New Survey of Catholic Religious Reveals Statistics on their Lives Leading to a Vocation with 82% having Participated in Eucharistic Adoration
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Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate of Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Report on Women and Men Professing Perpetual Vows in Religious Life: The Profession Class of 2023 (Image Screenshot FB SOLI Sisters)
Executive Summary
This report presents findings from a national survey of women and men religious who professed
perpetual vows in 2023 in a religious institute, province, or monastery based in the United States.
To obtain the names and contact information for these women and men, the Center for Applied
Research in the Apostolate (CARA) contacted all major superiors of men and women religious
institutes in the United States that were identified by the USCCB Secretariat of Clergy,
Consecrated Life and Vocations. Each major superior was asked to provide contact information
for every member of the institute who was scheduled to profess perpetual vows in 2023. CARA
then contacted these men and women religious by e-mail or mail to explain the project and ask
them to complete a brief survey.
After repeated follow-ups, CARA received a response from 508 of 737 major superiors, for an
overall response rate of 69% among religious institutes. In all, the major superiors provided
contact information for 144 members (68 women and 76 men) who professed perpetual vows in
religious life in 2023.
Of these 144 identified women and men religious, a total of 101 religious members - 53 sisters
and 48 brothers and priests - responded to the survey by January 6, 2023. This represents a
response rate of 71% of the 144 potential members of the Profession Class of 2023 that were
reported to CARA by major superiors of men and women religious.
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Report on Women and Men Professing Perpetual Vows in Religious Life: The Profession Class of 2023 (Image Screenshot FB SOLI Sisters)
Executive Summary
This report presents findings from a national survey of women and men religious who professed
perpetual vows in 2023 in a religious institute, province, or monastery based in the United States.
To obtain the names and contact information for these women and men, the Center for Applied
Research in the Apostolate (CARA) contacted all major superiors of men and women religious
institutes in the United States that were identified by the USCCB Secretariat of Clergy,
Consecrated Life and Vocations. Each major superior was asked to provide contact information
for every member of the institute who was scheduled to profess perpetual vows in 2023. CARA
then contacted these men and women religious by e-mail or mail to explain the project and ask
them to complete a brief survey.
After repeated follow-ups, CARA received a response from 508 of 737 major superiors, for an
overall response rate of 69% among religious institutes. In all, the major superiors provided
contact information for 144 members (68 women and 76 men) who professed perpetual vows in
religious life in 2023.
Of these 144 identified women and men religious, a total of 101 religious members - 53 sisters
and 48 brothers and priests - responded to the survey by January 6, 2023. This represents a
response rate of 71% of the 144 potential members of the Profession Class of 2023 that were
reported to CARA by major superiors of men and women religious.
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Major Findings -
Demographic Background
• A total of 508 major superiors (87% of respondents) report that they had no one
professing perpetual vows in 2023. One in ten institutes (9%) had one perpetual
profession. Another 23 major superiors (4%) report from two to 15 members professing
perpetual vows in 2023. In total, the religious institutes report 144 newly perpetually
professed members (68 women and 76 men) in 2023.
• The average age of responding religious of the Profession Class of 2023 is 36. Half of the
responding religious are age 33 or younger. The youngest is 24 and the oldest is 78.
• Three in four responding religious (76%) were born in the United States. On average, the
respondents who were born outside the United States were 19 years old when they first
came to the United States and lived here for 18 years before perpetual profession.
• Two in three responding religious (67%) report their primary race or ethnicity as
Caucasian, European American, or white. One in ten or less identifies as Asian/Pacific
Islander/Native Hawaiian (12%), as Hispanic/Latino(a) (9%), as African/African
American/black (7%), and as mixed race or other (5%).
• Nine in ten responding religious (90%) have been Catholic since birth. Among those who
became Catholic later in life, their average age at the time of their conversion was 24.
Family Background
• Almost all respondents (94%) report that when they were children, they had at least one
parent who was Catholic. Nearly nine in ten (86%) report that both parents were Catholic.
• Three in ten (30%) report having a relative who is a priest or a religious.
• Almost all (99%) respondents were raised by their biological parents during the most
formative part of their childhood. Besides, one in sixteen (7%) report being raised by their
grandparents during the most formative part of their childhood.
