Dallas, Texas, Aug 26, 2011 / 04:14 am
The Diocese of Dallas has a record number of 19 new seminarians, Bishop Kevin Farrell announced recently.
“Indeed the Holy Spirit has been working through parents, priests and our vocations staff to bring about this blessing for our diocese. The prayers of many have been answered,” the Bishop of Dallas said on his blog Aug. 19.
The number is an increase from last year, when 11 men entered seminary. Fifteen of the new seminarians come from the Diocese of Dallas.
“It is great to have some good news to report these days and a record number of 19 new seminarians is certainly good news,” Bishop Farrell said.
There are now 70 seminarians studying for the diocese, an increase from 56 in 2010.
Twelve of the new aspirants to the priesthood will attend Holy Trinity Seminary, two will go to St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston and two will attend Assumption Seminary in San Antonio.
Two more will attend seminary in Mexico City, while one will attend Pope John XXIII Seminary in Massachusetts, which is intended for older seminarians.
According to 2008 statistics on the diocese’s website, the Diocese of Dallas has an estimated Catholic population of 1.1 million out of a population of 3.7 million. However, only around 560,000 are registered in a parish. There are about 175 priests in the diocese, about 61 of whom are diocesan. They help serve 67 parishes.