Tag Archives: vocations

Priest shortage = self-inflicted wound

My old pastor, the late Msgr. Schuler used to make mordent remarks about the suicidal vocations efforts of the Archdiocese. “They’re like people during a famine who wring their hands and discuss how they are all going to starve to … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Fr. Z KUDOS, Hard-Identity Catholicism, POLLS, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged , , ,
27 Comments

Priesthood ordinations up 24.7% this year

I have in the past mentioned the Opus Bono Sacerdotii which is dedicated to helping priests who are in trouble.   This is an organization which deserves support. That said, I saw a fine statistic on their Facebook page. 595 … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged , , ,
24 Comments

A rapid surge of interest in priestly vocations in the Diocese of…

A while back I posted about the surge of vocations in the Diocese of Madison under the influence of the Extraordinary Ordinary, Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino, the diocesan bishop.  It’s a small diocese, but there are more than 30 … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Fr. Z KUDOS, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged , ,
25 Comments

UPDATE: D. Madison: Bp. Morlino and the surge of priestly vocations (Parts 1 & 2)

I updated this with Part 2 from the WSJ, below.  Read about a seminarian who will say the TLM. To make a donation to the Diocese of Madison and to earmark it for seminarians, click HERE. Once you click the … Read More

Posted in New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged , , , ,
92 Comments

The Last Altar Boy

The often amusing Eye of the Tiber has this: The last male altar server in the United States has officially called it quits, the boy’s family is reporting this morning. The 3-year altar server veteran, who remained at his post as cross bearer despite pressure … Read More

Posted in Lighter fare, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged , , ,
12 Comments

ESOLEN: How to kill vocations – Feminize everything!

Ultra Fr. Z kudos to Anthony Esolen at Crisis who has a must-read, do-not-miss, go-there-to-read-it-now piece about making the Church effeminate and, thereby, killing vocations to the priesthood. How to Kill Vocations in Your Diocese ANTHONY ESOLEN Cardinal Raymond Burke … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Fr. Z KUDOS, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged , , , , ,
99 Comments

Tough love about the priest shortage

You know that I am not a fan of The Bitter Pill (aka The Tablet).  That said, there is a something striking, striking as in “nail on the head”, from a seasoned priest which you should read. This is from Fr. Mark Minihane … Read More

Posted in Cri de Coeur, Fr. Z KUDOS, Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , ,
71 Comments

Key stats for vocations to the priesthood – POLLS

The USCCB released survey results of the 2014 class of ordinands (from Latin, ordinandi, or “men to be ordained”).  HERE 82% were altar boys 73% attended adoration of the Blessed Sacrament regularly Suggestion to parish priests… heck… let’s include bishops, too: … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged , ,
41 Comments

The key to increasing vocations

It seems to me that if we want to see an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, we have to start praying more specifically about what we really want and about what we are willing to give. … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, Women Religious | Tagged , ,
60 Comments

D. Trenton: Guardians of the Altar

Watch the libs have a spittle-flecked nutty about this one! I see that at the Cathedral of the Diocese of Trenton, where Bp. David O’Connell reigns, there is a group called the “Guardians of the Altar”.  This, according to the … Read More

Posted in Brick by Brick, Fr. Z KUDOS, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Semper Paratus, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , , , , ,
44 Comments

A prayer for vocations

In light of my post about the 20 year high in vocations to the priesthood in these USA, I received this: Thank you for your Blog. I saw the article you posted on the increase of Priestly Vocations. Thanks be … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Just Too Cool, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
14 Comments

US 20 year high for vocations to priesthood

There is a video interview on Wall Street Journal about a new book which explains that vocations to the priesthood are at a 20 year high. The interviewer is surprised!  She wanted to know if the Church be being more … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Just Too Cool, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged , , ,
22 Comments

CRI DE COEUR: “If there were no more priests hardly anyone would be crying about it.”

At Rorate I saw something (translated there from Italian) from the blog Radicati nella fede, for the Catholic community of Domodossola and Vocogno in the Diocese of Novara. This is a cri de coeur, if there ever was one. My … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Cri de Coeur, Mail from priests, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The future and our choices, Vatican II, Vocations, Year of Faith | Tagged , , , ,
112 Comments

WDTPRS POLL: All-male sanctuary/altar service and vocations to the priesthood.

I have posted this poll before, but in light of another post, I thought I would revisit the question. Please select a response and make comments on this subject in the combox, below. And, yes, I know that some churches … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, POLLS, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , ,
112 Comments

Why do liberals try to make religious life so … small?

Since there is a great deal of liberal hooting at the latest women religious, LCWR, Bus-Nun type goat rodeo, let’s turn the clock back a bit and look at something at Religion and Politics about the Nashville Dominicans. The article is … Read More

Posted in Brick by Brick, Liberals, Magisterium of Nuns, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices, Vocations, Women Religious | Tagged , , , , ,
40 Comments

QUAERITUR: Diocese asking everyone at Mass to extend arms and “bless” the priest

From a reader: Diocese of Albany is asking all Mass attendees to participate in ritual of extending our arms and praying and blessing the priest who just said Mass.  Part of their “Called by Name” vocations pitch. I didn’t hold … Read More

Posted in Liberals, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Priests and Priesthood, Vocations | Tagged , , , ,
60 Comments

Friar by friar.

Friar by friar. Here’s something to cheer the heart. The Official Studentate Photo for the Dominican Province of St. Joseph These are the men in the Easter Province of the USA. Vocations.  It’s not rocket science. Speaking of vocations… [CUE … Read More

Posted in Brick by Brick, Just Too Cool, Vocations | Tagged , ,
50 Comments

EMBER DAYS

The September Ember Days (Wed, Fri, Sat) traditionally follow the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (14 September). These days were penitential in spirit.  They were also traditional times for ordinations. If nothing else, pray during these Ember … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , ,
12 Comments

A Prayer For Vocations

Please use the sharing buttons!  Thanks! Here is a prayer that perhaps parish priests will pick up and use at all Sunday and Holy Day Masses, perhaps immediately after the Gospel: LEADER: Please kneel for our prayer for vocations. ALL: … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, The future and our choices, Year of Faith | Tagged , , , , ,
5 Comments

QUAERITUR: Surprised by a Communion Service with a lay leader

From a reader: Whilst on holiday in Bournemouth, UK I called into one of the RC churches to say a few prayers. It seemed as though Mass was about to begin but, to my great shock, a lay woman went … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , ,
37 Comments