By Tink Guthrie
Many changes have taken place in the Archdiocese of Louisville over the past decade. From new programs and ministries to a new Pastoral Center, signs of growth remind us that the Archdiocese must continually evolve in order to faithfully serve our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Perhaps one of the most significant areas of recent change is in the demographics of priests within our Archdiocese. Over the last decade, the number of our internationally-born priests has grown from a very few to the current number of 24, serving more than thirty parishes around our Archdiocese! These priests come to us from all over the world, including India, Uganda, Vietnam, Philippines, South Korea, Mexico, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, and Bolivia. They reflect the growing diversity of the Catholic faithful within our parishes and are passionate in their pastoral ministry to those they serve.
Archbishop Kurtz and Fr. Jeff Shooner (Vicar for Priests) are dedicated to ensuring our relationships with these international dioceses are mutually beneficial through various forms of reciprocal assistance from the Archdiocese of Louisville. While we benefit from the presence of our international presbyterate, it is important to note that three of our own archdiocesan priests are serving the international Catholic communities in India, Tanzania, Zambia, and Australia. What an enriching experience for all involved!
To see where all of our international priests are from, check out the map below! Be sure to zoom-in as necessary to view the color-coded strings and the corresponding map legend in the lower left corner.
