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Statistics of the Congregation

Updated as of December 31, 2024

0
Legionaries of Christ around the world
0+
Religious with perpetual vows
0+
Religious with temporary vows
0+
Minor seminarians in Vocational Centers

How are the statistics calculated?

The statistics of the Congregation are calculated with the information provided by the territories. For statistical purposes, the Delegation of the Houses of Rome and the Delegation for the Holy Land are counted as a single territory.

By the end of 2024, the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ is present in a stable manner in 23 countries. It is organized into 9 territories and 2 delegations. It has 10 general or territorial government headquarters, 95 apostolic communities, a philosophy house, a theology house, a community of priest-students in Rome, a priest residence in Mexico, a humanities center in the United States, 5 novitiates, and 7 vocational centers.

It also has a Pontifical International Seminary in Rome and an Interdiocesan Seminary and Theological Institute in São Paulo, Brazil.

5 novitiates, 7 vocational centers, 1 humanities center, 1 philosophy house, 1 theology house

The year 2024 ends with 1,309 Legionaries of Christ: 3 bishops, 1,033 priests (+16 compared to the previous year), 226 religious in formation (-13), and 47 novices (-10). The variation compared to the previous year is a -1% decrease in members.

Among the 1,017 priests in 2024, 22 were ordained, including 6 priests who have been exclaustrated according to Canon 686 of the Code of Canon Law, and 30 priests who are temporarily living outside the community for reasons of apostolic work, studies, or health, according to Canon 665 § 1. This statistic also includes 2 priests who are in an irregular situation.

During the year 2024, 2 priests passed away. In the same period, 1 priest was incardinated into a diocese, and 3 have requested dispensation from the obligations related to holy orders.

Priestly ordinations at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome (2024)

1,309 Legionaries of Christ in 2024

Regarding the Legionaries in their initial formation, this year 32 novices entered; 19 brothers made their first profession of the evangelical counsels; 21 made their perpetual profession. At the end of the year, the Legionaries of Christ have, in their initial formation, 63 religious with perpetual vows, 163 with temporary vows, 47 novices, and 29 deacons. Compared to the previous year, there is a decrease of 18% in new novices, a decrease of 13% in first professions, and a decrease of 4% in perpetual professions.

Number of members and comparison with the previous year

Member type  2023 2024 Variation %
Bishops 3 3 1%
Priests 1017 1033 2%
Religious in initial formation (includes deacons)  239 226 -15%
Novices 57 47 -3%
Total members 1316 1309 -1%

Profesiones religiosas en Cheshire, Estados Unidos (2022)

In 2024,
32 novices entered.

In the same period, 23 young men discerned in the novitiate that the religious life in the Legionaries of Christ was not their path. In 2024, 1 religious with perpetual vows requested and was granted a dispensation from them by the Holy See; 4 religious with temporary vows requested and were granted a dispensation from their vows by the General Director, and 5 decided not to renew them at the end of the term for which they had made them.

0
years is the average age of the Legionary priests
0
years is the average age of the Congregation

Members by country of origin

Country Bishops Priests Religious Novices Total
Germany 0 31 0 7 37
Argentina 0 5 4 0 8
Australia 0 4 0 0 4
Austria 0 2 0 0 2
Belgium 0 1 0 0 1
Bolivia 0 1 0 0 1
Brazil 0 48 25 6 76
Canada 0 23 2 1 25
Chile 0 27 4 1 33
Colombia 0 34 23 7 61
South Korea 0 3 3 0 6
Costa Rica 0 0 1 0 1
Ecuador 0 1 0 0 1
El Salvador 0 6 3 0 9
Slovakia 0 1 0 0 1
Spain 1 148 8 1 157
USA 0 169 30 11 208
Philippines 0 2 1 0 3
France 0 14 1   15
Great Britain 0 1 0 0 1
Guatemala 0 0 0 1 1
Netherlands 0 1 0 0 1
India 0 0 0 1 1
Ireland 1 42 0 0 43
Italy 0 30 0 1 31
Mexico 1 406 99 21 527
New Zealand 0 5 0 0 5
Panama 0 0 1 1 2
Poland 0 5 1 1 7
Czech Republic 0 1 0 0 1
Romania 0 1 0 0 1
Singapore 0 1 0 0 1
Venezuela 0 17 21 1 39
Vietnam 0 2 1 0 3
Total 3 1033 226 47 1309

Demographics of the Legion of Christ

Between December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2024.

