The St. Joseph College Seminary community celebrated the graduation of seven seminarians in 2024 – six from the Echo class and one from the Golf class. (Provided file photo)CHARLOTTE — The number of men studying for the priesthood for the Diocese of Charlotte has tripled in the past decade, creating a greater need for funding to support our 45 seminarians.
The Seminarian Education Collection taken up in all parishes at Easter, April 19-20, is one of the primary ways people can support seminarians and foster vocations to help meet the growing need for priests to serve the growing Catholic population.
There has been remarkable growth in the diocese: a 26% increase, from 58,500 registered households in 2010 to 73,700 in 2020. Diocesan officials projected that the number of registered households will soon reach 86,800.
“For the past 27 years, the Seminarian Education Campaign has given faithful Catholics the opportunity to invest in the lives and ministry of our future priests,” said Bishop Michael Martin in his letter to the faithful.
In the past decade, 29 priests have retired. Fifteen priests are already serving beyond the retirement age of 70. In the next 10 years, another 28 priests are expected to reach retirement age.
“Your financial gift will help prepare each of our young men to serve as priests in our diocese for an average of 40 years,” Bishop Martin wrote. “By contributing to the formation of our future priests, you are helping to ensure that the sacraments, spiritual guidance, and the light of Christ continue to reach every corner of our growing diocese.”
The Seminarian Education Program, in which 18 men are currently enrolled at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly and 24 men are either enrolled in major seminary at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary or in Rome and three are in a pastoral year, is primarily funded through the annual Diocesan Support Appeal, the Seminarian Education Campaign and this collection.
— Catholic News Herald
Support seminarian education
There are several ways to make a gift to fund the education of the diocese’s seminarians through the Seminarian Education Collection:
- Use the envelope provided in your parish offertory packet
- Make a gift online at your parish’s website, if available
- Make a secure gift online at www.charlottediocese.org/donate (click on Seminarian Education)