Many men’s religious orders in the U.S. are facing a decline in vocations, with some communities at risk of closure. In 2023, only 153 men entered religious formation across over 200 men’s religious communities in the U.S. Religious vocations directors are challenged in promoting religious life, despite the current leadership of an American pope. The Augustinian Midwest province, facing a lack of ordinations, implemented a new strategy to promote vocations by inviting young men to community events.
5 months ago
The landscape of religious vocations in the United States presents a mixed picture, with a general decline in men entering religious orders but notable growth in specific regions and communities. In 2023, only 153 men entered religious formation across more than 200 men’s religious communities in the U.S., a significant drop from decades past when religious men outnumbered diocesan priests 1. For instance, the number of men entering the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in the U.S. has halved in two decades, from 56 in 2004 to 26 in 2024 1. Overall, between 2014 and 2023, ordinations for diocesan priests fell by 22%, and total seminarians decreased by 23% nationwide 2.
Despite the national decline, some areas are experiencing a boom in priestly vocations, particularly in the Midwest and the South 2. The Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota, leads the nation with one ordination for every 4,038 Catholics, significantly outperforming the national average of 38,487 Catholics per ordination 2. Other strong performing dioceses are found in the Great Plains (e.g., Lincoln, Wichita) and the South (e.g., Jackson, Nashville, Lafayette) 2.
Conversely, historically Catholic regions like the Southwest and the urban Northeast are struggling, with 15 of the bottom 25 dioceses for ordinations located in the Southwest 2. The data also reveals a clear urban-rural divide, with rural dioceses consistently outperforming urban ones in vocations per capita 2. Large metropolitan areas, such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, are among the lowest in ordinations per capita 2.
Several factors are cited for the overall decline in religious vocations. These include the pervasive influence of secular society, the impact of the clergy sex abuse scandal, and destabilized family structures 1. A significant challenge is young people’s fear of commitment, particularly among Gen Z, who are described as an "anxious generation" hesitant to embrace the radical commitment of religious life 1.
A practical issue is the lack of exposure to religious life; unlike diocesan priests who are familiar figures in parishes, many young men have little direct interaction with religious communities 1. This problem is compounded as religious communities, facing declining numbers, withdraw from apostolates like schools and parishes, further reducing their visibility 1.
Despite the challenges, some religious orders are experiencing growth. The Dominicans, particularly their St. Martin De Porres province, have seen increased vocations, attributed to their strong presence on college campuses and their intellectual tradition 1. Similarly, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, a newer community, attract men drawn to their focus on Church renewal, zeal, and mission of serving the poor and evangelizing 1.
Successful strategies for promoting vocations include intentional outreach and direct engagement with young men 1. This involves actively inviting them to community events, being present on college campuses, and fostering relationships with potential discerners 1. Some orders leverage social media to showcase community life and connect with younger generations, though its effectiveness varies 1. The recent election of Pope Leo XIV, an Augustinian, has also generated a significant surge of interest in the Augustinian order 1.
Men are drawn to religious life for various reasons, including the desire for communal living, intellectual engagement, and a clear, vibrant mission 1. Strong, traditional Catholic families and a supportive "culture of vocations" in communities, where choosing religious life is seen as normal, also play a crucial role 2. The South's "Bible Belt" culture, surprisingly, can be a help, as it fosters an openness to God, even among non-Catholics 2.
For Hispanic communities, while they show high respect for clergy, strong family bonds can sometimes make parents hesitant to support sons entering distant seminaries 2. However, there is a recent uptick in interest from this demographic 2. Ultimately, vocations directors emphasize that fostering vocations is not just about recruitment tactics but addressing a "crisis of the heart," helping young men become disciples and experience healing to discern God's plan for their lives 1.
How does the Church define religious vocation and discernment?
The Church defines religious vocation as a special, unmerited gift from God, rooted in baptism but not given to all the baptized, calling individuals to a life dedicated to God's service through the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience . Discernment, in turn, is the process of discovering and responding to this divine call, involving prayer, self-knowledge, and guidance within the Christian community .
A religious vocation is a specific call from God for some Christians, both clerical and lay, to live a consecrated life within the Church . This calling is a special grace that enables individuals to contribute to the Church's saving mission . It is rooted in the gift of baptism but is not universally given to all baptized individuals; rather, it is freely offered by God to those He chooses for the sake of His people .
Those who accept this divine call respond by dedicating their entire lives to God, dying to sin, renouncing the world, and living for God alone . The core of their lives is a closer following of Christ, seeking and loving God above all else . This dedication constitutes a special consecration of the whole person, manifesting in the Church a "marriage effected by God" and serving as a sign of future life . This consecration is formalized through public vows—perpetual or temporary—of the three evangelical counsels: chastity, poverty, and obedience . Through these vows, religious are consecrated to God through the ministry of the Church and incorporated into their respective institutes with defined rights and duties .
Pope John Paul II emphasized that this vocation stems from a living faith that opens individuals to an ultimate encounter with God, who alone is worthy of an exclusive and nuptial love . This love involves the complete giving of one's being, body and soul, to God, who gave Himself entirely to humanity through the Incarnation, Cross, and abasement . He also described religious vocation as a "spark which lights a 'bright flame of love' in the soul," a special treasure of the Church that serves as a living sign of the "future life" rooted in the everyday life of the Church and society .
The Church recognizes that the ecclesiastical and religious states exist primarily for the good of religious society, and religious orders are corporately organized to represent the practice of the rules of perfection and offer it to God as part of public worship .
Discernment is the process of making sound decisions about the meaning and direction of one's life, particularly in discovering one's vocation . It is a demanding but indispensable process that involves evaluating and choosing in accordance with God's will . Pope Francis describes discernment as an "interplay between divine choice and human freedom," a dynamic relationship between God and the human heart .
Key elements and aspects of discernment include:
In essence, a religious vocation is a divine invitation to a consecrated life, and discernment is the prayerful, communal, and personal journey of discovering and responding to that invitation.