Each spring, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) publishes its annual portrait of the permanent diaconate in the United States.
At first glance, the report appears to be little more than a collection of charts, percentages and demographic analyses. Yet behind every statistic stands a man configured sacramentally to Christ the Servant, a wife and family who have embraced his vocation, a bishop who has entrusted him with ministry, and countless lives touched through the proclamation of the Gospel, service at the altar and works of charity.
The 2025 report estimates that more than 21,500 permanent deacons now serve in the United States, nearly 15,000 of whom remain active in ministry. Hundreds of men were ordained during the past year, while nearly every diocese continues to invest in formation, continuing education, retreats and pastoral leadership.
These numbers are certainly encouraging, but they deserve more than a passing glance.
Since the restoration of the permanent diaconate by the Second Vatican Council, no degree of Holy Orders has experienced such sustained growth. In little more than 60 years, the permanent diaconate has moved from a conciliar vision to an indispensable reality in the pastoral life of the Church. Today,
