Which Religious Order is the fastest growing on a percentage basis?

I'm not baiting, just researching.

Does anyone know?

God bless,

-- john placette (jplacette@catholic.org), November 12, 2003

Answers

John, I don't think that the numbers are published for all orders and congregations -- making it impossible to arrive at a certain answer. You could probably write to each of a few dozen and see what they tell you.

You can be deceived, though, by what is "fastest growing on a percentage basis. What I suspect is true is this:
(1) The fastest-growing, in terms of percentage, are some new and small institutes. If they have 20 now and gain 5 in a year, that is a whopping 25% increase.
(2) The slowest-growing, in terms of percentage, are some old, large institutes. If they have 20,000 now and gain 200 in a year, that is only a 1% increase -- BUT ... they attracted 40 times as many people as the new and small one mentioned in point #1. See what I mean?

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), November 12, 2003.

Glad you posted that because i get enough math in oneday.....

KeV

-- kevin wisniewski (kez38spl@charter.net), November 12, 2003.

I'm joining the Redemptorists next year - you can add one more to their number, if that helps!

Enjoying the forum

Franc

-- Franc (francois.de-fleuriot@unilever.com), November 13, 2003.

John G, You're right on the math.

What I'm interested in learning is: Is there one particular Religious Order or charism that seems to be growing faster right now?

Is any particular Order seemingly attracting more people than another?

In doing some research, I'm a little surprised that the Orders seem to be growing in vocations while the diocesan priesthood is not.

Does anyone find that this is a trend?

Of just pure subjective speculation on my part?

God bless,

-- john placette (jplacette@catholic.org), November 13, 2003.

In too much of a hurry... should have said.

Does anyone find this to be a trend?

Or just pure subjective speculation on my part?

Sorry.

God bless,

-- john placette (jplacette@catholic.org), November 13, 2003.

In too much of a hurry... should have said.

Does anyone find this to be a trend?

Or, just pure subjective speculation on my part?

Sorry.

God bless,

-- john placette (jplacette@catholic.org), November 13, 2003.

I beleave that is the case i cannot back that up with numbers... If iam wrong iam sure someone can correct that.

KeV

-- Kevin Wisniewski (Kez38spl@charter.net), November 13, 2003.

Hi, John P.

I really don't know for sure. Up until recently, I would have said that the diocesan priesthood was in much better shape -- because the numbers of religious priests fell precipitously after 1970 -- but the religious may now have turned the corner. I'm just not sure. I believe that information of this kind is in Our Sunday Visitor's "Catholic Almanac" -- the printed version, if not the online version. My most recent printed version is a decade old, I'm afraid.

As in the case of women's religious institutes, those for men that are definitely growing are the ones that are orthodox and obedient to the pope -- for example, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (Fr. Benedict Groeschel's congregation).

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), November 15, 2003.