Kenrick enrollment is stable following ‘significant increase’

Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

Seminarian Chris Aubuchon of Jefferson City worked in the computer lab at St. Mary’s, the temporary home of the Seminary.

Enrollment at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, the seminary of the St. Louis Archdiocese, is stable, with 113 current seminarians, said president-rector Father John Horn, SJ.

"We are stable, with relatively the same numbers, following a significant dramatic increase in recent years. In the last few years we have had between 110-120 seminarians enrolled," Father Horn said. Enrollment was at a 20-year high in 2010, according to seminary records.

For more than 100 years, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary has prepared men to be priests for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, as well as other dioceses and religious orders. More than 2,700 Kenrick-Glennon alumni have been ordained priests.

Of the 113 current seminarians, 93 are in Kenrick School of Theology; 27 of those are preparing for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. There are 20 men in Cardinal Glennon College, of which 12 are preparing for the St. Louis Archdiocese. There are also three theology seminarians for the St. Louis Archdiocese attending the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Kenrick-Glennon Seminary is in Shrewsbury, but the seminary faculty and students are off campus this year, as renovations and construction, funded by the successful Faith for the Future campaign, continues at the seminary. That campaign was prompted in part by the growth in enrollment at the seminary. Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, in a letter in the seminary publication "The Herald," wrote, "We are also blessed to have an abundance of seminarians."

"Our numbers here are stable," Father Horn repeated, "and we are hopeful there will be a slight increase. But we are rejoicing in the quality of the men and in the numbers nationwide. We are asking people to continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood."

Father Christopher Martin, director of the archdiocesan Office of Vocations, urged any young men considering a vocation to the priesthood to contact him. "This is a very exciting time to be studying for the priesthood and a very exciting time in particular in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, with the renovations at the seminary and the new rector (Father Horn became president-rector effective July 1), and all the things that are going on.

"Anyone with any questions or concerns about a vocation to the priesthood, or even just general inquiries, can call me at (314) 768-1751," Father Martin said.