Columbus Diocese Vocations Director Fr. Jeff Coning Speaks about Priestly Vocations

How would you describe the current state of priestly vocations in the Columbus Diocese?

I would say that there is good and bad about the present state. We have been increasing the number of seminarians for the Diocese for the last four years and we have a growing group of men who are talented and are seeking holiness. Realistically, we do not have the numbers that the Diocese needs for the number of parishes. We need 28 men ordained every 10 ten years to maintain 112 priests in the Diocese. In the fall of 2008, we will finally have 28 seminarians, but we have too many years without having that number.

What are some positive trends/activities you are seeing with the vocation to the priesthood?

There are many young men who are stepping up to the plate earlier in the process. We have been lucky to have men considering the priesthood right out of high school and enter college seminary as freshman. This is a source of great hope.

What are some ways the Catholic lay faithful can help encourage vocations to the priesthood?

I would suggest two actions. One is pray. And pray for vocations from your family, your parish, and from your Diocese. The other is to suggest to your sons and daughters that they join what God needs them to be with their lives with what they want to do with their lives. Too many young people are just concerned with what they will be doing with their life and not concerned with what they will be.

What is the state of priestly vocations look like in the Diocese 10 years from now?

In the next ten years, with retirements and recruitment, and without planning the sickness and time away, we will have 85 Priests in the Diocese for 107 parishes.

How does the priest shortage in the Columbus Diocese compare to other dioceses around the country?

Every diocese would like to have more priests. Most have found themselves having to look at how to meet the needs of the Catholic faithful with fewer clergy. Some have dealt with the issue, some are experiencing it right now, and others are on the verge of dealing with this issue in the very near future.

Are there more seminarians from small towns or from the Columbus suburbs?

The parish that currently has the largest number of seminarians is St. Mary of the Assumption in Lancaster, Ohio; they will have 6 in the fall. I think that we will find seminarians anywhere we find families that are serious about their faith. When boys grow up in a household where they are secure in their physical well being, and their parents are serious about being teachers of faith, and the family participates in the life of the parish, then God’s call has an opportunity to grow and be heard.

What are the seminarians telling you about their experience in seminary?

The seminarians view seminary as challenging. Seminary is designed to help men discern a potential call to the priesthood, so it challenges them in the area of academics and spirituality. The seminarians like the challenge most days.

What is the drop-out rate in seminary and do you expect this to change?

We think the drop-out rate for college is 50%. We believe that the drop-out rate for Theology (major seminary) is around 10%. We are working to reduce the college drop-out rate. We postulate that some of the collegians drop out because they have figured out that they have not been called to the priesthood, but we think some have dropped out by not being properly supported. We have been developing and implementing a mentoring program for the collegians.

What is the biggest obstacle for religious vocations?

There are two obstacles. One is priests not suggesting young men consider the priesthood. Studies show that priests are very satisfied with their lives, but this is not shared or communicated.  The other obstacle is parents. They have concerns about their sons being priests due to many issues. 

If priests say that they are satisfied being priests, what is it priests enjoy most about their vocation?

I think we enjoy the opportunity to have so much time to pray and that it is an expectation that we are men of prayer. I know that we enjoy the Sacraments and watching people encounter God.  I know that when I get to the Eucharistic Prayer in Mass, I am reminded of how God is the fountain of Grace which always helps to understand that God is most important in our lives.

What would priests change?

We tire of doing what we have not been trained to do which is mainly managing money and people.

How do you address the concerns parents have with their sons becoming priests?

The best way to address the concerns of parents is to answer their questions and to put them around other seminarians and their parents. We all have fears, but we just need to learn that the fears should not stop us from acting.

What is the Vocations Office doing specifically to increase vocations to the priesthood in the Columbus Diocese?

The Office has three goals.  Recruit, support, and foster. The Office recruits by a variety of ways, with the best coming from young men inquiring about the priesthood and we receive leads from priests and youth ministers. We support the seminarians by meeting with them with great regularity. The Office has a web site called www.seekholiness.com and has supported Jesus Jams and lead retreats at Catholic High Schools.

What can parents do if their son or daughter expresses an interest in a religious vocation?

Please help your son to collect as much information as possible so you can assist him to make a decision that is fully informed.  Parents should also support their children in discerning God’s call. Parents are profoundly important to their children’s discernment of a vocation.