Shepherding Future Shepherds (SFS), a national Catholic vocations initiative of the Philadelphia-based International Institute for Culture, has surpassed 100,000 combined social media followers and email subscribers.
The recent milestone reflects growing interest in hopeful stories about priests and meaningful ways Catholics can support priestly vocations and the future of the Church.
That growth comes amid a dearth of priests in the United States. According to data from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, the number of Catholic priests in the U.S. has declined by more than 40 percent since 1970. As dioceses and parishes respond to having fewer priests, Catholics can face reduced access to Mass and the sacraments.
Since launching in 2025, SFS has generated more than 7.8 million views of media content that shows priests in a positive light. The initiative also has built a weekly prayer community of more than 6,100 participants.
These results demonstrate a strong desire for authentic and hopeful stories about priests, as well as practical ways Catholics can help foster a renewed culture of vocations.
“Catholics are eager for authentic stories about priests and meaningful ways to encourage new vocations,” said Matthew A. Haas, program director of Shepherding Future Shepherds. “The generosity of our donors and the support of bishops, priests, Catholic partners, and thousands of people who pray with us each week have made this progress possible. Our next step is to build a bridge from inspiration to discernment so that more men can receive the guidance they need to respond generously to God’s call.”
SFS recently launched a new partnership with Avila Institute’s High Calling Program to engage and support men considering a priestly vocation.
The program will identify and engage men who may be open to priestly discernment, help them consider appropriate next steps, and connect qualified candidates with High Calling and other trusted partners for deeper formation and accompaniment.
The program provides intellectual, spiritual, pastoral, and human formation for men discerning the Catholic priesthood. According to data as of August 2026, 669 men have completed the program and 337 are in seminary formation.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Shepherding Future Shepherds in service to the Church,” said Dr. Joseph Hollcraft, director of the High Calling Program. “Their work is reaching men and families with a hopeful and compelling witness to the priesthood. Together, we can help more men take their initial interest seriously and receive the preparation and support needed to discern the Lord’s call.”
SFS began by addressing public perceptions of the priesthood through true stories of priests whose lives demonstrate the joy, sacrifice, courage, and diversity of Catholic priesthood. Its storytelling platform, ThankAPriest.com, releases a new featured priest story each month.
To date, the initiative has shared 16 priest stories, each highlighting a different background, personality, gift, and path to the priesthood.
Recent stories include Father Scott-Vincent Borba, who left a successful career in Hollywood and the beauty industry; Father Burke Masters, a former baseball player whose love for the Eucharist led him to the Catholic faith and eventually the priesthood; and Father Donald Calloway, whose conversion from addiction, crime, and spiritual confusion led him to become a Marian priest, author, speaker, and vocation director.
“These stories help young men see that God calls all sorts of men to the priesthood,” Haas said. “The priesthood is not a distant ideal from centuries ago. It is a living, holy, and joyful vocation in the Church today.”
Shepherding Future Shepherds uses a four-part strategy to elevate the priesthood, educate Catholics about vocations, engage men who may be open to discernment, and help them embark on a deeper vocational journey through trusted partners and resources.
The High Calling partnership marks the initiative’s expansion from public awareness and inspiration into direct engagement with potential discerners, including referrals to trusted formation and accompaniment.
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