No Seminarians in Rhode Island for Fall

According to the New York Post, the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island will have no seminarians for the Fall of 2018.  Father Chris Murphy told WPRI-TV that there will be no new applicants to Our Lady of Providence Seminary. Church officials usually expect about two to six men every year.  However, for the first time in its history, no new applicants will enter in the Fall.  The diocese is not panicking, but is aware that there are many things keeping men from entering the seminary.

Pope Francis himself has blamed scandals and changes in cultural trends as the major culprits for the lack of answered vocations.  A report in 2015 claimed that American seminarians have seen an increase of millennials entering the seminary. Only time will tells as to whether or not Rhode Island will get future applicants and if the trend goes upward.  We must pray for vocations and replies to those vocations.  Many people are called, few are chosen and few answer the call. Today's world is full of so many hardships and the shortage of answered vocations is a fruit of this. 


Source:

https://www.npr.org/2015/09/23/442243849/at-u-s-seminaries-a-rise-in-millennials-answering-gods-call

https://nypost.com/2018/05/23/catholic-seminary-says-it-has-no-applicants-for-fall-program/

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/m/3eb5fbff-d86e-372b-9c49-e6b8d5aa4d25/ss_catholic-seminary-says-it-has.html