India leads world in women religious

(December 12, 2009) India leads the world in the number of vocations to women’s Religious life in the Catholic Church, statistics show. Asia and Africa made considerable gains in the number of female Religious since 2000, while Europe, Americas and Oceania showed a downward trend, according to Jeff Mirus of Catholic Culture, who analyzed the statistics for the website. In Asia, India recorded an increase of 9,398 women religious during 2002-2007 while Vietnam added 2,545 more nuns. South Korea and the Philippines increased by about 500. Three congregations based in southern India’s Kerala state and Blessed Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity were among those showing an upward trend in world-wide scenario. The Franciscan Clarist Congregation, the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel and the Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament continue to attract more members. Major losers worldwide are the Salesian Sisters, the Order of Discalced Carmelites, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the Sisters of Charity of Saints Bartholomea Capitanio and Vincenzia Gerosa and Benedictine Nuns. Italy that had 11,156 less nuns during 2002-2007 headed the list of major losers. The United States came second, losing 10,454 nuns during the period. All together, there are about 750,000 women religious serving around the world.