As the Parish of Sts. Peter and Paul in Muskat, Oman, celebrate the 50th Anniversary with the Apostolic Vicar of Saudi Arabia, a priest shortage worse than other parts of the world.
There are varying estimates of the number of baptized Catholics served but the more conservative estimate means 1 priest serves about 9,000 Catholics. This ratio is higher than places like the Amazon, Latin America or the Caribbean with somewhat similar statistics.
There is 1 diocesan priest and 0 seminarians, but thankfully the 10 Religious Priests, mainly the Conventual Franciscans (OFM Conv.), provide the bulk of the Sacraments and Masses to the Faithful.
Hopefully, the Conventual Franciscans are not experiencing a priest decline.
If course, this doesn't factor in the Sisters and Catechists and others that serve the area.
How is this sustainable? Is it simply tolerated that there are not enough priests?
25 Catholic centers which consist of 4 parishes and 21 mission stations. Only 1 of those 21 missions has a resident priest, as of now.
The status quo continues.
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100,000-150,000 Catholics
11 priests (as of Nov. 2026), of which 1 is a diocesan priest & 10 Religious Priests; 0 seminarians
4 parishes & 21 mission stations
https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/OM
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