From a 2002 article in AD2000 on Seminary Statistics for Melbourne
An obvious feature of the graph below is the steep decline that has occurred from the high point in 1972 of 148 Corpus Christi seminarians (100 for Melbourne Archdiocese and 48 for rural Victoria and Tasmania) to a low point in 1996 of 21 students (including 12 for Melbourne). No doubt there are many explanations for this, not least smaller families and the inroads of secularism and materialism. Nor have divisions and controversies within the Church helped.By Michael Gilchrist, AD2000 Vol 15 No 8 (September 2002), p. 6
Yet despite these and other factors, the present graph also indicates an encouraging upturn.
Since 1996, the number of recruits for the Melbourne Archdiocese has increased significantly for the first time since the original decline set in - from 12 to 31 in 2002. And the number of inquiries continues to grow thanks to the efforts of the Catholic Vocations office (see opposite page), offering promise of further steady increases.
I haven't been able to access the statistics on the Corpus Christi Seminary website referred to in this article, but current enrollment for Melbourne at the Seminary also stands at 31, with an intake of around 10 each year.
Just thought that was interesting.
posted by Schütz @ 11:21 am
4 Comments
.JPG)
4 Comments:
Yes - it's stayed steady for a while. Certainly not exponential growth though.
But at least if it stays linear, it will eventually catch up to the Catholic Mass-going population
That's true... Better level than declining, too, I guess... Or, perhaps from another point of view, it is increasing--at least in relation to the pool of eligibles.
Perhaps have a chat to a seminarian or 2 and hear them tell you how the more traditional and orthodox are not welcome.
Be as wise as foxes and as gentle as doves, someone said.
There is much to be learnt from the experience of those "traditional and orthodox" priests who were candidates in former years. A little prudence goes a long way.
Of course, I am not one to boast of that virtue.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home