Something is going on in the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, something that should give us hope for the future of Catholicism.
Vocations to the priesthood have skyrocketed. In the past 15 years, 51 men have been ordained. Twenty-five more are in the seminary. During this 15- year period, the median age of priests has fallen from 65 to an amazing 49 years old.
“Here in Arkansas, we’ve promoted vocations across the board in the life of the Church and created a culture of vocations in our parishes, in our youth programs, in our schools,” said Bishop Anthony Taylor of the Diocese of Little Rock, pictured below pointing to a composite photo of the diocese’s seminarians. “And our young men have responded.”
To grasp how stunning these numbers are, the nation’s largest archdioceses with millions of Catholics would have to ordain more than 1,000 priests in the same 15-year period to keep pace with the Diocese of Little Rock. No diocese in the nation has exceeded 200 ordinations in that time frame, according to the Official Catholic Directory.
Little Rock, a statewide diocese, was founded on the same day as the Archdioceses of Chicago and Milwaukee. Yet Catholics there are still only 5 percent of the total population. The number of vocations is not just what’s impressive. The strength of those ordained is what’s most powerful.
Quality of the clergy
Fathers Stephen Hart, Mauricio Carrasco, Stephen Gadberry and seminarian Chase Feltner are among those who have come through the ranks in the past 15 years. They have a lot in common. They are smart, fit, focused, affable, articulate and easy to be around. They are, for lack of a better term, joyful.
Father Hart has been a priest for five years and has served growing faith communities across the state of Arkansas, such as Holy Spirit Catholic Church, pictured below.
He currently covers two parishes. He talks with such enthusiasm about his faith communities that one gets the impression he could handle many more. He doesn’t complain about the mileage but rather focuses on how hungry for the Gospel his people are and how great the harvest is. They are his fuel.
Father Carrasco is the old man of the group. He has been ordained for 11 years and covers four parishes.
He talks about the “holy inclusivity” of his parishes where diversity is a treasure. This is just not lip service—it’s his playbook.
It’s also the playbook of the Little Rock diocese. All seminarians and priests are required to learn Spanish so they may better serve the growing Hispanic population coming to the area for jobs in agriculture, logging, meatpacking and many other labor-intensive industries. This inclusivity—where not only all are welcome, but all feel at home in the Church—is revitalizing the diocese. Five new parishes have been started in the past 15 years.
Father Gadberry is a ninja warrior. That is no metaphor. He appeared on the TV show “American Ninja Warrior” in 2018 and 2020 wearing his clergy shirt and Roman collar as he traversed the obstacles in front of a national audience. Now he trains in his home gym, pictured below.
When he was introduced at his first parish, Father Gadberry walked down the main aisle on his hands. The ushers and altar servers were mightily impressed. His priestly ministry makes him feel most alive. God is truly present beneath, between and beyond him.
Chase Feltner, a seminarian, is also a cross-country and track and field star. In fact, he (along with his dad) is in the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame, so “Chase” is the perfect name for him.
His family runs Feltner Brothers, a well-known and loved hamburger restaurant in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Feltner was all set to “run” and grow the family business, but something nagged at him. For seven years he struggled to know where he was being called. The notion of becoming a priest stayed with him and would not go away. He says that eventually the Lord outran him. Now he is in the seminary, trying to figure out what course the Lord has set for him.
Success breeding success
The vocations of all these men are contagious. Their camaraderie is deeply moving. One wants to be with them on their journey. They are living proof that the best recruitment strategy for new vocations to the priesthood is to have happy priests, priests who are in love with their ministry, priests who exude the infallible joy of God’s presence.
These priests will be followed by more. Presently, the diocese has 25 seminarians. Catholic Extension Society has proudly supported these priests and seminarians over the years, as well as the missions and churches where they came of age. More young people—whose pulses quicken when they hear the Gospel, whose hearts burn within them when they follow Jesus, whose souls yearn for the adventure of priesthood—will follow.
So, it turns out, the explosion of vocations in the Diocese of Little Rock is due to young people coming to understand St. Ignatius’ idea that God is surely found in “that which makes you feel the most alive.” In other words, happiness and following God’s will are not mutually exclusive.
Catholic Extension Society is a nonprofit organization that builds up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities in the poorest regions of America. Our support of seminarian education in dioceses across the country is made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors. Please consider supporting our mission!
