Perceptions of Success and Failure Among Aging Catholic Priests

Since the late 1960s demographic data have decreased for the number of functioning Catholic priests in the United States. These demographic trends portray the average American Catholic priest in 1970 to be 35 years old, whereas the mean age of the U.S. Catholic priest in 2009 was 63. With fewer priests in ministry and most middle aged or older, this study investigated priests' perceptions of success and failure in their lives. Overall, these priests measured success by the history of their ministry, the quality of their spiritual lives, and the friendships in which they have invested.