Charlotte seminarian numbers decline for 3rd consecutive year
November 07, 2026
The number of seminarians in a North Carolina diocese has declined by 19.6% since 2023-24, according to a brochure included with a new fundraising letter written by the diocese’s bishop.
Bishop Michael Martin, O.F.M. Conv., was installed as bishop of Charlotte in May 2024, when the diocese had 51 seminarians. The number of seminarians then declined to 45 in 2024-25, 44 in 2025-26, and 41 in 2026-27, according to the brochure.
Bishop Martin’s predecessor, Bishop Peter Jugis, governed the diocese from 2003 until the spring of 2024. Under his leadership, the number of seminarians increased steadily from 16 in 2015-16 to the peak of 51 in 2023-24. The current number of seminarians is the lowest since 2020-21.
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