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Will American pope spark involvement successful priesthood?
Columbus, Ohio — At St. Joseph Cathedral successful Columbus, Ohio, being connected the altar feels momentous for Joseph Rolwing.
He's 27 years aged and a Catholic deacon, who is acceptable to beryllium ordained arsenic a Catholic clergyman connected Saturday.
Rolwing studied astatine the Pontifical College Josephinum successful Columbus. It is the lone seminary extracurricular of Italy that is governed by the Vatican.
"I was a mean precocious schooler, played sports, did it all," Rolwing said. "I ne'er thought that I would beryllium doing this. But the Lord had different plans."
In precocious schoolhouse helium began questioning his faith. Then successful college, helium felt the call.
"'Did you perceive a voice? Did you spot a motion successful the sky?' No, but I was…praying, this rosary overwhelmed with this question of peace," Rolwing said.
Rolwing's calling comes arsenic the Catholic Church successful the U.S. faces a superior clergyman shortage. Between 1970 and 2024, the fig of priests fell by much than 40%, from 59,192 to 33,589, according to numbers from Georgetown's Center for Applied Research successful the Apostolate, oregon CARA.
The interaction has besides been felt successful Columbus, wherever 15 churches are slated to close.
"We've benignant of made up for immoderate gaps successful the clergyman shortage by bringing successful missionary priests from different countries, but besides priests from antithetic spiritual orders," said Bishop Earl Fernandes, who leads the Columbus Diocese.
About 1 successful 4 Catholic priests successful the U.S. is foreign-born, according to CARA.
Under President Trump's immigration crackdown, galore could soon beryllium forced to permission unless peculiar visas for spiritual workers are extended. New bipartisan legislation was introduced successful the Senate past month, known arsenic the Religious Workforce Protection Act, designed to support foreign-born spiritual workers from deportation.
To enlistee much priests successful Columbus, determination are retreats and monthly dinners for those considering the priesthood.
The fig of caller seminarians astatine Pontifical College has grown from 17, two-and-a-half years ago, to 40 this year.
Local Catholic leaders anticipation the predetermination of Pope Leo XIV, the archetypal ever American pope, volition service arsenic an inspiration.
"I person ne'er been happier than I americium close now, connected the cusp of becoming a priest, having made each of these promises: ne'er get married, and ne'er to bash these things, it doesn't marque immoderate consciousness successful the eyes of the world," Rolwing said. "But I've answered this call, and by far, it's the champion determination I've ever made."
Elaine Quijano is simply a play mornings anchor for CBS New York and a analogous for CBS News and Stations, contributing to each CBS News, Stations and Streaming.
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