A Surge in Catholic Conversions... Especially Among Young Adults (Special Podcast Highlight)Timmerie shares a sense of awe and joy at the incredible increase in Catholic conversions happening globally... especially in places like France, the U.S., and the U.K. We’re talking up to 70% increases in some dioceses! The Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas had a whopping 72% jump in conversions from 2023 to 2024.
Most of these new Catholics are Gen Z and millennials. Yep... young adults in their 20s and 30s are filling the pews and receiving the sacraments like never before.
Why the Shift? Culture, COVID, and the Call of Beauty
Timmerie mentions interviews from The New York Post, where recent converts shared what drew them to the Church. Themes like:
-A deep dissatisfaction with the "feel-good" culture of non-denominational churches
-A hunger for reverence, beauty, and structure, especially found in the Mass and its ancient tradition
-The disorienting chaos of the world during the pandemic, which made people pause and re-examine their faith.
Take Sydney Johnson, a 30-year-old from California. The hustle culture had her burned out. During COVID, she slowed down, turned to prayer, and was captivated by the depth and order of the Catholic tradition. Same for Adrian Lawson, also 30, who struggled with mental health until the Rosary and Catholic community gave him a new lease on life. He said, "Since I started praying the Rosary and converted, I haven't had any of those issues."
Lost in the World, Found in the Church
A New York priest, Fr. Raymond La Grange, echoed a powerful point: young people are realizing the world can't give them what they're looking for. Everything is arbitrary, and that’s exhausting. They crave something solid, something with order, and they want something real.
The Movement Goes Global
And it’s not just the U.S. In France, over 10,000 adults converted this Easter alone, a 45% increase... with nearly half aged 18 to 25. Another 7,400 teenagers received the sacraments, up 33%. In the U.K., 41% of young adult churchgoers are now Catholic, compared to just half that being Anglican.
Timmerie even heard from French priests and sisters, many from the Community of St. John, who said some conversions are even coming secretly from Islam, with people risking everything to follow Christ. The sisters emphasized that, even in secular and anti-religious environments, God is still calling hearts, and people are responding.
Evangelization Is Working... And We’re All Part of It
A French sister told Timmere that this surge is happening because people are evangelizing boldly: sharing the Gospel, standing for truth, inviting others into the Church. That’s our mission too. People are yearning for something more... something whole, transcendent, and healing. The Catholic Church offers exactly that.