Members by stage of formation (2015-2024)

Demographics
Year Novices Religious in initial formation Priests in ministry Bishops Total
2015 141 546 959 4 1650
2016 125 492 961 4 1582
2017 127 444 966 4 1541
2018 117 436 944 4 1501
2019 91 390 970 4 1455
2020 96 357 975 4 1432
2021 73 329 979 4 1385
2022 59 288 993 4 1338
2023 57 239 1017 3 1316
2024 47 226 1033 3 1309
 
Year-over-year difference
Year Novices Religious in initial formation Priests in ministry Bishops Total
2015 -34 -60 15 0 -79
2016 -16 -54 2 0 -68
2017 2 -48 5 0 -41
2018 -10 -8 -22 0 -40
2019 -26 -46 26 0 -46
2020 5 -33 5 0 -23
2021 -23 -28 4 0 -47
2022 -14 -47 14 0 -47
2023 -2 -43 24 -1 -22
2024 -10 -13 16 0 -7

Distribution of the Legionaries in the different territories

Territory Novices Temporary vows Perpetual vows (includes deacons) Priests Bishops Total of members
Brazil 3 1 3 55   62
Chile   8 3 48   56
Colombia-Venezuela 8 6 5 53   72
DG Rome   95 31 130 2 258
Spain 3 2 3 69   77
Europe   1 3 59   63
Italy   1 4 48   53
Mexico   13 5 232 1 251
Northern Mexico 21 8 3 178   210
North America 12 31 3 160   207
Total  47 163 63 1033 3 1309

For statistical purposes, bishops are registered in the territory where they reside, although they are not under the authority of the territorial director.

Legionaries of Christ by age groups

Age Novices Temporary vows Perpetual vows (includes deacons) Priests Bishops Total
25 or younger 38 81 0 0 0 119
26 to 35 years old 9 79 56 81 0 225
36 to 45 years old 0 3 6 304 0 313
46 to 55 years old 0 0 0 275 0 275
56 to 65 years old 0 0 0 206 0 206
66 to 75 years old 0 0 1 106 1 108
76 to 85 years old 0 0 0 49 2 51
Over 85 years old 0 0 0 12 0 12
Total 47 163 63 1033 3 1309

Organizational chart of the General Government

Updated as of November 19, 2024

General Council

  • Fr. Hernán Jiménez, L.C. (VG) – Vocational Promotion Area
  • Fr. Jesús Villagrasa, L.C. – Educational Centers Area
  • Fr. Rafael Ducci, L.C. – Apostolate Area
  • Fr. Pedro Barrajón, L.C.
  • Fr. Gerardo Flores, L.C. – Initial Formation Area
  • Fr. Michael Brisson, L.C. – Priestly Life and Assignments Area

Team of directors

  • Fr. Víctor de Luna, L.C. – Director of the Department of Psychological Services

  • Fr. Luis Alberto Henao, L.C. – General Secretary

  • Fr. Javier Fayos, L.C. – General Procurator

  • Fr. José Cárdenas, L.C. – General Administrator

  • Fr. Rodrigo Ramírez, L.C. – Director of the General Historical Archive

  • Fr. Devin Roza, L.C. – General Prefect of Studies

  • Mr. Juan Camilo Díaz – Director of LC Communications

  • Mrs. Catalina Gallego – Director of the Department of Safe Environments

Rome Delegation
  • Fr. David Daly, L.C. – Delegate
  • Lic. Manuela Campadello – Delegation Secretary
  • Fr. Ferney Cartagena, L.C. – Delegation Administrator
Holy Land Delegation
  • Fr. Jesús Villagrasa Lasaga, L.C. – Delegate
  • Fr. Cristóbal Villarroig, L.C. – Delegation Secretary
Sacred Heart Delegation
  • Fr. Hernán Jiménez, L.C. – Delegate

Organizational chart of the Territories

Updated as of March 24, 2025

Territory of Brazil

  • Fr. André Delvaux, L.C. – Territorial Director

  • Fr. Alejandro Fuentes, L.C. (VT) – Counselor

  • Fr. Bruno do Espírito Santo, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Oswaldo Verdín, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Rafael Kizimia, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Cassio Barros, L.C. – Secretary

