465 Americans to be ordained priests; 1/4 foreign-born, majority on dean’s list in college

April 21, 2009

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has released data on members of the ordination class of 2009. A remarkable 55% who responded to a survey were on the dean’s list in college, while 11% were college valedictorian or salutatorian.

One quarter of this year’s ordinands are foreign born. Mirroring worldwide vocation trends, a disproportionately high number are Asian Catholics, while a disproportionately low number are Hispanics. Disproportionately high numbers attended Catholic elementary school, Catholic high school, and Catholic college, while 10% are converts-- with the average age of conversion being 21.

According to one press release issued by the USCCB, the average age of those who will be ordained priests is 36; according to another press release, it is 33.

 

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Further information:

• Ordination Class 2009 Has Many Asian-Born, Despite Low Percentage of Asian Catholics in United States (USCCB)
• Computer experts, refugees, marathon runners, widowers: new US priests mirror America (USCCB)
• Laborers for the Harvest: Promising vocations news from Asia, Africa, and Oceania (Catholic World Report)
• Where the Laborers are Few: Mixed vocations news from Europe and the Americas (Catholic World Report)