Getting to know the Class of Priests 2011

As we prepare to change the calendar to May, priestly ordinations throughout the country are around the corner. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has released the 2011 statistics of those to be ordained. There will be 480 men ordained this year in the United States. Of the respondents to the survey:

• Their average age is 34.


• The age range is 25 to 63.


• About one fifth of these men attended a World Youth Day before entering the seminary.


• Twenty-four percent have five or more siblings.


• About one half of the men reported that someone discouraged them from the priesthood.


• Almost 50% were active in a youth group at some point before entering the seminary.


• 71% reported being an altar server before the seminary.

Read more statistics here.

Get to know the ordination Class of 2011 here. It was such a joy to see so many familiar names and faces, many of whom I know from college. God is good!