In 1996 and again in 2001, the Diocese commissioned a study to project the number of non-retired diocesan priests who would be available for ministry through 2025.  The results of the baseline projection from the 2001 study is shown below.  The number of diocesan priests is projected to decline from the 2003 total of 129 to 62 by 2025.  Even with a gradually doubling of the number of ordinations from the recent 15 over ten years to 30 over ten years, the 2025 projection increases to 73, a small but relatively important difference by 2025.

In addition to these projections, pastoral planning has made projections of the total number of priests (including externs, order priests in diocesan assignments, and retired priests who have accepted ongoing assignments) over the next ten years.  These projections assume retirement at 67 but do not include any mortality, resignations, or disability.  These projections indicate a decline from the current total of 168 non-retired priests to 135 by 2009 and 116 by 2014.

Pastoral Planning also made projections of the implications of these decreases on the types of assignments for priests over the next five and ten years.  These projections indicate that the major challenge will be the loss of experienced priest pastors.