I Need Something to Lean On
Clearly, young adults are returning to the Church, while older Baby Boomers are leaving.
In a Lifestyle article (November 16, 2025) by Kirsten Fleming, she reports that New York City Catholic churches are seeing soaring numbers of young adult converts, according to local priests.
A few testimonies stand out:
- Fr. Teller, OP, from St. Joseph’s Church in Greenwich Village, reports that the number of young people converting to Catholicism has tripled since last year—roughly 130 people.
- St. Vincent Ferrer on the Upper East Side reports that 90 people have signed up to convert.
- The Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral has doubled its headcount, with 100 people entering the Church. Its Sunday 7:00 PM Mass is now overcrowded.
- The Diocese of Brooklyn has welcomed 538 adults into the Church since 2023.
“My generation is watching things fall apart,” said Kiegan Lenihan, who is currently in instruction to become Catholic at St. Joseph’s. “When things all seem to be going wrong in greater society, maybe organized religion isn’t that bad.”
A recent college graduate, Ian Burns, 22, said he was drawn to Catholicism for several reasons, including the “turmoil in the world.” He added, “I felt like I needed something to lean on.”
Is it possible that our young people are seeing the value and joy of being Catholic more clearly than their parents or grandparents? While news stations highlight protests on college campuses, we must remember that not the entire student body is burning the American flag or destroying property.
In a Google search survey of 1,000 college students, I learned that fewer than 37% of students actively protest or plan to protest. A separate survey found that only 19% of students have participated in or plan to participate in demonstrations or walkouts supporting Palestine. Statistically, a nationwide survey of 1,000 people is likely skewed toward large metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City.
An interesting thought: I once participated in a high school walkout - not to protest an issue, but simply to get out of class on a warm May afternoon. I went to Stony Creek to swim.
On the other hand, a decline in religious service attendance of all kinds is evident. According to Gallup, the share of Americans who say religion is an important part of their daily life fell from 66% to 49% between 2005 and 2015. Worldwide, however, an average of 83% of adults say religion is important in their daily lives.
Perhaps the problem in America is our wealth and health. I shudder when I think of a young father I met at the Dream Cruise on Saturday, standing with his four-year-old son, telling me they did not need God. When your stomach is full and you have cash to burn in your pocket, what is there to pray for?
The young adults highlighted in this New York City article seem to believe the world they are about to step into is in serious trouble. Meanwhile, we see citizens aged 40 to 80 protesting in wild costumes and burning anything in sight - acts that appear driven largely by anger.
Maybe this is what is stirring young hearts to seek something firmer, truer, and eternal.
