PHOTO BY VU TRAN

ATLANTA—Twenty-six men applied to enter seminary for the Archdiocese of Atlanta this year, the largest incoming class in the archdiocese’s history.

Of those applicants, 20 have been accepted, a milestone vocations leaders say reflects years of intentional work to cultivate a stronger culture of discernment, strengthen priestly formation and encourage young men to consider the call to the priesthood.

“It’s a product of people’s prayers, a product of a lot of hard work from my team and from the support of the priests and the bishops,” said Father Rey Pineda, director of vocations for the Archdiocese of Atlanta about the record-breaking class. “I think that we’re starting to see the fruit that is being born from saying (the call) is not just an event or a movement or one-off thing.”

The record number is more than a statistic, said Father Gerardo Ceballos, priest secretary to the archbishop, director of the Office of Divine Worship and associate vocations director.

“Numbers are great, but I think the hope is even bigger than the numbers,” he said.

Father Pineda said that all but one of the accepted seminarians grew up in Atlanta. They attended local schools, worshipped in local parishes and were formed within the communities they now hope to serve. For him, this is an encouraging sign for the Church.

“There was a time where it was absolutely necessary … to bring priests from elsewhere because there was a need,” he said.

Now, “the sons of Atlanta are coming forward.”

According to both priests, the increase is not the result of one initiative but of years of growth across the archdiocese, and a combination of multiple changes.

One of the developments has been a renewed approach to seminary formation.

While priestly formation has always included human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral dimensions, recent changes in seminary education place greater emphasis on forming the whole person.

Rather than measuring progress primarily through academic milestones, seminarians now advance through stages of formation that emphasize individual growth, spiritual maturity and readiness for ministry alongside theological study.

“Changing the language of (formation) is changing the culture of how we’re forming men,” he said. “Even though the academics are important, these men notice that they’re being formed entirely. They notice their own gifts and flourish from it.”

Father Pineda said earlier generations often expected much of a man’s human formation to come from his upbringing. Today’s approach recognizes the need to intentionally cultivate those qualities throughout seminary.

“It just sets the tone for the most growth and healing, and for the man to become truly who God is calling him to become so that he can serve,” he said.

Another significant change has been the emphasis on community.

Rather than discerning largely on their own, seminarians now journey alongside one another through the process, building friendships and learning from one another.

Father Ceballos said this approach has contributed to stronger relationships, which he hopes will lead to healthier future priests.

“When you put these guys together, they feel not only that they are not alone, but they feel even more the Holy Spirit working through them,” he said.

Seminarians have also extended their communal approach into the parishes they serve in the summer. Parishioners have become familiar with them, making conversations about priesthood a normal part of parish life.

This “culture of vocations,” has normalized religious life and contributed to its growth, said Father Ceballos.

“It shouldn’t be something surprising for people in their parishes that there are men and women called to religious life and to the priesthood,” Father Ceballos said. “It should be normal, and that is what the culture of vocations should create.”

Father Pineda believes today’s seminarians are entering formation with greater support and resources than ever before, equipping them to become healthy, integrated priests capable of strengthening parish communities.

Looking ahead, both priests hope Catholics see the record class not simply as a milestone, but as a sign of the Holy Spirit’s continued work in the local church.

“I’m just seeing these guys with a different quality that is really beautiful,” Father Pineda said. “And I just can’t wait for the rest of the church to see it as well.”