The Easter Season is filled with Mass readings from the Acts of the Apostles. Yesterday’s first reading covered the amazing growth in the early Church.
It’s exciting to be a part of something that’s growing!
Good news: The Church, which has a way of burying all her undertakers, is still not only showing signs of life, but is still growing. Healthily.
Our friends at Hallow did some in-depth research in 140 of the 175 U.S. dioceses. This brings sharper focus to trends I’ve been seeing everywhere I travel for years now but lacked solid numbers to back up.
They found that “dioceses are experiencing a 38% annual increase on average in individuals entering the Church through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).”
They broke down the percent growth of several dioceses. To share a few:
- Archdiocese of Los Angeles: +139% (8,000 entered the Church in LA this Easter!)
- Diocese of Phoenix: +23%
- Archdiocese of New York: +36%
- Archdiocese of Chicago: +52%
- Diocese of Duluth (Minn.): +145%
- Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee (Fla.): +85%
- Diocese of Rapid City (S.D.): +96%
- Diocese of Honolulu (Hawaii): +37%
- Diocese of Fairbanks (Alaska): +40%
I share this for two reasons:
- Despite all the sobering faith trends, especially among young people, which none of this undoes, there are signs of real life and renewal in the Church right now. We should take a minute to rejoice in that reality! Because it’s awesome. The Gospel has lost none of its potency in 2,000 years, and the Church is still very much alive.
- To embolden you. Now isn’t the moment to be shy about your faith.
Let the world know you’re a Catholic.
- Make the sign of the cross in public before meals. (You’re not weird for doing that. It’s “weird” to live, pretending there’s no God!)
- Pray that rosary as you walk through the airport. Let it swing from your hand!
- Ask a friend or coworker how you can pray for him or her.
- Serve the poor and let people know why you’re doing it.
- If you find yourself on a crowded elevator, turn around and say, “Now that I have you all gathered here today…I have a message for you from God.”
…Actually, don’t do that last one. ;)
Something is happening. That something is a work of the Holy Spirit. There’s a reaping happening of seeds that have been sown for many years now. There’s an awakening to how empty life is without God. I don’t know why this is happening.
I just know that it is.
And that it’s time to lean in and share the Good News.
