As mentioned last week, Fr Ian and I attended the clergy conference this week and we were blessed to have as our keynote speaker, Bishop Etienne Emmanuel Vito, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Reims in France. The theme of our conference was Becoming a Catechumenal Church.
As you may have heard, among the European countries adult baptisms are strongly on the rise, and especially in France. According to the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF), the Catholic Church in France experienced a historic surge in baptisms, with a total of 21,386 catechumens – around 13,200 adults and 8,200 young people – scheduled for baptism at the Easter Vigil in 2026. This marks an overall increase of roughly 28% of adult baptisms as compared to the previous year, and an extraordinary rise of more than 196% since 2020, when annual adult baptisms were around 4,500. It is interesting to note that more than 80% of those asking for baptism are under 40 years of age – 40% are between 26 and 40, while 42% are between 18 and 25.
One of the questions posed to Bishop Vito was whether the fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral contributed to this surge. Interestingly enough, the bishop’s answer was a surprising “No”. The incident at the cathedral did not just affect Catholics but the whole people of France. This was reflected in the overall response to the reconstruction of the iconic building, which was supported by people from all walks of life.
He recounted an incident when he took a taxi to the inauguration celebration. The driver was Muslim. During their conversation, the driver revealed to the bishop that he had also made a financial contribution toward the reconstruction of the cathedral. “That is how the French do it,” said the bishop.
So, what were the factors that contributed to the surge in adult baptisms? Bishop Vito explained that bishops, clergy, and Church leaders had been trying to brainstorm, develop pastoral plans, and implement various initiatives. However, these did not necessarily seem to be the reasons why people were returning to the Church.
He observed that difficult and challenging moments affect people deeply. In times of crisis, people may search for God for comfort and meaning. Modern life, in one way or another, places people in situations marked by fear: fear of climate change, geopolitical instability, extremism, and loneliness. People are more vulnerable than ever before. In these contexts, strong spiritual needs arise. Many people are questioning and searching for an explanation of the meaning of life, and the Church has become an avenue to which many are turning to in their search.
This trend brings us back to the circumstances of the early Church, where a similar “trend” was taking place: “the propagation of faith [was] through networks of neighbourhoods, artisan guilds, and friendships.” Italian author Sandro Magister, in one of his articles, points to studies that highlight the following:
“The growth of early Christianity was possible because it operated in a context of religious pluralism in which the choice of faith was truly free and entailed a real social cost.”
In these contexts of the transmission of faith, both then and now, the presence and support of believing friends, neighbours, or peers who “testify with their ordinary lives to the quality of their relationship to the world” becomes a decisive factor in the initial proclamation of the Gospel.
Friendship and fraternity then play a significant role in the growth of the Church of God. They create spaces where faith can be encountered, witnessed, and shared through ordinary relationships and everyday life.
Looking back over the past eighteen months since I arrived, I pray with a grateful heart and give thanks for the many opportunities to meet, encounter, and share with our parish community, as well as with those who come seeking a place of welcome and hospitality.
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Ray says:
Fascinating, Fr Sang. Thank you very much.