A survey conducted between February 12 and March 20 by an American non-profit research centre at Georgetown University has provided insights into the some 400 men who are expected to be ordained to the Catholic priesthood across the United States in 2026. The report offers a detailed snapshot of the next generation of clergy entering ministry.
The findings were released by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate in collaboration with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The annual study surveyed seminarians scheduled for ordination this year and is widely regarded as the most comprehensive statistical overview of priestly vocations in the country.
Of the 428 men invited to participate, 334 responded, representing 110 dioceses and eparchies and 34 religious institutes. Four in five respondents – 81 per cent – are preparing for diocesan ministry, while 19 per cent are entering Religious life. The average age of ordinands is 33, with most reporting that they first considered the priesthood in their mid-teens, typically around the age of 16.
The report indicates that the majority of those preparing for ordination remain lifelong Catholics. Ninety-three per cent said they were baptised in infancy, and 86 per cent reported that both parents were Catholic. Most also described stable family backgrounds: 88 per cent said they were raised by married parents living together, and 97 per cent reported being raised by both biological parents.
Demographically, the group reflects both continuity and gradual diversification within the Church in the United States. Sixty-two per cent of respondents identified as white, while 17 per cent identified as Hispanic or Latino, 11 per cent as Asian or Pacific Islander, and 5 per cent as Black or African American. Although nearly three-quarters were born in the United States, more than a third – 35 per cent – were born abroad, most commonly in Vietnam, Mexico and Colombia, before immigrating to the United States at an average age of 22.
Educational backgrounds varied widely. Thirty-nine per cent had completed an undergraduate degree before entering seminary, and 13 per cent had obtained graduate-level qualifications. Among those who pursued higher education, theology and philosophy were the most common fields of study, followed by business, engineering and the sciences. A smaller proportion – 11 per cent – reported being home-schooled at some stage of their education.
The survey also highlighted the importance of parish involvement in fostering vocations. Ninety-three per cent of respondents said they had participated in at least one parish ministry before entering seminary. The most common roles included serving as altar servers, lectors, youth ministers or catechists. Many also reported strong devotional practices prior to seminary formation, with 81 per cent participating in Eucharistic adoration and 79 per cent regularly praying the Rosary.
Encouragement from clergy and family members played a significant role in vocational discernment. Ninety-two per cent of respondents said at least one person had encouraged them to consider the priesthood, most frequently a parish priest, friend or parent. At the same time, a minority reported experiencing discouragement from relatives or peers, reflecting the broader cultural pressures often faced by those considering Religious life.
Church leaders in the United States have closely monitored vocation trends in recent decades amid declining Mass attendance in some regions and ongoing demographic change. While the number of priestly ordinations remains lower than in the mid-20th century, recent surveys have suggested relative stability in annual ordination figures since the early 2000s, alongside continued interest in priesthood among younger Catholics.
The 2026 report is expected to inform diocesan planning and seminary formation programmes in the years ahead, offering insight into the backgrounds, motivations and pastoral readiness of the men preparing to serve in parishes across the country.
