The number of young men entering seminary has been declining rapidly for several reasons. Over the past few years, there have been several scandals and then covid hit. That also took a toll on the number of men who were able or willing to go to seminary because of travel restrictions and mandatory shutdowns of schools, colleges, and universities, among which are seminaries. To understand just how important it is to express appreciation for our young seminarians making the commitment to Christ and the Holy Church, a bit of recent data might be in order.
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A Bit of Data from the United States
If you have any doubt as to just how endangered the priesthood is, let’s look back at a few statistics from 2019, the latest posted on Statista. Going back just 50 years, there were approximately 8,000 young men in Catholic seminaries in the United States. By 2009, the number had fallen to 1,300 and there is no data listed from that point on. However, one seminary in Columbus, Ohio can give an idea of what the nation faces at this time.
According to Father Steven Beseau, the rector of the Pontifical College Josephinum, enrolment began declining back in 2014. However, that is just the beginning of what worries Catholics here and around the world. In 2014, there were 217 men in the seminary in Columbus but this year, in 2022, there are only 49. This leads many to wonder if the Church is being attacked by forces unseen or if there is some other reason why young men are unwilling to commit to a life of celibacy.
Gifts That Recognize Their Commitment
There are several ways in which to recognize the commitment of young Catholic men to enter the seminary, but such things as religious art for new seminarians or liturgical accessories for graduate-level seminarians show that we truly appreciate them. Sacred religious icons for their walls, crucifixes, and handcrafted rosaries from the Holy Land make wonderful gifts too. Choosing something symbolic of our Catholic faith is probably one of the best gifts for these young seminarians.
Secular Gifts Are Good Too
While most diocesan seminaries allow their students to wear secular clothes, those within an order like the Franciscans are most recognizable in their brown habits. Whether or not seminarians at all levels of their studies wear brown habits isn’t really an issue. It might be best to stick with a religious gift in a case like this, as all seminaries may have different dress codes.
With that said, many seminarians don’t really have funds to buy street clothes and so gifts like shirts, pants, and sweaters would also be appreciated. The whole idea of giving a gift of appreciation to the seminarians you know in your family or from your church is to thank them for recognizing a need in the church and answering the call. With that said, maybe an article of clothing and a small religious item would be best. Honor their faith and commitment in one go.
