The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations recently shared its annual survey about permanent diaconate. 

The study was carried out by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) and looks into the role of permanent deacons and their involvement in the church. The dioceses with the highest number of permanent deacons were Chicago, Galveston-Houston and New York, with 764, 478 and 355, respectively. 

There were 123 Latin Rite dioceses that responded to the survey, showing that there were 13,810 permanent deacons that included active and non-active deacons. Latin Rite dioceses also reported that there were 9,935 permanent deacons actively serving in ministry.

Bishop James F. Checchio | Wikipedia

Demographic results showed that 95% of active permanent deacons are 50 years old or older, and 75% of active deacons are non-Hispanic caucasians. Seventeen percent are Hispanic or Latino and 3% are African American, while 4% are Asian or Pacific Islander. 

Bishop James F. Checchio of the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey, who serves as chairman of the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocation, is grateful for the godly men who serve in the role of deacon. 

“Permanent deacons provide an invaluable service to the universal Church,” Checchio said. “Through their leadership in parish and pastoral ministry, proclamation and preaching of the Gospel, and involvement in corporal and spiritual works of mercy, deacons imitate Christ the Servant by bringing the presence of Jesus to those who are often the most vulnerable in our society.”

CARA contacted 187 dioceses and eparchies in the U.S., and 129 responded. Seventy-one percent of responses came from Latin Catholic dioceses, and 36% came from Eastern Catholic eparchies. 

The ministry that accounts for the largest percentage of deacons — 26% — is parish ministerial work, followed by pastoral care at 13% and non-ministerial positions such as administration, business or finance, which make up 12% of deacon positions.