While 1974 Catholic population in the archdiocese remained fairly stable, at an approximate figure of 62,000, the number of parishes, seminarians, priests and sisters rose from the figures issued for last year.

The statistics were recently released through the Official Catholic Directory for 1974, published by the firm of P.J. Kennedy & Sons. The figures presented in the annual publication represent the period January 1, 1973 to January 1, 1974.

According to current figures, Catholic school population declined on the elementary school level but showed a small increase on the high school level. A marked decline was noted in those pupils enrolled in religious education programs, both on elementary and high school levels.

In 1974 tally of 4,621 in Catholic elementary schools is a decrease of 262 from the 1973 figure of 4,883. In Catholic high schools the population rose 43, from 1,776 in 1973 to the current figure of 1,819.

The largest drops recorded are in the number of Catholic children enrolled in religious education programs for public high schools and elementary schools. In 1973 some 9,708 elementary students were listed, compared to 8,077 for 1974, a difference of 1,631. On high school tallies, the decline was 1,566 from 3,652 in 1973 to a current figure of 2,086.

Lay teachers in local schools dropped 25 from 225 to 200 this year. Priests teaching full time declined from 19 to 18 and Sisters teaching full time went form 107 to 103.

The number of seminarians studying for the archdiocese rose from 20 to 26 and the total number of priests serving in Atlanta increased from 157 to 176. While the number of diocesan priests increased from 67 to 69, the largest rise was in the number of religious clergy, up 19 from 157 to 176.

The number of sisters serving in the archdiocese increased from 198 to 200.

Atlanta also noted an increase in the number of parishes, going from 38 to 41 with the addition of three new parishes of east Marietta, Peachtree City and Lawrenceville.

The number of Catholic marriages recorded jumped from 680 for 1973 to 756 for 1974, an increase of 76. Increases were also noted in convert baptisms, up 95 from 244 to 339, while infant baptisms declined 48, from 1,634 to 1,586.

Atlanta’s Catholic population represents an approximate 3 percent of the total population of 2,000,000.