Priests-in-training are getting older

The Catholic Church priesthood shortage is being alleviated by men embarking on second careers, who bring special wisdom -- and challenges.
By Melanie Lefkowitz, Newsday
May 4, 2008

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. -- For Robert Holz, the question always lingered.He'd worked as an accountant for nearly two decades. He was basically happy. He was 40 years old.

Still, the question was there.

"Is God calling me? Or not?" he said.

Partly because he felt unfulfilled, partly in hopes of resolving that nagging question, Holz quit his job and inquired about becoming a priest. He has spent much of the last five years within the yellow brick walls of the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, a sprawling estate on Long Island Sound where peaceful days are marked by tolling bells.

"The idea of the future is a lot bigger now," said Holz, now 47 and in his final seminary year. the rest