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Are priestly ordinations rising or falling? Depends on where you are

Nationally, priestly ordination numbers are up from last year, but still lower than they were a decade ago.

Jul 13, 2026

∙ Paid

Priestly ordinations in the United States are up slightly from last year, but are heavily concentrated in certain regions of the country.

According to data gathered and analyzed by The Pillar, of the 342 men ordained to the diocesan priesthood in 2026, a little more than half were ordained in Midwest and Southeast dioceses, despite those dioceses making …

Are priestly ordinations rising or falling? Depends on where you are

Nationally, priestly ordination numbers are up from last year, but still lower than they were a decade ago.

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