U.S. records more Latino ordinations than ever in 2022

The report also suggests that the demand for Spanish-speaking priests is on the rise.

A survey of this year’s U.S. ordination class is highlighting an increase of incoming priests of Latino heritage. The research, conducted by Georgetown’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), found that 22% of the newly ordained were Latino, the highest portion ever recorded in the states. 

The report found that about one in four (26%) of U.S. priests ordained in 2022 are foreign born. Of this figure the most common country of origin is Mexico (6%), followed by Vietnam (4%). The average age that foreign-born ordinates entered seminary was 22, after having lived in the U.S. for an average of 13 years.