The culture of the convent: how recruitment shapes success in religious life

Catholic nuns in the United States have experienced a substantial decline in membership, with an 80% decrease in new members from 1965 to 2023 (CARA, 2023). Sisters impact their communities in a multitude of ways, often through education or volunteerism efforts (CCUSA, 2026; Levin, 2011; Sisters of Mercy, 2025). Previous research on Catholic nuns has not qualitatively explored Catholic nuns’ recruitment efforts, with most research providing quantitative data insights (CARA). Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify the recruitment methods convents utilize to identify pain points and avenues for improvement. Seven religious sisters were recruited for this study. Participants were required to complete a demographics survey and participate in a virtual interview to understand their perspectives on their own religious journey as well as identify the effectiveness of methods currently used by their convent. This exploratory study investigates the recruitment methods utilized by convents, the effectiveness of those efforts, and development opportunities of the recruitment efforts for religious orders. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data (Braun & Clarke, 2006; 2021); data were organized into the following overarching categories: personal discernment, recruitment, community and identity, and future of nunship.