Our Priests By The Numbers
- Denver Catholic Staff
- Jul 24
- 2 min read
For years, we've spoken at length in the United States of a "priest shortage," noting that many dioceses and archdioceses do not have enough clergy to serve the Catholic population in their area.
In Northern Colorado — from the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains, from Fort Collins to the Denver Metro — that need is just as great.
The numbers don't lie:
The Archdiocese of Denver spans about 40,000 square miles and serves about 600,000 Catholics.
There are only 148 archdiocesan priests in active ministry.
The Archdiocese of Denver has 148 parish locations.
Current active archdiocesan priest levels would leave one priest per parish location, each serving an average 270 square miles of territory and an average 4,054 Catholics.
A few more statistics for us to consider:
Currently, 37% of those 148 parish locations are served by only one priest.
This percentage would be much higher were it not for the generous priests from other parts of the country and world who make up for our shortfall of vocations.
A minority (49%) of the priests in the Archdiocese of Denver were ordained for the Archdiocese.
Only 14% of archdiocesan priests were born in Colorado.
40% of archdiocesan parish locations offer Mass in Spanish — making the need for bicultural and bilingual priests all the greater.
In short, we need priests.
We need more good, holy, happy, healthy priests.
We need a culture of vocations.
But there are signs for hope:
The Archdiocese's recent Called By Name initiative saw 900 names submitted — more than any other archdiocese that has run the campaign thus far.
More than 20 men will enter formation for the diocesan priesthood in the upcoming academic year — the largest class in recent memory.
The 2024-2025 academic year saw a 16% increase in the number of seminarians, rising to 65 men from 56 in the 2023-2024 academic year.
Even still, there's more to be done. Whether you're a bishop, priest, deacon, sister, brother, nun, layman or laywoman, we have work to do!
Pray for vocations, asking the Lord of the harvest to bring forth laborers into his vineyard.
Pray for the men who were nominated as part of the Called By Name campaign, that their hearts might be open to whatever the Lord has in store for him.
Pray for our priests, that they might continue to be holy and joy-filled witnesses to the Gospel to all those they serve so generously and self-sacrificially.
Invite young men in your parish communities, schools, families, workplaces and friend groups to consider what God has planned for their lives.
