Getting Up to Speed With a New Generation of Catholic Sisters Communicators for Women Religious Annual Conference, October 5, 2016 Patricia Wittberg, SC Research Associate Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate
When Did You Graduate from High Did you graduate in 2000? 1995? 1990? 1985? 1980? 1975? 1970? 1965? School?
When Did You Graduate from High Did you graduate in 2000? 1995? 1990? 1985? 1980? 1975? 1970? 1965? School? Then think about how you viewed life in: 1984 1974 1964 1954 1944 1934 1924 1914
Sources of Generational Change in Belief and Practice Life Cycle Effects Period Effects Cohort Effects
Generational Cohorts Are Molded by Their Pre-birth experiences Childhood environment First formation of an adult mindset at around age 20 Karl Mannheim, The Problem of Generations
CATHOLIC GENERATIONAL CULTURES
The Pre-Vatican II Generation: born before1943 Childhood Environment World War II, Traditional/Ethnic Catholicism Early Adulthood: The Cold War, Communism Adult faith formed before Vatican II
The Vatican II Generation: Born 1943-1960 (aka the Baby Boomers ) Childhood Environment The Cold War, economic prosperity, Kennedy assassination, Civil Rights Movement Pre-Vatican II Religious Education and Culture Early Adulthood Viet Nam, Watergate Early post-vatican II changes in liturgy, ecumenism, etc.
The Post-Vatican II Generation: Born 1961-1980 (aka Generation X ) Childhood Environment Watergate, gas shortages, the Challenger explosion, Iran hostage crisis, divorced parents Post-Vatican II Religious Education and Culture Early adulthood Religious bricolage
The Millennials: Born 1981-1994 Childhood Environment 1990s prosperity, computers/internet, helicopter parents, the second post-vatican II generation Often turned off by religious politics Early Adulthood - 9/11, the Great Recession, Obama elections, college debt The rise of religious Nones
Post-Millennials: Born 1995-??? Childhood Environment 9/11, The Great Recession, Iraq/Afghanistan, Obama election, Facebook/Twitter/texting/instant messaging Young Adulthood -????
Generations of Catholics in the United States 1987 2011 Post-Vatican II 22% Pre-Vatican II 31% Millennial 23% Pre-Vatican II 10% Vatican II 33% Post-Vatican II 34% Vatican II 47%
A Caveat: Don t Forget That There are Generational Subcultures! By class By ethnicity or race By individual reactions to common generational experiences
Figure 4.1 Race and Ethnicity of the U.S. Adult Catholic Population by Generation Pre-Vatican II (b. before 1943) 76% 15% 2% 4% 2% 1% Vatican II (b. 1943-60) 69% 24% 1% 3% 1% 1% Post-Vatican II (b. 1961-81) 53% 39% 4% 3% 1% 0.4% Millennial (b. 1982 or later) 39% 54% 3% 2% 1% 2% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Non-Hispanic White Hispanic/Latino Black/African American Asian/Pacific Islander American Indian/Native American Other Source: Compilation from CARA Catholic Polls
How Does This Apply to Catholic Religious Orders? The CARA/NRVC Study, 2009
Overall Demographics Age Distribution of Women Religious, 2009 40-49 2% Under 40 1% 50-59 6% 90 and over 11% 60-69 22% 80-89 26% 70-79 32% Source: 2009 NRVC/CARA Study of Recent Vocations to Religious Life
Age Distribution: Initial Formation (Percentage in each category) All Women LCWR CMSWR Under 20 2% 1% <1% 20-29 33 15 51 30-39 29 28 34 40-49 17 25 10 50-59 13 23 4 60 and over 6 8 1 Source: 2009 NRVC/CARA Study of Recent Vocations to Religious Life
Women in Initial Formation Source: 2009 NRVC/CARA Study of Recent Vocations to Religious Life White 61% Other 1% Black/ African American 6% Asian/ Pacific Islander 16% Hispanic/ Latina 16%
100% Attractions How much did these influence your decision to enter your religious institute? (Percentage responding "Very Much") 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 33% 34% 23% 21% 20% 20% 20% 21% 14% 14% 12% 9% 7% 5% 6% 3% Size of the Institute Its Geographic Location Its Internationality Ages of Its Members Pre-Vatican II Vatican II Post-Vatican II Millennial
100% Percent Attracted to the Religious Institute by (Percentage responding "Very Much") 90% 80% 70% 90% 81% 82% 89% 86% 77% 75% 77% 70% 70% 71% 70% 70% 63% 80% 60% 57% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Sense of Call to Religious Life Desire for Prayer and Spiritual Spirituality of Institute Growth Pre-Vatican II Vatican II Post-Vatican II Millennial Source: 2009 CARA/NRVC Study of Recent Vocations to Religious Life Prayer Life of Institute
