OLA Cathedral / YouTube Screenshot
CV NEWS FEED // Catholic dioceses across the US reported significant growth in the number of new Catholics entering the Church this Easter, with some archdioceses welcoming their largest groups in years.
In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, 2,786 catechumens — those who had never been baptized — received the sacraments of initiation during Easter Vigil Masses, according to an emailed press release from the archdiocese. An additional 2,801 candidates, most of whom had been baptized in other Christian traditions, entered into full communion with the Church.
The total marked a 66% increase in catechumens since 2015 and an 84% increase in candidates compared with the previous year.
Archbishop José H. Gomez, who presided over the Vigil liturgy, reflected on the theme of hope in his homily, telling the elect and candidates: “Since the day you were born, God has been waiting for this night.”
Ahead of Easter, several other dioceses projected similarly high — or even record-setting — numbers of individuals preparing to enter the Church. In the Archdiocese of Detroit, CatholicVote previously reported, 977 people were expected to join the Church, including 400 catechumens and 577 candidates — the largest total the archdiocese has anticipated since 2017.
Archbishop Edward Weisenburger of Detroit baptized nine of the catechumens at the Easter Vigil — his first as the newly installed archbishop.
In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, diocesan reports indicated that 320 catechumens and 458 candidates were preparing to enter the Church this Easter. Similarly, in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, 269 catechumens and 384 candidates from 57 parishes were expected to complete their initiation into the Church at Easter Vigil Masses.
In the Diocese of Scranton, officials projected a record number of new Catholics for Easter 2025, with 215 catechumens and candidates projected to receive the sacraments of initiation during the Easter Vigil, CatholicVote reported.
In the Diocese of Brooklyn, CatholicVote previously reported that 693 catechumens had been preparing for baptism. Bishop Robert Brennan baptized five of the catechumens and confirmed five candidates during the Easter Vigil at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, welcoming them into full communion with the Catholic Church.
