More than 400 men will be ordained to the priesthood in the US this year, according to one annual report, and on average they are 33 years old and lifelong Catholics. CARA survey.
The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) released its 2026 national survey of seminarians scheduled for ordination this year. The survey was conducted between February 12 and March 20.
Of the 428 ordinances invited to participate, 334 ordinances responded to the survey for a response rate of 78%. Responding ordinands represent 110 U.S. dioceses and dioceses and 34 religious institutes. Four in five (81%) are preparing for ordination to a diocese or convention, and 19% are preparing for religious institutes.
This report is produced in collaboration with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations and CARA regarding seminarians scheduled for ordination to the priesthood in 2026.
On average, responding ordinands first considered the priesthood when they were 16 and were scheduled for ordination at age 33. The ordinands reported that they had lived in their diocese for 16 years before entering the seminary and had known members of their religious institute for five years.
The majority of 2026 ordinands are white (62%), with others identifying as Hispanic or Latino (17%), Asian or Pacific Islander (11%), and Black or African American (5%). While most respondents reported that they were born in the United States (74%), others said that they were born in Vietnam (5%), Mexico (3%), Colombia (2%), or elsewhere (16%).
While most respondents reported that they were born in the United States, one third (35%) were born abroad and came to live in the US at the age of 22, on average. The most common countries of birth among foreign-born ordinances were Vietnam (5%), Mexico (3%), and Colombia (2%).
Of the men surveyed, 35% attended seminaries in the Midwest, 28% in the Northeast, 19% in the South, 14% in the West, and 5% abroad.
Education
The report found that 11% of responding ordinances received home-schooling at some point in their education and that they received various levels of education. Of respondents, 29% attended high school or less, 19% reported some college or trade school, 39% received an undergraduate degree from college, and 13% received a graduate degree.
Of the respondents who went to undergraduate or graduate school before entering seminary, 22% studied theology or philosophy. Other common fields of study include business (18%), engineering (17%), and science or mathematics (11%).
Nearly half of the ordinands (45%) attended a Catholic elementary school, 38% attended a Catholic high school, and 34% attended a Catholic college. Of all ordinands, 63% also reported participating in religious education in their parish.
prayer practice
When asked about their prayer practices before entering seminary, many ordinands (81%) reported participation in eucharistic adoration. Many also reported praying the rosary (79%), prayer and Bible groups (52%), and Lectio Divina (48%) on a regular basis.
Overall, 93% of ordinands participated in at least one parish ministry before entering seminary. Many reported that they were active in parish life by serving as altar servers (79%), lecturers (49%), campus or youth ministers (34%), or catechists (32%).
The majority of ordinands (92%) were encouraged by at least one person to join the priesthood. For many it was a parish priest (70%), friend (49%), or mother (46%). Some also noted discouraging influences, including from family members (22%) and classmates and friends (17%).
family life
The report found that 4% of respondents had served in the US armed forces, and 12% reported that their parents had a military career in the US.
Most respondents were baptized Catholic in childhood (93%), with only 7% reporting that they became Catholic later in life. The majority of ordains also reported that both of their parents were Catholic (86%).
Most respondents (88%) reported that they were raised by a married couple living together, 97% were raised by both biological parents and 11% were raised by grandparents.
Of the respondents, 28% said they had a relative who was a priest or religious. Most also said they had a brother or sister (96%).
