The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will see Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez ordain the largest class of new priests since 2003 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul on Saturday, May 16 at 10 a.m.
The Ordination Mass will be streamed live on the archdiocesan Vimeo page, by St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, and on the Facebook page of Archbishop Pérez and of the seminary.
Eight men will enter the priesthood that day, the highest total of new priests in 23 years, according to data compiled by CatholicPhilly. That is the highest total since nine priests were ordained in 2003.
Those to be ordained are Rev. Mr. Charles H. Cappelli, Rev. Mr. Thomas G. Cipolla, Rev. Mr. Declan J. Cole, Rev. Mr. Alexander B. Cross, Rev. Mr. Michael J. Gokie, Rev. Mr. Dominic W. Mirenda, Rev. Mr. Jude U. Opara and Rev. Mr. Griffen T. Schlaepfer.
The figure reflects a growing trend showcasing Philadelphia’s strength in the number of priests and seminarians in the area compared to other major dioceses in the United States.
This year’s ordination class surpasses the group of five men who were ordained for service last year, and equals the combined total of 2025 and 2024, which saw three priests ordained.
The class this year also reflects an increasing trend in the number of priests ordained over a span of time in Philadelphia.
Between 2022 and 2026, 29 priests have been ordained for Philadelphia. That is the highest total in a five-year span since 1999 through 2003, when 33 men were priests were ordained.
The State of Priestly Vocations Report (SPVR), produced by the Houston, Texas-based organization Vocation Ministry, also shows that 4.9 priests were ordained on average per year for Philadelphia between 2015 and 2024. The 2026 total is a 63 percent increase over that trend.
A study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) by Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. shows that the total number of priests being ordained across the United States this year is above 400, similar to last year.
That study showed, however, particular growth in priestly ordinations in the Northeast. Among all diocesan ordinations this year in the United States, 30 percent come from seminaries in our region, the largest total since at least 2018.
The SPVR also shows that the Archdiocese is in one of the strongest positions among the 21 dioceses across the U.S. with at least 750,000 Catholics when it comes to the number of priests per parishioner.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia had one priest for every 3,329 Catholics in the area from 2015-24, with just five priests ordained per year on average in Philadelphia in that time span.
Only the Archdioceses of Newark (2,682) and New York (3,030) had fewer parishioners per priest in that 10-year period.
Only six dioceses or archdioceses — Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Detroit, Newark, and Philadelphia — have averaged ordinations of at least 40 percent of what the report terms a diocese’s numerical “need” for priests, while having one priest for every 4,000 or fewer parishioners between 2015 and 2024.
The report says that the lower numbers of parishioners per priest means that the faithful have greater access to priests for individual spiritual needs. The relationships between priests and parishioners can foster priestly vocations, according to the study.
The SPVR study concludes that those six dioceses are in the best position among the largest in the U.S. for encouraging future vocations.
In this light, the Philadelphia Archdiocese may be among the most prepared dioceses to withstand the challenges expected to come as priests from the baby boomer generation retire or pass away.
The eight new priests to be ordained May 16 promise to strengthen this local Church through their ministry for many years to come.
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