As many Catholic dioceses continue to face priest shortages and declining seminary enrollment, several U.S. dioceses this spring bucked the trend by ordaining some of their largest priesthood classes in years. Charlotte ordained a record 10 priests, Philadelphia celebrated its largest class in more than two decades, Miami's newest priests reflected the city's international Catholic identity, and Wichita continued to produce vocations at a rate that far exceeds its size.
Charlotte diocese ordains record 10 priests
The Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, ordained 10 men to the priesthood on May 30, the largest ordination class in the diocese's 54-year history and one of the biggest groups of new priests ordained by a U.S. diocese this year.
The ordinations took place at St. Mark Catholic Church in Huntersville before a congregation of more than 1,600 people, according to Queen City News.
The milestone comes as many Catholic dioceses across the U.S. continue to grapple with declining numbers of priests and seminarians, making large ordination classes increasingly uncommon.
During the ordination Mass, Bishop Michael Martin said the significance of the day was not the number of men being ordained but the impact they will have on others.
"We're here to rejoice in the thousands whose lives will be touched by Jesus Christ through your hands, through your words, by your feet, by your glance," Bishop Martin said in his homily. "That's a reason for rejoicing."
The bishop acknowledged that pastors and diocesan leaders need additional clergy to meet growing pastoral demands.
"They need help," Bishop Martin said, referring to priests they will assist. "Not unlike your bishop who needs your service, who cannot carry the weight of the responsibility alone."
The ordination class included men from the U.S., Colombia, Mexico, and Germany. Some of the men began their formation within the diocese at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly, which was established by former Charlotte Bishop Peter Jugis in 2016. Eight completed their formation at Mount St. Mary's Seminary and School of Theology in Cincinnati, according to the seminary.
“Many years ago, seeing the desperate need for priests, Bishop Jugis and his clergy made the cultivation of vocations the highest priority,” said Father Matthew Kauth, the rector of the seminary, according to the Catholic News Herald.
“From this earnest prayer arose many endeavors from Quo Vadis to St. Joseph College Seminary. We are now reaping the harvest of 20-plus years of labor. It didn’t just happen,” Father Kauth continued. “God has blessed our efforts and a culture of vocations has been established – yielding increasing returns, just as Christ said it would. Now, we must cultivate and care for those vocations and give thanks to God.
Philadelphia records largest ordination class in more than two decades
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, had its largest ordination class in 23 years and one of the biggest classes among major U.S. dioceses this spring on May 16, with eight men joining the priesthood.
Archbishop Nelson Pérez ordained the priests at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, and the class marked the archdiocese's highest number of ordinations since 2003, when nine men were ordained. It also continued a broader upward trend in vocations. Between 2022 and 2026, the archdiocese ordained 29 priests, its highest five-year total since the period from 1999 through 2003.
Studies cited by the archdiocese indicate that Philadelphia remains among the strongest large dioceses in the country in terms of priest-to-parishioner ratios and the number of seminarians preparing for ministry.
The eight newly ordained priests will begin parish assignments across the archdiocese this summer.
Miami's largest ordination class in nearly a decade reflects the city's global Catholic identity
The Archdiocese of Miami ordained nine men to the priesthood on May 9, its largest ordination class since 2017.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski ordained the men during a Mass at St. Mary Cathedral attended by hundreds of faithful and approximately 150 priests. The newly ordained priests come from a range of cultural backgrounds, including Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Italy, Nicaragua, Poland, and Venezuela.
Archbishop Wenski said the diversity of the class reflects the church he serves.
"This year, the new priests are very diverse, and they look just like Miami," the archbishop said, noting that the archdiocese currently has about 60 seminarians preparing for the priesthood.
The ordination class includes former teachers, missionaries, and immigrants who discerned their vocations through parish life, college ministry, and movements such as the Neocatechumenal Way. Several traveled from other countries before entering seminary in South Florida.
In his homily, Archbishop Wenski urged the new priests to model their lives on the sacrifice they celebrate at the altar.
"As a priest, you will offer the Holy Sacrifice every day," he said. "Therefore, sacrifice must also be the condition of your life."
Wichita diocese sees large ordination class
The Diocese of Wichita, Kansas, ordained six men to the priesthood May 23, giving the diocese one of the largest ordination classes in the country this year despite serving a comparatively small Catholic population.
With about 120,000 Catholics, Wichita's class of six new priests exceeded the ordination totals reported this spring by several much larger U.S. dioceses, including Los Angeles, which ordained three priests for its 3.8 million Catholics; Galveston-Houston, which ordained four for its 1.7 million Catholics; and New York, which ordained two for its 1.6 million Catholics.
Father Chad Arnold, the diocese's director of seminarians and St. Joseph House of Formation, attributed Wichita's consistent vocations culture to a combination of factors, including the presence of Catholic schools, Eucharistic adoration, strong parish life, and visible examples of young priests.
"When we see young men becoming priests there's a bit of a snowball effect that makes it easier for other young men to do the same," Father Arnold said.
In his homily, Bishop Carl Kemme told the ordinands that priesthood is "not a career, not a status, not a job; but a life of vigilance, sacrifice and love for the flock entrusted to us," urging them to become "shepherds after the heart of the Good Shepherd."