Visiting parents this weekend, the bulletin announced they were ordaining five seminarians -- the most since 2000.  (Local, from the archdiocese -- not counting foreign seminarians.)  Didn't mention how many priests retired or died over the past year.

Dad did mention his cousin, a priest, told him once that when he was ordained, back in the 50s, he had to wait 20 years for a parish of his own.  Now the associate pastor of the cluster, after 3 years, is being given responsibility for two parishes.  And the priest in the parish cluster of hubby's mom has 4 parishes.