218 from last year's 1,594. That number is likely to go down further next year, because Los Angeles and Boston are both closing their college seminaries.

The new studies show that we, the church, have a lot of work and prayer ahead of us before the priest shortage ends.