In New York City, young people often seek out careers, material success, and pleasure. Surprisingly, the pursuit of faith isn’t usually part of that journey.
However, during a recent crowded Sunday Mass at St. Joseph’s Church in Greenwich Village, Father Jonah Teller, OP, noted that there’s a shift happening.
Teller highlighted that enrollment in the diocese’s Order of Adult Initiation, which allows adults to convert to Catholicism, has surged—tripling since the previous year, with around 130 new participants.
Meanwhile, at St. Vincent Ferrer on the Upper East Side, the number of participants has doubled to nearly 90.
At St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral Basilica, they too saw a doubling in numbers, now employing about 100 staff members. The Sunday evening Mass was full to capacity.
“We’re running out of room and considering adding more Masses,” Father Daniel Ray mentioned.
In the Diocese of Brooklyn, a similar trend is evident. In 2024, 538 adults joined the church, almost twice as many as the year before. While it’s acknowledged that some might drop out before Easter Vigil, expectations remain high.
There’s been noticeable growth in mass attendance following the assassination of evangelical activist Charlie Kirk last month. Additionally, Catholic churches nationwide reported more conversions among younger individuals last year.
It’s quite striking to see so many people pursuing faith in such a secular city.
“It feels like a real boom, but it’s not due to any marketing strategy,” Ray explained.
In a world that feels unstable and fractured, the appeal of strength, love, and community is understandably attractive.
“My generation sees a lot of disarray,” remarked Keegan Lenihan from the OCIA at St. Joseph’s University. “When nothing seems right in society, organized religion might actually hold some value.”
The array of new converts, most lacking prior religious backgrounds, shared various cultural influences that brought them to church.
Some are on a quest for meaning amidst the chaos and political polarization that seem to overshadow genuine faith. It’s noteworthy that many referenced Kirk’s death. Many also seem to have achieved a lot but still feel something’s missing.
“We have access to everything material, yet it doesn’t touch our hearts,” Teller observed, a charismatic figure who seems to draw in OCIA participants.
For individuals like Cindy Chao, personal loss has been a catalyst for transformation. After her cousin’s unexpected death from cancer, she felt compelled to embrace Catholicism.
“My life experiences steered me towards faith. It provided clarity,” Chao noted.
There’s also Liz Flynn, who felt a spiritual awakening in a Cracker Barrel gift shop.
The 35-year-old carpenter from Brooklyn struggled with anxiety and turned to self-help books and “pseudo-spiritualism” for relief.
“I thought my struggles would last a lifetime,” Flynn recalled, now part of the OCIA at Old St. Pat’s.
On a road trip to Florida with her boyfriend in July, she found herself in a difficult emotional space. After stopping at a restaurant, she picked up a book that mentioned God’s loving nature.
She suddenly felt overwhelmed but managed to keep her composure, laughing about not wanting to create a scene. This encounter changed everything. She began to pray and eventually developed a deep appreciation for the Virgin Mary and Catholic teachings.
“I’m happier and calmer than ever. Prayer has significantly impacted my life,” Flynn shared.
Lenihan echoes a similar sentiment. After converting to Catholicism—something his grandparents abandoned amid scandals—he discovered a peace he hadn’t known before. As a young adult, he became engrossed in atheist literature but faced his own crises in college.
This sparked a journey of exploration that included reading illustrious thinkers like Marcus Aurelius. He realized despite his achievements, he felt unfulfilled.
Ben Cook’s story mirrors Lenihan’s. After building and selling two companies, he felt a void despite his accomplishments.
“I grew up in a progressive environment, influenced by a certain skepticism toward traditional faith,” Cook noted. However, through his experiences, especially during his wife’s challenging childbirth, he felt compelled to pray.
“It dawned on me that the things I cherished were beyond my control.” Fortunately, both his wife and daughter emerged healthy, marking a turning point in his spiritual journey.
Mark Carlson, Cook’s childhood friend, also sought a way back to Catholicism after drifting away. Raised in a liberal setting, he found himself disillusioned with societal trends and began to see the value in Catholic teachings as a guiding force.
For Carlson, these teachings provided the structure that he felt was increasingly absent in society.
Ian Barnes, a recent Michigan graduate, expressed a similar sentiment. At just 22, he recognized a need for stability as he navigated a transitional phase in his life.
Having been baptized in the Episcopal Church, he stopped attending services but felt drawn to Catholicism for its historical roots.
“I want to build a traditional family life and meet someone with similar values,” he said, reflecting on his hopes for the future.
