As we approach National Vocations Week, held November 3-9, we are presented with an opportunity to illuminate our call to pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life. We are blessed with the men and women who are in formation in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, but we earnestly pray for more vocations to meet the ever-growing demand for spiritual leaders.
Since 1970, the number of Catholic priests in the United States has plummeted from 59,000 to less than 35,000 today. The reality is stark: without priests, there is no Eucharist. As Pope Benedict XVI profoundly stated, “Without the Eucharist, the Church simply does not exist.” This loss is not merely statistical; it represents a spiritual crisis that we must confront together.
In the Archdiocese of San Antonio, the situation mirrors this national trend. We have 171 parishes and missions across our 19 counties, with only 160 active priests to serve them. I am deeply grateful for the dedicated priests who courageously and selflessly minister to our communities. However, the harsh truth is that these devoted individuals are often stretched to their limits, with 95 of them juggling multiple responsibilities — serving both a parish and a mission or a parish and a school. This overextension affects not only their well-being but also the vibrancy of their spiritual lives.
Over the past decade, our archdiocese has averaged 2.4 ordinations of diocesan priests each year — a number woefully inadequate to meet the needs of our growing communities. With 40 percent of our active priests over the age of 60, if nothing changes, we could find ourselves with only 95 active priests by the year 2039. This projection is not just a statistic; it represents a future where the lifeblood of our faith — the Eucharist — could become increasingly inaccessible.
Recognizing the weight of this challenge, the Scanlan Foundation from Houston has stepped forward, awarding our archdiocesan Vocation Office with a three-year, $320,000 grant. This vital funding is dedicated to revitalizing our efforts to cultivate and increase priestly vocations in the archdiocese. To tackle these challenges, we partnered with the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) to conduct an in-depth survey of our presbyterate. This crucial step provided valuable insights into the unique challenges and needs of the priests who serve our Church.
Building on this foundation, we engaged the expertise of renowned national consultant Kate Sells from Mission Advancement Partners. She is guiding us in crafting a comprehensive three-year strategic plan, a targeted marketing plan, and a refreshed website for the Vocation Office, all aimed at enhancing the ability for us to accompany the men being called to the priesthood.
As vocation director, this process is especially meaningful to me. It equips us with research-driven strategies that maximize our chances of success, ensuring we can effectively support our priests and inspire a new generation to answer the call to serve.
We firmly believe that God continues to call men to the priesthood in our local Church, and it is our responsibility to help them hear and respond to that divine invitation. To that end, we have implemented a comprehensive three-step plan that has been shared with all our parishes, and you are invited to participate:
- Pray: Pray fervently that the Lord speaks to the hearts of our men, and their families, guiding them toward his will.
- Cultivate: We are fostering a culture of vocations by establishing vocation promotion committees in every parish. This initiative will raise awareness and encourage conversations about the beauty and importance of priestly service.
- Call: We are committed to reaching out and inviting men who may have the potential for a priestly vocation to connect with the Vocation Office. This is an opportunity for them to discern their calling in a supportive environment.
As we launched this plan, we engaged the team of the renowned Vocation Ministry, led by founder Rhonda Gruenwald, to host two full-day workshops. The first was tailored specifically for parish priests, while the second focused on lay vocation promoters. We were thrilled to welcome more than 250 attendees representing 70 parishes at the second event. The strong turnout reflects significant interest and support at the parish level, and we believe that the collaborative efforts of all involved will yield abundant fruit for our mission and the benefit of the archdiocese.
While these initiatives have only been underway for less than two years, we are pleased to report a significant increase in the number of young men connecting with the Vocation Office who are actively discerning a call to the priesthood. In 2022, we had just 11 young men engaged in this journey; today, that number has risen to 20. Together, let us embrace this mission to nurture and support the next generation of priests. Through prayer, cultivation, and invitation, we can help young men recognize and respond to their calling.
Now, more than ever, we need your prayers and your voices. Together, let us advocate for a future where every parish remains vibrant, every community is nourished, and every faithful person has access to the sacraments. Let us renew our commitment to prayer, asking God to inspire new vocations and to strengthen the hearts of those already serving. The future of our Church depends on it.
Invest in Priestly Vocations
If you are a Trustee of a Foundation or a Donor Advised Fund and have an interest in making an investment in our efforts to improve clergy wellness or to increase priestly vocations to the Archdiocese of San Antonio, please contact Beverly Duke, Grants Manager, at [email protected] or at 210-734-1606.
