Brother Knights and Knight Families:
There are approximately 2 months left in this Columbian year. Much has occurred in our Diocese this year in the area of vocations, which I wish to report to you. First, this report would not be possible without the great research performed by our Worthy Chancellor, Brother Adam Struck, who has been keeping us apprised of the status of vocations in our Diocese and facilitated payment of scholarship to 4 seminarians we are currently sponsoring this year.
As you know, many Councils, such as ours, support vocations through scholarships paid to seminarians, and our Supreme Council will match our scholarship monies. I am pleased to report that we have we have been consistent with providing approximately $2,000 in annual scholarship monies for seminarians. However, as report by our Worthy Chancellor, vocations have been on the decline for the Catholic Church in the U.S. and continues to be a challenge.
In 1975, there were 58,909 priests in the United States. According to a Georgetown University study, as of 2014 that number was 39,600 – a 33% drop. Meanwhile, America’s Catholic population rose from 54.5 million to 78.2 million during that same period – a 43% increase. Nationally, 1 in 5 parishes have no resident priest (20% of U.S. parishes), yet America’s Catholic population rises annually at a 1% rate, while seminary enrollment remains flat.
Elsewhere in the world vocations to the priesthood and religious life have dramatically increased in the last 30 years. In Africa, they increased by 394%; in Southeast Asia by 152%; in Central America by 253%. It is only in the U.S. and Western Europe that there has been a decline.
Locally, we are experiencing this decline in vocations in our parishes. Geographically, the Sacramento Diocese covers 20 counties or 42,597 square miles (all the way to the Oregon Border). Out of a population of 3,574,415 within the Diocese there are 994,767 Catholics. As of 2014, we have 102 parishes with approximately 81 Resident Diocesan Priests and 16 Resident Religious Priests. The population in the Diocese continues to grow and compounding this problem is recently the Franciscans (2 Franciscan priests) can no longer staff St. Francis of Assisi Parish after having built the church and staffing it for over 120 years. Two of its parish priests are being called back to its Provincial in Santa Barbara as that religious order is experiencing a decline in religious members. The Diocese is in the process of staffing it in the midst of this priest shortage. Another example of this vocational decline is the Bishop having to balance resources, leading to his decision to close the Sacramento Newman Center to the permanent non-student community after being active for over 40 years. It should be noted that the Newman Center closure to non-student members is part of a broader strategic plan the Bishop has to increase student membership in these Newman Campus Clubs. Thus, with the Franciscans leaving and the recent death of Fr. Patrick Lee of Presentation Parish in Carmichael, the availability of priests in the Diocese is much lower.
Nevertheless, do not despair. There are currently 27 men studying in the seminary, including 4 men who were recently accepted and will begin their studies this summer or fall. There are 5 or 6 additional men in the process of serious discernment, and the Diocese Office of Religious Vocations has experienced more inquires about vocations than in years past. According to Deacon Luigi Del Gaudio (a Diocesan Vocations Coordinator), “things are on an upswing.” Meanwhile, the average age of a Diocesan priest is 63 years old. On an odd note, we understand that the Dominican Seminary in Berkeley, California, is full.
Brothers, let’s keep vocations in our prayers and financial support. Many thanks again to Brother Adam, our Chancellor, for the great research on this report.
Vivat Jesus!
Lewis Muñoz
Grand Knight, Council 953