How Important to You Are These Types of Prayer? (Percentage responding "Very") 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 98% 86% 79% 60% 94% 76% 67% 55% 75% 56% 47% 41% 93% 67% 53% 34% 80% 56% 56% 29% 69% 64% 53% 46% 20% 10% 0% Daily Eucharist Liturgy of the Hours Common Meditation Eucharistic Adoration Other Devotional Prayer Faith Sharing Pre-Vatican II Vatican II Post-Vatican II Millennial
100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Daily Eucharist Prayer Type(s) Preferred: LCWR Respondents Only How important to you is... (Percentage responding "Very Much") Liturgy of the Hours Eucharistic Adoration Devotional Prayer Pre-Vatican II Vatican II Post-Vatican II Millennial
How Important to You Are These Aspects of Religious Life? (Percentage responding "Very") 100% 90% 90% 97% 97% 88% 93% 80% 70% 60% 76% 76% 78% 72% 73% 61% 80% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Living With Other Members Sharing Meals Together Socializing/Sharing Leisure Together Pre-Vatican II Vatican II Post-Vatican II Millennial
How Much Do You Prefer Living in These Settings? 100% (Percentage responding "Very Much") 90% 80% 74% 70% 60% 50% 51% 59% 56% 40% 38% 35% 37% 30% 22% 24% 28% 26% 20% 10% 12% 5% 2% 13% 10% 0% Alone In a small community of two or three In a medium community (4-7) In a large community of eight or more Pre-Vatican II Vatican II Post-Vatican II Millennial
How Much Did These Attract You to Religious Life/Influence Your Decision? (Percentage responding "Very Much") 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 71% 71% 68% 63% 59% 61% 56% 51% 49% 48% 40% 30% 38% 31% 20% 10% 0% Desire to be of service The mission of the institute Types of ministry of its members Pre-Vatican II Vatican II Post-Vatican II Millennial Source: 2009 CARA/NRVC Study of Recent Vocations to Religious Life
100% 90% Influences on the Decision to Enter the Religious Institute/ Evaluation of One s Institute (Percentage responding "Very Much" or "Excellent") 90% 91% 96% 80% 70% 71% 60% 50% 54% 58% 62% 55% 50% 40% 39% 40% 32% 30% 20% 10% 0% Attraction of Institute's Fidelity to the Church Attraction of Its Practice Regarding a Habit Evaluation of Fidelity to Church and Teachings Pre-Vatican II Vatican II Post-Vatican II Millennial
Summary: What Attracts New Entrants The example of current members their JOY Common Lifestyle; Common Ministry Common Prayer; Opportunities for Spiritual Growth Wearing a Habit* Loyalty to the Church* *Primarily among Millennial entrants
However These are not typical Millennial Catholics!
According to Soul Searching Millennials are the most likely not to be affiliated with any church, and Catholic Millennials are even less strongly religiously affiliated than average. Christian Smith, Soul Searching, Oxford University Press 2005
Resulting Behaviors Mass Attendance and Prayer Catholic Identity Sacraments
Aspects of Millennial Culture Values Diversity/Tolerance Equality/Fairness Community Self-Esteem Materialism Cognitive Culture Image-focused, non-discursive Optimistic Fear of final choices Lack of empathy/narcissism? Implications for Religious Congregations
The Opposite Ends are Closer Than They Appear! Needing to be Entertained Electronic Isolation Narcissism Eucharistic Adoration Community Volunteering
The Deepest Hungers of the Millennial Generation Quiet and Contemplation Discernment of life choices Community Connection Doctrine (for a minority)
Hispanic and Asian Entrants The role of language The lure of American culture Educational barriers
IMPLICATIONS AND STRATEGIES
Outreach 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% How did you first become acquainted with your religious institute? (Percentage selecting each response) 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 31% 34% 28% 26% In an institution where members served 21% 29% 16% Worked with a member of the institute 8% 10% 4% 7% 5% 2% Through a relative in the institute 14% 17% 30% Through a media story about the institute or member Pre-Vatican II Vatican II Post-Vatican II Millennial Source: 2009 CARA/NRVC Study of Recent Vocations to Religious Life
Given the Characteristics of Millennials What qualities of religious life in your congregation are the most appropriate to emphasize? How will this differ by your target audience s Age? Ethnicity? What are the best ways to acquaint people with your congregation?
The Coming Generational Change