Tricia C. Bruce, PhD

Sociologist. Author. Researcher. Speaker.

Tricia C. Bruce, PhD, is a Senior Research Fellow with the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, a 2025-2026 Affiliate of the Center for the Study of Religion & Society at the University of Notre Dame, President-Elect of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, and a five-time marathoner. She served previously as President of the Association for the Sociology of Religion, a papal-appointed consultor to the Synod on Synodality, and a tenured professor. She is the author of numerous award-winning books, articles, and reports in the sociology of religion and U.S. Catholicism.

Happenings

  • Summary of _Parish and Place_ in “Religion Watch”

    The October 2017 issue of Religion Watch includes a nice summary of Parish and Place, reposted below: Parish and Place (Oxford University Press, $24.95), by Tricia Colleen Bruce, provides an in-depth look at the phenomena of personal parishes in the Catholic… Continue reading

  • National Catholic Register asks: “Catholic Community Life on the Wane”?

    An article from the National Catholic Register on community life in the US includes insights on bonding and bridging capital distilled from my book, Parish and Place. Here’s an excerpt, written by National Catholic Register contributor Nicholas Wolfram Smith: ************… Continue reading

  • Book Signing at the Paraclete

    Great conversations today at the Paraclete Catholic bookstore in Knoxville. Thanks for all who came out to meet, greet, and get a copy of my newest book, Parish and Place! Continue reading

    Book Signing at the Paraclete

  • Press Release about Parish and Place

    Maryville College has just published a press release about my new book, Parish and Place: Making Room for Diversity in the American Catholic Church. ********************** With more than 77 million Catholics, the U.S. Catholic Church is, now more than ever,… Continue reading

  • Knoxville Book Signing 9/30/17

    Join me at the Paraclete Catholic Books and Gifts (417 Erin Dr., Knoxville, TN) between 11am and 2pm on Saturday, September 30th for an author meet-and-greet for Parish and Place: Making Room for Diversity in the American Catholic Church! Continue reading

  • An American “Multiverse”?

    I enjoyed the opportunity to sit down with host Brandon Hollingsworth for this month’s “Dialogue” program on Knoxville’s NPR affiliate, WUOT. Alongside fellow panelists Dr. Aaron Astor (Maryville College historian) and Courtney Wright (University of Tennessee communication scholar), we discussed… Continue reading

    An American “Multiverse”?

  • Order Parish and Place Today!

    Oxford University Press, Amazon, and other sellers now have my newest book – Parish and Place – in stock! Time to order, read, react, share, and incorporate it into your classes and applied conversations! Here I am with the book… Continue reading

    Order Parish and Place Today!

  • TV appearance: Fewer Americans Saying “I Do”

    WBIR-Knoxville invited me to the station to comment on data showing that fewer Americans are getting married. View my live interview here. Continue reading

    TV appearance: Fewer Americans Saying “I Do”

  • Changing the parish to help keep unity in a changing Church

    Personal parishes sort and separate like-minded Catholics. There are now (by formal decree) personal parishes whose primary focus is social justice, the Traditional Latin Mass, charismatic Catholicism, Anglican Use, tourism, college ministry, and more. Read more in Part II of my… Continue reading

  • Download Parish & Place as an e-book

    The Kindle version of my new book, Parish and Place: Making Room for Diversity in the American Catholic Church, is now available! Hardback and paperback should be in stock any day now. Continue reading

engaging A Sociological Perspective

Reach out for media, speaking, or research queries.

Contact Me