The Catholic Church says several factors are to blame for pushing people away from the priesthood
but they're hoping to turn things around. All right, Fox 5's Sharon Crowley joins us now with a look at how they're trying to build up a new recruitment strategy
That's right, and it's Holy Week, so it's appropriate we talk about this topic. As fewer men are choosing life in the priesthood, the number of Catholics, though, around the world is increasing
And that means many pastors are ministering at multiple parishes, traveling to different churches to celebrate Mass and to combat the trend
many diocese in the U.S. are recruiting seminarians from abroad. Why do you want to become a priest
I decided to be a priest because it's something that makes me happy, makes me complete
I feel joyful about the life I have chosen to live. We are, in the best sense of fraternity
a group of brothers who are all responding to the call of the Lord Jesus
St. Joseph's Seminary in the Dunwoody section of Yonkers has a centuries-old tradition of preparing young men for the Roman Catholic priesthood
I felt this is how I also want to serve the Lord as a priest
being able to administer the sacraments to the people the sick and the dying and being able to have you know people actually look up to you as I looked up to them as a young boy
29-year-old seminarian, Callistus Ibe left his home in Nigeria to study here
Once he's ordained, he plans to serve in a parish in the Diocese of Brooklyn
Did you ever have any doubts or did you question your decision? Of course, I did a couple of times, especially actually in college
Callistus consulted a spiritual advisor about his doubts. He did ask me a single question
Are you happy being in the seminary? His answer came easily. And I told him, yes, I feel happy being here
And when I look forward, actually, to the years ahead of me
imagining myself as a priest. He's one of 75 men enrolled here at the seminary
which at its height had more than 200 seminarians. For decades now, there has been a steady decline in the number of young men choosing this vocation
We've been through a bit of a slump. I think COVID impacted our efforts at recruitment
Bishop James Massa is the rector and president of St. Joseph's Seminary
He answered God's call to serve 40 years ago. Since that time, the reputation of the Catholic Church here and worldwide has been marred by the clergy sex abuse scandal
It's been a time of introspection for the church. We failed in profound ways in protecting young people
Here at St Joseph Seminary in Yonkers they been training and educating young men to become Catholic priests since 1896 In more modern times things are more challenging and they like to see that change here
and attract more men to consider a life in the priesthood. We're beginning to see lots of interest through the college campus ministry associations
also through young adult groups that meet around New York City. Catholic priests make a lifelong promise of celibacy, obedience, and poverty
They commit to living a simple life spent serving others. At the beginning, it was not easy because, again, transition from one place
from the type of life to another life, requires a lot of commitment, discipline
Seminarian Juan Herrera is 36. I was teaching high school seniors and also first semester in universities
trying to be like the chain. Those who are coming from high school to university
they need somebody who helps them to transition from place to another place
I was that type of professor or teacher. But after a while, I just felt like emptiness in my project of life
Juan left his home and his family in Colombia to come here to study for several years
He will be ordained in June. Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation
On this night, he's doing homework, practicing celebrating Mass. Sounds like you think the world is in need of more priests Yes Because Because they need somebody to look at it Somebody who leads them to new realities where people can find hope joy
The bishop agrees. The greatest joy in life comes when you make a gift of yourself to others
And that's what a priest does. The motivation for the men who are here is very wholesome and very positive
They really want to serve God's people. That's what brings them here
And at some point on their journey, Jesus touched their lives. As with many young people today, what are you called to
God is a plan for everyone. And he gives a particular call to each of us
and with fewer priests the church has turned more and more to lay people to take on religious
duties in the church deacons helping with sunday mass or administrative jobs and that frees up the
catholic priests to focus more on spiritual duties like marriages and baptisms and funerals and all
the rest of it obviously a huge long-term problem does the vatican and the pope have a plan to sort
of up the numbers of priests well this won't surprise you pope francis wants us all to pray
for more priests, whether you're a Catholic or not. And he sent the message out to parishes all
over the world and here in the United States, asking cardinals and bishops to get the word out
or even to telling families to be brave enough to encourage your son to do something like this
Yeah. Very interesting. All right, Sharon. Thank you