• During the most formative part of their childhood, nearly nine in ten (88%) respondents
were raised by a married couple, living together. One in 20 respondents wasraised by one
parent who was divorced or separated. Three percent were raised by one parent who was
single/unmarried. Three percent were raised by an unmarried couple who lived together,
or married couple living separately, or one parent who was widowed.
• Almost all responding religious (97%) of the Profession Class of 2023 have at least one
sibling. About one in five (23%) has one brother or sister. Just over two in five (42%) report
having two or three. A third (32%) have four or more siblings.
• A quarter (26%) of respondents are the eldest in their family. More than four in ten (43%)
of respondents are somewhere in the middle of their family. Three in ten (29%) are the
youngest. Just 3% are the only child in his or her family.
Educational Background
• Half of the responding religious (51%) attended a Catholic elementary school, which is
higher than that for all Catholic adults in the United States (16%). These respondents are
also more likely than other U.S. Catholics to have attended a Catholic high school (46% of
responding religious, compared to 8% of U.S. adult Catholics) and much more likely to
have attended a Catholic college (43% of responding religious, compared to 5% of U.S.
adult Catholics).
• Nearly three in five respondents (57%) participated in a religious education
program/CCD/RCIA in their parish. Almost one in five (18%) reportsthat they participated
in a Catholic ministry formation program before they entered their religious institute.
• Approximately one in six (14%) responding religious reports being home schooled at some
time in their educational background. Among those who were home schooled, the
average length of time they were home schooled was nine years.
• The Profession Class of 2023 is highly educated. Two in ten responding religious (20%)
earned a graduate degree before entering their religious institute. About six in ten (62%)
entered their religious institute with at least a bachelor’s degree.
• Most responding religious did not report that educational debt delayed their application
for entrance to their institute. Among 9% of respondents who did report educational
debt, however, they averaged about less than a year of delay while they paid down an
average of $36,667 in educational debt. Friends and family members are the most
common source of assistance for paying down educational debt.
Work and Ministry Experiences
• About four in five (82%) had work experience prior to entering their religious institute.
More than half (55%) were employed full-time and about a quarter (27%) were employed
part-time before entering their religious institute. Among those who report work
experience, the main work fields are business, education, and healthcare.
• A total of 508 major superiors (87% of respondents) report that they had no one
professing perpetual vows in 2023. One in ten institutes (9%) had one perpetual
profession. Another 23 major superiors (4%) report from two to 15 members professing
perpetual vows in 2023. In total, the religious institutes report 144 newly perpetually
professed members (68 women and 76 men) in 2023.
• The average age of responding religious of the Profession Class of 2023 is 36. Half of the
responding religious are age 33 or younger. The youngest is 24 and the oldest is 78.
• Three in four responding religious (76%) were born in the United States. On average, the
respondents who were born outside the United States were 19 years old when they first
came to the United States and lived here for 18 years before perpetual profession.
• Two in three responding religious (67%) report their primary race or ethnicity as
Caucasian, European American, or white. One in ten or less identifies as Asian/Pacific
Islander/Native Hawaiian (12%), as Hispanic/Latino(a) (9%), as African/African
American/black (7%), and as mixed race or other (5%).
• Nine in ten responding religious (90%) have been Catholic since birth. Among those who
became Catholic later in life, their average age at the time of their conversion was 24.
Family Background
• Almost all respondents (94%) report that when they were children, they had at least one
parent who was Catholic. Nearly nine in ten (86%) report that both parents were Catholic.
• Three in ten (30%) report having a relative who is a priest or a religious.
• Almost all (99%) respondents were raised by their biological parents during the most
formative part of their childhood. Besides, one in sixteen (7%) report being raised by their
grandparents during the most formative part of their childhood.
• During the most formative part of their childhood, nearly nine in ten (88%) respondents
were raised by a married couple, living together. One in 20 respondents wasraised by one
parent who was divorced or separated. Three percent were raised by one parent who was
single/unmarried. Three percent were raised by an unmarried couple who lived together,
or married couple living separately, or one parent who was widowed.
• Almost all responding religious (97%) of the Profession Class of 2023 have at least one
sibling. About one in five (23%) has one brother or sister. Just over two in five (42%) report
having two or three. A third (32%) have four or more siblings.
