Posted August 29, 2003
New Priests Older, Better Educated, More Foreign Born
For the sixth successive year Dr. Dean Hoge has surveyed the year’s class of men being ordained to the diocesan and religious priesthood in the United States. This year’s survey resulted in 348 responses from ordinands — 306 diocesan and 42 religious. The survey questionnaire was prepared in connection with the study’s sponsor, The Secretariat for Vocations and Priestly Formation to the USCCB.
The average age at ordination rose from 34.8 to 36.8 years.
The level of education before entering the seminary is higher. In 1998, 30% had less than a bachelor’s degree, while in 2003 it was only 21 percent. The percentage with master’s or professional degrees rose from 13 percent to 30 percent.
The percentage born outside of the U.S. rose from 24 percent to 28 percent. The two principal foreign countries where ordinands were born are Vietnam and Mexico.
Breakdown of newly ordained according to age and race
| Diocesan |
Religious |
All |
|
| 27 percent |
7 percent |
24 percent |
Ages 25 - 29 |
| 27 |
24 |
26 |
30 - 34 |
| 18 |
17 |
18 |
35 - 39 |
| 20 |
33 |
22 |
40 - 49 |
| 5 |
12 |
6 |
50 - 59 |
| 3 |
7 |
4 |
60+ |
| Diocesan |
Religious |
All |
|
| 70 percent |
55 percent |
68 percent |
European American |
| 15 |
7 |
14 |
Hispanic or Latino |
| 8 |
29 |
11 |
Asian or Pacific Islander |
| 6 |
7 |
6 |
Other |
|
