Religious Orders: Decline In Numbers
Catholic-Hierarchy.org published charts showing the number of priests and members of the top dozen religious orders since the 1960s. The Jesuits were the first order of the top dozen to have lost more …More
Catholic-Hierarchy.org published charts showing the number of priests and members of the top dozen religious orders since the 1960s.
The Jesuits were the first order of the top dozen to have lost more than half of their members from their high point in 1966 (1966: 36,038; 2011: 17,908 members). They are currently at 14,195 members, down 61% from the all time high. There is no change in the trends since Francis, a Jesuit, became Pope.
Regarding the number of their members, two orders reached that sad milestone in 2016: the Franciscans (now down 55%) and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (now down 54%); and two in 2022: Redemptorists (down 51%) and Vincentians/Lazarists (down 52%).
In terms of priests, only four orders have lost more than half of their priests: the Benedictines are down 54% (early 1970s: 7,058; 2019: 3,420) and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate are down 52% (1967: 5,441; 2021: 2,643).
In 2022 the Jesuits were down 50% (from 21,025 in 1969 to 10,432 priests), now down 51…More
The Jesuits were the first order of the top dozen to have lost more than half of their members from their high point in 1966 (1966: 36,038; 2011: 17,908 members). They are currently at 14,195 members, down 61% from the all time high. There is no change in the trends since Francis, a Jesuit, became Pope.
Regarding the number of their members, two orders reached that sad milestone in 2016: the Franciscans (now down 55%) and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (now down 54%); and two in 2022: Redemptorists (down 51%) and Vincentians/Lazarists (down 52%).
In terms of priests, only four orders have lost more than half of their priests: the Benedictines are down 54% (early 1970s: 7,058; 2019: 3,420) and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate are down 52% (1967: 5,441; 2021: 2,643).
In 2022 the Jesuits were down 50% (from 21,025 in 1969 to 10,432 priests), now down 51…More
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John A Cassani
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I just read the obituary of the last of 4 brothers to pass on, all Jesuit priests. It’s interesting that the Divine Word Missionaries would be doing so well. I only know of one of their retreat houses (at the site of their former minor seminary) that is full of Buddhas and Zen gardens, with priests to match ( if they still have any around). It is very different in Africa, I would guess, because …More
I just read the obituary of the last of 4 brothers to pass on, all Jesuit priests. It’s interesting that the Divine Word Missionaries would be doing so well. I only know of one of their retreat houses (at the site of their former minor seminary) that is full of Buddhas and Zen gardens, with priests to match ( if they still have any around). It is very different in Africa, I would guess, because that has to be where their vocations are coming from.
Ivan Tomas
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Quelle surprise!
"Haec autem omnia initia sunt dolorum. Tunc tradent vos in tribulationem, et occident vos : et eritis odio omnibus gentibus propter nomen meum. Et tunc scandalizabuntur multi, et invicem tradent, et odio habebunt invicem. Et multi pseudoprophetae surgent, et seducent multos. Et quoniam abundavit iniquitas, refrigescet caritas multorum :
qui autem perseveraverit usque in finem, hic …More
Quelle surprise!
"Haec autem omnia initia sunt dolorum. Tunc tradent vos in tribulationem, et occident vos : et eritis odio omnibus gentibus propter nomen meum. Et tunc scandalizabuntur multi, et invicem tradent, et odio habebunt invicem. Et multi pseudoprophetae surgent, et seducent multos. Et quoniam abundavit iniquitas, refrigescet caritas multorum :
qui autem perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit." (Matthew 24, 8-13)
. . .
But, but,... all those who attack the 2VC and the Nervous Ordo, they just don't understand, they misinterpret the "solid faith" that came from that council and their "beautiful liturgy", and their ubermodern teaching that brings us an "abundance of grace"!!!
But we, by God's grace, know better!
LEX ORANDI, LEX CREDENDI, LEX VIVENDI!
"Haec autem omnia initia sunt dolorum. Tunc tradent vos in tribulationem, et occident vos : et eritis odio omnibus gentibus propter nomen meum. Et tunc scandalizabuntur multi, et invicem tradent, et odio habebunt invicem. Et multi pseudoprophetae surgent, et seducent multos. Et quoniam abundavit iniquitas, refrigescet caritas multorum :
qui autem perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit." (Matthew 24, 8-13)
. . .
But, but,... all those who attack the 2VC and the Nervous Ordo, they just don't understand, they misinterpret the "solid faith" that came from that council and their "beautiful liturgy", and their ubermodern teaching that brings us an "abundance of grace"!!!
But we, by God's grace, know better!
LEX ORANDI, LEX CREDENDI, LEX VIVENDI!
Bishop Vigano "To make these good parish priests and religious swallow the indigestible morsel of Vatican II took years and years of re-education and purges,"
Bishop Vigano "T…More
Bishop Vigano "To make these good parish priests and religious swallow the indigestible morsel of Vatican II took years and years of re-education and purges,"
Bishop Vigano "T…
Bishop Vigano "T…
Mary Louise Veritas
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I am sure giving up the habit and the traditional works like education, health care, child care, religious education, etc. had nothing to do with the decline.