• A quarter (26%) of respondents are the eldest in their family. More than four in ten (43%)
of respondents are somewhere in the middle of their family. Three in ten (29%) are the
youngest. Just 3% are the only child in his or her family.
Educational Background
• Half of the responding religious (51%) attended a Catholic elementary school, which is
higher than that for all Catholic adults in the United States (16%). These respondents are
also more likely than other U.S. Catholics to have attended a Catholic high school (46% of
responding religious, compared to 8% of U.S. adult Catholics) and much more likely to
have attended a Catholic college (43% of responding religious, compared to 5% of U.S.
adult Catholics).
• Nearly three in five respondents (57%) participated in a religious education
program/CCD/RCIA in their parish. Almost one in five (18%) reportsthat they participated
in a Catholic ministry formation program before they entered their religious institute.
• Approximately one in six (14%) responding religious reports being home schooled at some
time in their educational background. Among those who were home schooled, the
average length of time they were home schooled was nine years.
• The Profession Class of 2023 is highly educated. Two in ten responding religious (20%)
earned a graduate degree before entering their religious institute. About six in ten (62%)
entered their religious institute with at least a bachelor’s degree.
• Most responding religious did not report that educational debt delayed their application
for entrance to their institute. Among 9% of respondents who did report educational
debt, however, they averaged about less than a year of delay while they paid down an
average of $36,667 in educational debt. Friends and family members are the most
common source of assistance for paying down educational debt.
Work and Ministry Experiences
• About four in five (82%) had work experience prior to entering their religious institute.
More than half (55%) were employed full-time and about a quarter (27%) were employed
part-time before entering their religious institute. Among those who report work
experience, the main work fields are business, education, and healthcare.
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• More than eight in ten responding religious (84%) served in one or more specified
ministries before entering their religious institute, either in a paid ministry position or as
a volunteer. The most common ministry experiences reported by respondents were as
altar servers (51%), in youth ministry/campus ministry (50%), in faith formation,
catechetical ministry, RCIA (48%), and as lectors (46%).
• More than nine in ten (93%) participated in one or more religious programs or activities
before entering their religious institute, with the most common ministries being lectors
(55%), altar servers (54%), and youth ministry or youth group (45%). Roughly two-fifths
of respondents served as extraordinary ministers of Communion (42%) and participated
in faith formation, catechetical ministry, RCIA (37%). About a third (35%) participated in
music ministry (34%) and social service ministry.
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Vocational Discernment
• Almost all responding religious of the Profession Class of 2023 (96%) participated in one
or more of these prayer practices or groups on a regular basis prior to entering their
religious institute.
Eight in ten (82%) participated in Eucharistic Adoration.
About seven in
ten respondents (72%) recited the rosary,
ten respondents (72%) recited the rosary,
participated in a retreat (72%), or had spiritual
direction before entering their religious institute (69%).
• On average, respondents report that they were 18 years old when they first considered a
vocation to religious life, with half being 18 or younger when they first did so.
direction before entering their religious institute (69%).
• On average, respondents report that they were 18 years old when they first considered a
vocation to religious life, with half being 18 or younger when they first did so.
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• About eight in ten (82%) responding religious report that someone encouraged them to
consider a vocation to religious life. More than two in five reported being encouraged by
a parish priest (45%). Two in five reported being encouraged by a friend (41%).
• More than half (55%) report that they were discouraged from considering a vocation to
religious life by one or more persons. Women are more likely than men to report being
discouraged from discerning a religious vocation (64% compared with 37% of men
religious).
• On average, respondents report having known the members of their religious institute for
four years before they entered. Almost three-tenths (28%) report being first acquainted
with their institute in/through a sponsored institution or work of the institute (e.g.,
school, hospital). A quarter report being first acquainted with their institute through print
or online promotional material published by the institute (26%).
• Most (94%) had participated in at least one of vocational discernment programs prior to
entering their religious institute. Among the vocation programs and experiences about
which they were asked, respondents are most likely to have participated in a “Come and
See” experience. Nearly four in five (77%) report participating in this program before they
entered their religious institute.
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Sisters of Our Lady Immaculate
Read the Full Report https://www.usccb.org/resources/Report-Profession%20Class%202023-FINAL.pdf
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