  • Fr. Júlio Cesar Gomes, L.C. – Administrator

  • Mrs. María Teresa Rosa – Safe Environments Coordinator

  • Fr. José Laboy, L.C. – Territorial Prefect of Studies

Territory of Chile
  • Fr. Pablo Solís, L.C. – Territorial Director
  • Fr. Alberto Puértolas, L.C. – Territorial Vicar
  • Fr. Luis González de Aguilar, L.C. – Counselor
  • Fr. Ignacio Cortés, L.C. – Counselor
  • Fr. Luis Rodrigo Núñez, L.C. – Counselor
  • Fr. César Tobón, L.C. – Secretary
  • Fr. Alberto Méndez, L.C. – Administrator
  • Fr. Ignacio Santa Cruz, L.C. – Safe Environments Coordinator
  • Fr. Javier Ayala, L.C. – Territorial Prefect of Studies
Territory of Colombia – Venezuela
  • Fr. Juan Carlos Quintero, L.C. / Territorial Director
  • Fr. Javier Vilarroig, L.C. / Territorial Vicar
  • Fr. David Joyce, L.C. / Counselor
  • Fr. Diego Arregui, L.C. / Counselor
  • Fr. Juan Carlos Durán, L.C. / Counselor
  • Fr. Óscar Gamboa, L.C. / Secretary
  • Fr. Abel Rangel, L.C. / Administrator
  • Lic. Isa Mónaco / Safe Environments Coordinator
  • Fr. Alexis Gatica, L.C. / Territorial Prefect of Studies
Territory of Spain
  • Fr. Javier Cereceda, L.C. – Territorial Director

  • Fr. Pedro Castañera, L.C. – Territorial Vicar

  • Fr. Edwin Alexander Pereira, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Mario López, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Nathan Wayne, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Pedro Olarte, L.C. – Secretary

  • Fr. Manuel Diego, L.C. – Administrator

  • Mrs. Rocío Sánchez-Mejorada – Safe Environments Coordinator

  • Fr. Rafael Pardo, L.C. – Territorial Prefect of Studies

Territory of Western and Central Europe

  • Fr. Valentin Gögele, L.C. – Territorial Director

  • Fr. Konstantin Ballestrem, L.C. – Territorial Vicar

  • Fr. Georg Rota, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Rogelio Villegas, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Justin Prigge, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Alberto Avi, L.C. – Secretary

  • Fr. Mariano Ballestrem, L.C. – Administrator

  • Mr. Karl Olaf Bergmann – Safe Environments Coordinator

  • Fr. Ignacio Rubio, L.C. – Territorial Prefect of Studies

Territory of Italy

  • Fr. Savio Zanetta, L.C. – Territorial Director

  • Fr. Riccardo Garzari, L.C. – Territorial Vicar

  • Fr. Carlos Gabriel Blanco, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Enrico Trono, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Lorenzo Curbis, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Josef Babuin, L.C. – Secretary

  • Fr. Massino Merlino, L.C. – Administrator

  • Mr. Vincenzo Mauriello – Safe Environments Coordinator

  • Fr. Paolo Cerquitella, L.C. – Territorial Prefect of Studies

Territory of Mexico and Central America

  • Fr. Alberto Simán, L.C. – Territorial Director

  • Fr. Jorge Fernández, L.C. – Territorial Vicar

  • Fr. Carlos Luján, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Francisco Aguilar, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Víctor Zamora, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Michael Grealy, L.C. – Secretary

  • Fr. Vicente Durán, L.C. – Safe Environments Coordinator

  • Fr. Peter James Mullan, L.C. – Territorial Prefect of Studies

Territory of Northern Mexico

  • Fr. Carlos Gutiérrez, L.C. – Territorial Director

  • Fr. Arturo Guzmán, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Julio Muñoz, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Óscar Náder, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Xavier Castro, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Juan Carlos Ocejo, L.C. – Secretary

  • Fr. Juan Pablo Nájera, L.C. – Administrator

  • Lic. Alfonso Martínez – Safe Environments Coordinator

  • Fr. Fernando Tamayo, L.C. – Territorial Prefect of Studies

Territory of North America

  • Fr. Shawn Aaron, L.C. – Territorial Director

  • Fr. John Bartunek, L.C. – Territorial Vicar

  • Fr. Steven Reilly, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Bruce Wren, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Mark Haydu, L.C. – Counselor

  • Fr. Nikola Derpich, L.C. – Secretary

  • Mrs. Nikki Hittle – Safe Environments Coordinator

  • Fr. Gregory Usselmann, L.C. – Territorial Prefect of Studies

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