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NACAR logo celebrating their 20 years of support for associatesA new study from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) for the North American Conference of Associates and Religious (NACAR) reports more than 55,000 associates in 378 religious institutes, eight in ten of them in the United States, a significant increase from the 25,500 associates reported fifteen years ago in the United States.
Associates are lay people who live out a religious charism and largely connect with institutes of vowed religious in order to live out the charism together. This study builds on a previous study done in 2000 and 2002 on associates’ relationships with vowed religious and was commissioned by NACAR in recognition of its 20th anniversary.
In addition to the 378 religious institutes that responded to a survey on associate leadership, over 10,000 vowed religious and associates responded to a survey about the associate-religious relationship. Both surveys asked about current realities and future expectations.
Associates are increasing in number across the United States and Canada with the vast majority of Associates being 50 years of age or older. With over two-thirds of the associates having started after 2000, directors/coordinators of associates, associates and vowed religious see ongoing invitation of younger individuals to the associate – religious relationship as one of the keys to the sustainability of the associate communities.
Most also agree that associates have a role in interpreting the charism of the community. New models of leadership are emerging within associate communities as institutes face serious challenges concerning the long-term sustainability of the associate – religious relationship. 
A group of U.S. La Salette Associates several years agoAbout 80 percent of directors/coordinators agree that the relationship between vowed members and associates is vital to the future of the institute. Almost all associates and vowed religious agree that associates have valuable skills to contribute to the institute.
About 60 percent of associates and vowed religious say the number of associates and the understanding of the associate-religious relationship will increase in the next five years. Maintaining communication with associates and vowed religious is key to maintaining the relationships that bind the community and also attract associates to the community.
Associates and their leadership recognize that maintaining the spirituality and the mission of the institute will be the most challenging and also the most rewarding as the future unfolds for the associate – religious relationship in North America.
Below are some interesting facts:
• Associates outnumber vowed members in the responding institutes that have associates by almost 10,000.
• More than half of the responding institutes with associates have less than 100 associates.
• Associates are concentrated in the Northeast and Midwest regions of the country, although fewer live in Michigan since 2002 and more are living in Florida in 2015.
• Associates in Canada live mostly in the eastern part, concentrated in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
• Women are more likely than men to say that a desire to pray with associates, a desire to pray with vowed members, and a desire to socialize with associates attract associates to the institute.
La Salette Laity in Angola
(Article and extra information used with permission from NACAR)