By Jessica Easthope
At a time when many assume Christianity is in decline, the Catholic Church in the United States is experiencing a surge in conversions.
In the Diocese of Brooklyn alone, more than 1,200 people were welcomed into the Church at Easter this year.
Nationwide, according to 2024 annual figures, more than 90,000 people joined the Catholic Church. More than 34,000 were baptized, while more than 55,000 entered the Church from other Christian denominations.
A study conducted by several dioceses between February and May 2026 surveyed thousands of participants in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) to better understand what motivated their conversions.
Among those surveyed was Isabella Williams, a young convert who said belief in the Eucharist was central to her decision.
“No other church had the real presence of Jesus Christ, or believed that to be true,” Williams said. “I couldn’t go back to those churches after I truly believed that Jesus was present in the Eucharist.”
The study found that 85% of participants said their primary motivation for becoming Catholic was a desire to grow closer to God. Smaller percentages said they wanted to better understand the truth or find greater inner peace.
Williams said she believes the Catholic faith offers purpose.
“I think people are converting to the Church because it gives meaning to life,” she said. “It fills the hole in our hearts.”
She also pointed to what she sees as a hopeful moment for the Church in the United States, citing the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, alongside the increase in conversions.
One of the study’s most notable findings involved the role of Catholic tradition.
According to the survey, 68% of participants said the Church’s rites, liturgy, prayers, and sacraments played an important role in their conversion.
Williams said the Church’s history also resonated with her.
“Having the deep roots of the Catholic faith, being the Church that Jesus started himself and lasting for over 2,000 years, it felt like it mattered,” she said.
Of the 71 dioceses that participated in the study, 66 reported a 38% increase in baptisms.
The findings point to a broader trend of increasing numbers of Americans choosing to embrace the Catholic faith.