Catholic Church experiencing sudden surge in seminarians

For decades the Catholic Church has suffered from a decline in young men seeking a life in the priesthood. For Alabama, at least, that may be on the verge of changing.

In June, the Diocese of Birmingham ordained Father Daniel Sessions of Shelby County at historic St. Paul’s Cathedral in Birmingham. Father Sessions celebrated his first mass as a priest at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Birmingham, his home parish. Sessions is now assigned to Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Decatur.

The Benedictine Monastery in Cullman ordained two monks to the priesthood last month.

Far from being an anomaly, Sessions’ experience may be a developing trend. As August and the start of the next semester of school begins, the Diocese of Birmingham reports that it has 19 young men in formation for the priesthood. South Alabama and the Archdiocese of Mobile report that it has another 15 seminarians that will be enrolled in the seminary this fall.

19 is the record high for Birmingham, which encompassed the northern half of the state, and the unexpected success in vocations has caught Catholic leaders by surprise – so much so that Bishop Steven J. Raica of the Diocese of Birmingham released a letter on July 17 that was shared to all parishes in the Diocese, asking the faithful to step up financially and partner with the Diocese in paying for the education of these seminarians.

“This fall, the Diocese of Birmingham will be blessed to have 19 men in formation for the priesthood,” Bishop Raica wrote. “Between 2025 and 2028, we will be on track to ordain 11 men to the priesthood of our diocese.”

“To meet the blessing the Lord has provided us presents a new challenge that will require a financial investment that will strain our current seminarian funds,” Raica said. “At present, the greater share of funding for seminarian formation comes from the Seminarian Education Fund, formerly known as the Burse Club. Along with some assistance from grants and our annual Catholic Charities and Communities Appeal, the Seminarian Education Fund also receives gifts, bequests, and general donations from parishes and parishioners to augment the funding of seminarian formation.”

Bishop Raica is calling for a special collection from Alabamians to meet this unexpected need.

“This Fall, we will need to boost that fund more than ever,” Bishop Raica continued. “After consultation with the Finance Office and the Presbyteral Council, I am authorizing a second collection for the Seminarian Education Fund. Therefore, I am urging parishes to take up this appeal to aid this Fund for this coming year on the weekend of August 5 – 6, 2023.”

The Archdiocese of Mobile is similarly seeking to raise $9 million for its Seminarian Formation fund.

“By the grace of God, many men are answering the call to discern the priesthood, and the Archdiocese of Mobile is producing vocations,” the Diocese wrote. “The Lord has blessed us with more and more worthy “homegrown” men from right here in Central and Southern Alabama. These ordinary men are extraordinary in their steadfast decision to be men of faith.”

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