5/1/23, 8:01 PM Annual Study on Ordination Class Released as Church Prepares for World Day of Prayer for Vocations

yer for Vocations | USCCB

Annual Study on Ordination Class

Released as Church Prepares for World
Day of Prayer for Vocations
April 25, 2023

WASHINGTON - On April 30, the Catholic Church will mark the 60th annual
World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Celebrated on the Fourth Sunday of Easter,
the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is often referred to as “Good Shepherd
Sunday” in reference to the Gospel reading that teaches that Jesus is the
Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep
Bishop Earl A. Boyea of Lansing, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations (CCLV) stated,
“Surveys of recently professed men and women religious and men ordained to
the priesthood show that families and encouragement from the parish priests
alongside Catholic schools provide optimal environments for a vocational call to
grow. On this day, let us thank God for continuing to call men and women to
serve him and his Church as priests, religious, and consecrated persons. We
pray that all families, teachers, and priests will continue their essential work of
instilling the faith and love of Jesus in our children.”
In conjunction with the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the CCLV committee
released the Ordination Class of 2023 Study conducted by the
Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown
University. Out of the 458 men scheduled to be ordained this year, 334
completed the survey for an overall response rate of 73%. These ordinands
represent 116 U.S. dioceses and eparchies and 24 distinct religious institutes.
A few of the major findings of the report are:
• Most of the ordinands received formation at a seminary in the South and the
Midwest (31% for both) followed by the Northeast (17%), West (13%), and
abroad (7%).
• Responding ordinands indicate they first considered priesthood during
elementary school (32%), followed by high school (26%). Religious ordinands
are more likely than diocesan ordinands to first consider a vocation in college
(23%) and graduate school (20%).

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5/1/23, 8:01 PM Annual Study on Ordination Class Released as Church Prepares for World Day of Prayer for Vocations | USCCB

• Hispanics/Latinos constituted 16% of the responding ordinands. Between 2006

and 2023, the share of Hispanics/Latinos averaged 15% and ranged between
11% and 22%.
• Ordinands who attended Catholic elementary school constituted 43% of all
respondents, and 34% attended a Catholic high school.
• Most respondents (93%) were baptized Catholic as an infant and raised
primarily by their biological parents (96%) and a married couple living together
(92%).
• Over half of respondents (63%) cited their parish priest as an encouraging
influence on their vocation.
The full CARA report and profiles of the Ordination Class of 2023 can be
accessed here: https://www.usccb.org/committees/clergy-
consecrated-life-vocations/ordination-classes
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MEDI A C O N TA C T S:

Chieko Noguchi
202-541-3200
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