Have you felt a sense of renewed energy in your parish or diocese lately? Maybe the church seems a little fuller or the questions a little deeper. Something is definitely happening. There is a significant rise in adult baptisms across the globe. Is it happening in your area? Are you are witnessing this firsthand? Let’s explore what this means for our ministry.

The numbers

One of the most striking reports comes from France. During the Easter Vigil in 2024, more than 12,000 people were initiated. 7,135 of those were adults — a 31% increase over 2023. And more than 5,000 were children aged 11 to 17 — a 50% increase over 2023.  The French Bishops’ Conference has emphasized the significant increase, particularly among young adults aged 18-25. This rise, which has been a 10-year trend, is occurring within a highly secularized society, “de-Christianized” country (see America).

Belgium is another region showing a similar trend, with reports indicating a near doubling of adult baptisms over the past decade (see The Brussels Times). The United Kingdom, too, is seeing increased attendance at Easter services. While we haven’t been able to document an increase in baptisms that corelates to increased participation in Easter liturgies, the trend suggests a resurgence of faith (see OSV News).

The United States is also experiencing this phenomenon. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, for example, has reported a significant increase in adult baptisms. Baptisms of adults and older children hit an all-time high in 2024 at 2,075 — a jump of 38% over the 2016 record (see Angelus).

The Archdiocese of San Francisco also reports a rise in the number of adult baptisms, although the information is anecdotal (see Angelus).

Dr. Isabel Fernandez, Director of Secretariat for Laity, Family & Life in the Diocese of Orlando, reports that their Rite of Election saw a rise from 645 catechumens in 2024 to 835 catechumens in 2025. This is an almost 30 percent increase in one year!

Tish Scargill, Director of Catechetical Ministry for the Diocese of Monterey, California, says this year’s 474 elect is definitely more catechumens than in past years. “We never had two celebrations in the north,” she said. “Given the church was full both times, I guess we will continue with the two in the north next year.”

The pandemic forced us to confront our mortality and re-evaluate our priorities. This may have led to a renewed interest in faith and spirituality.

What’s behind the numbers?

What’s driving this global trend? There is no hard data that tells us for sure, but here are some educated guesses

• A Search for meaning: The world is increasing complex and scary. Many people are seeking deeper meaning and purpose. Both Pope Benedict and Pope Francis emphasized this trend. When we are able to provide seekers with an intimate encounter with Jesus Christ, they often find compelling answers to their questions.
• Post-Pandemic catch up: Dr. Fernandez, for one, attributes the surge in baptism to the spiritual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic forced us to confront our mortality and re-evaluate our priorities. This may have led to a renewed interest in faith and spirituality.
• Community and connection: Ironically, the rise of social media has also led to a rise in loneliness. As an antidote to crushing isolation, the church provides a sense of community and belonging. This is particularly appealing to young adults seeking connection.
• Social media: On the other hand, social media is not all bad. If used correctly, online friends and communities can help spread the gospel, and witnesses to the faith.

What this means for you and your team

For us, as catechumenate ministers, this surge presents both opportunities and challenges.

• Increased demand: We’re personally experiencing this in our own parish. This year, we have five catechumens. While that number seems low, it is more than double what we usually have. And we’re feeling the pinch in resources and personnel. While I hope we double that number in the future, I don’t yet know how we’d manage. All of us must be prepared for an increased number of catechumens and candidates. This requires careful planning, adequate resources, and a dedicated team.
• Diverse needs: The catechumens and candidates in my parish come from diverse backgrounds and have varying needs. One of our catechumens grew up with no religious background at all and one has the equivalent of a seminary education. We must be prepared to provide individualized formation and accompaniment.
• Deepening our own faith: That catechumen with no religious background — I think he is a secret saint. My own faith is deepened just by listening to his story and his encounters with Christ. This is an opportunity for all of us to deepen our own faith and understanding of the sacraments. By accompanying others on their faith journey, we are also strengthened in our own.

What’s happening in your area?

While national and international trends are valuable, local data is essential for understanding what’s happening in our own parishes and dioceses.

To better understand this trend, we need your help. Please contribute your parish’s or diocese’s data to the following survey:

Your input will help us paint a more complete picture of the surge in adult baptisms and develop strategies to effectively meet the needs of our catechumens and candidates.