Priest Shortage is Global, as "Sending" Countries Face Their Own Priest Shortage: "But relying on international priests comes with risks — visa issues, cultural challenges, and shifting global needs as many 'sending' countries face their own growth and pastoral demands — forcing staffing to be redesigned in real time."

What is God doing to His Church?

Ireland and such places in Europe once sent out an abundance of missionary priests.  But no more.

Places like Poland and the Philippines were also described as the "New Ireland" once abundant with priests to export.  But, like Ireland and Europe, are they no more the "New Irish" with ready priests to export to the West?  Do the Vietnamese, Indians and Africans now take that title?

The "sending countries" themselves are feeling a priest shortage strain.  

Consider that in the USA/Europe, there is 1 priest per 1,700 or so Catholics.  And there is already a priest shortage in the USA/Europe with those numbers.  In the world, it is about 1 priest per 3,000 Catholics.

But in places like the Philippines, there is 1 priest per 7,000 or so Catholics.  And in Manila it's actually something like 1 priest per 20,000 Catholics!

Poland, land of St. John Paul the Great, is importing priests from Africa and shutting down several Polish seminaries.

Now, Africa and parts of Asia like India and Indonesia are full of seminarians.  Over 60% of the world's seminarians are from Africa and Asia.  So people say, "Look to Africa and Asia" for priests to send to the West.

Until...

You hear reports that even Africa herself feels the priest strain.  In Europe, there is 1 priest for every 1700 Catholics or so.  But in Africa there is 1 priest per 5,000 or so.  And in the Amazon in South America, the situation is WORSE than Africa.  Latin America averages 1 priest per 7,000 Catholics.  And it doesn't stop with the Amazon or Latin America.  There are places worse than these!

Cardinal Besungu said that the Congo is like the Amazon with its priest shortage situation.(1)  The priest shortage isn't just a country here and there, in this local Church or in that local Church; the priest shortage is global.

So what gives?  What is God doing to His Church?  

The Church has been through so many crises before, yet she still stands because she is from the Lord.

For now, what's clear is that places once teeming with priestly vocations to send abroad are themselves feeling their own priest shortage crunch.  Or if they don't feel it now, they will feel it.  "But relying in international priests comes with risks — visa issues, cultural challenges, and shifting global needs as many "sending" countries face their own growth and pastoral demands — forcing staffing to be redesigned in real time."(2)  Sending countries, like Africa and Asia, feel or will feel the priest shortage.

Jesus said that the harvest is ready and the laborers are few; ask the master of the harvest to send out more laborer.  And so we turn to prayer:

God of the harvest, Lord of Heaven and Earth, we praise Your for the wonders of the holy priesthood.  Send laborers, then, into your vineyard; grant we beseech Thee, to give us shepherds after the Heart of Your Son.  Grant us priests to feed the Flock.  Through the intercession of the Holy Theotokos, Our Lady of the Clergy, raise up priests to administer the Sacraments and Mysteries for love of and the salvation for Your People.  We ask this in the Name of Jesus, Your Son, Our Lord.  Amen.

(1)https://marriedpriesthood.blogspot.com/2026/10/cardinal-fridolin-ambongo-besungu-is.html?m=1

(2)"https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/revival-pews-crisis-altar-why-churches-closing-amid-catholic-comeback?fbclid=IwY2xjawU5zptleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzQwOTk2MjYyMzA4NTYwOQABHr13KPeMdq5Dn_z0VjTYpbEkiUx2KRonN0cbIS-7kDiKT8fl5ukL6IWO4Osc_aem_0NqMHlS0A_5eYQESRXMWOA