Adjusted figures show fewer in lay ministry formation

Published: 2005-03-31

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Raw figures from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate suggest a significant enrollment drop in U.S. lay ecclesial ministry formation programs over the past two years, but CARA said the apparent decline was due to changes in its counting methods. It counted nearly 19,000 people studying for graduate degrees or certificates in lay ecclesial ministry formation programs in 2004-05. Two years earlier, when CARA counted everyone enrolled in such programs, including those not seeking certificates or degrees, it counted more than 36,000 students. CARA, based at Georgetown University in Washington, gathers data yearly on enrollment in formation programs for lay ministry, permanent diaconate and priesthood. A report on those data, along with detailed information on all the formation programs across the country, will be published in the 2005 CARA Catholic Ministry Formation Directory, which is due to appear in May. CARA gave Catholic News Service a prepublication copy of the report.

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