Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Gina Christian

Our Sunday Visitor is a Catholic publisher serving millions of Catholics globally through its publishing and communication services. Gina Christian is a national reporter for OSV News. Follow her on Twitter at @GinaJesseReina.

Over 20,000 permanent deacons serve church, but death, retirement bring overall number down


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OSV News Filed Under: deacons, Feature, News, Vocations, World News

The nation’s Catholic permanent deacons were estimated to number more than 20,000 in 2024 — but “as is the case with priests in the United States, there are not enough new permanent deacons being ordained to make up for the numbers who are retiring from active ministry and dying each year,” according to a new report.

Pew: Christianity up in sub-Saharan Africa, down worldwide due to those leaving the faith


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OSV News Filed Under: Evangelization, Feature, News, World News

Sub-Saharan Africa has replaced Europe as the locus for the world’s Christians, due to both higher birthrates and Western Europe’s “widespread Christian disaffiliation” — with Christians declining as a share of the world’s population due to adherents leaving the faith, according to new research by the Pew Research Center.

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