Wow Catholic Church in France Reveals Record-Breaking Over 17,000 to be Baptized at Easter with More Requests Pouring In!
The Catholic Church in France announces record-breaking numbers, more than 17,800 catechumens will be baptized during the Easter Vigil on April 19, 2025. 10,384 adults will be baptized this year on Easter night, along with more than 7,400 adolescents aged 11 to 17. This brings the total number of catechumens who will receive baptism this year in France to more than 17,800, representing a 45% increase for adults compared to 2024.SEE 5:05 Mark on the VIDEO Below:
These results, which further exceed the record figures collected last year, are the highest ever recorded since the CEF began this survey more than twenty years ago (in 2002) – the survey now serving as a benchmark. Furthermore, a trend, already noted in last year's study, is being confirmed and strengthened significantly: the growing, and now predominant, proportion of young people among all catechumens:
Among newly baptized adults, the 18-25 year-old group, composed of students and "young professionals," now represents 42% of catechumens, and has thus surpassed the 26-40 age group, which until now represented the historical core target of adult catechumens.
The number of adolescent catechumens increased significantly again this year. We are seeing a 33% increase for the dioceses for which we have figures for the two consecutive years of 2024 and 2025.
Note: Alongside the increase in catechumens, since 2022, dioceses have seen a substantial increase in adult "confirmands," often referred to as "recommendants," meaning those who were baptized in childhood and who, after ceasing to practice for various reasons, particularly during adolescence, return to the Church to deepen their faith as adults. In 2024, more than 9,000 adults received the sacrament of Confirmation at Pentecost (the feast on which adult confirmations take place in the Catholic Church—fifty days after Easter), twice as many as two years ago.
https://eglise.catholique.fr/approfondir-sa-foi/la-celebration-de-la-foi/les-sacrements/le-bapteme/baptemes-adultes/
This report provides an overview of the adolescent and adult catechumenate in France, including figures and trends observed each year:
Catechumens: Everyone is concerned!
The annual catechumenate survey shows that the influx of catechumens—adults and young people—is not a passing phenomenon. Beyond the numbers, already significant in themselves, it is important to interpret this sign from Heaven.
We certainly lack perspective on this, but we can already see in it an encouragement from the Lord, reminding us that He is the Master of the mission; He is the one who draws us to Himself, touches hearts, and reveals Himself.
Let us not be too quick to think, however, that all this happened without us. The letters of the catechumens clearly demonstrate the diversity of the Lord's mediations.
One thing is certain, in any case: the great challenge now before us is to make disciples of them. It is not simply a matter of devising ways for a few to "keep" them after baptism. Our entire parish communities must become aware of this collective mission and implement incorporation processes, both before and after baptism.
In this dynamic, we note that "old baptized people," discovering unsuspected spaces of faith, are challenged and renewed by the witness of newcomers, while the latter are gradually introduced to the different dimensions of Christian life. And thus, everyone is enriched.
Mgr Olivier de Germay,
Archbishop of Lyon
Member of the Commission for Initiation and Christian Life,
Bishop responsible for the catechumenate
April 2025
These results, which further exceed the record figures collected last year, are the highest ever recorded since the CEF began this survey more than twenty years ago (in 2002) – the survey now serving as a benchmark. Furthermore, a trend, already noted in last year's study, is being confirmed and strengthened significantly: the growing, and now predominant, proportion of young people among all catechumens:
Among newly baptized adults, the 18-25 year-old group, composed of students and "young professionals," now represents 42% of catechumens, and has thus surpassed the 26-40 age group, which until now represented the historical core target of adult catechumens.
The number of adolescent catechumens increased significantly again this year. We are seeing a 33% increase for the dioceses for which we have figures for the two consecutive years of 2024 and 2025.
Note: Alongside the increase in catechumens, since 2022, dioceses have seen a substantial increase in adult "confirmands," often referred to as "recommendants," meaning those who were baptized in childhood and who, after ceasing to practice for various reasons, particularly during adolescence, return to the Church to deepen their faith as adults. In 2024, more than 9,000 adults received the sacrament of Confirmation at Pentecost (the feast on which adult confirmations take place in the Catholic Church—fifty days after Easter), twice as many as two years ago.
https://eglise.catholique.fr/approfondir-sa-foi/la-celebration-de-la-foi/les-sacrements/le-bapteme/baptemes-adultes/
This report provides an overview of the adolescent and adult catechumenate in France, including figures and trends observed each year:
Catechumens: Everyone is concerned!
The annual catechumenate survey shows that the influx of catechumens—adults and young people—is not a passing phenomenon. Beyond the numbers, already significant in themselves, it is important to interpret this sign from Heaven.
We certainly lack perspective on this, but we can already see in it an encouragement from the Lord, reminding us that He is the Master of the mission; He is the one who draws us to Himself, touches hearts, and reveals Himself.
Let us not be too quick to think, however, that all this happened without us. The letters of the catechumens clearly demonstrate the diversity of the Lord's mediations.
One thing is certain, in any case: the great challenge now before us is to make disciples of them. It is not simply a matter of devising ways for a few to "keep" them after baptism. Our entire parish communities must become aware of this collective mission and implement incorporation processes, both before and after baptism.
In this dynamic, we note that "old baptized people," discovering unsuspected spaces of faith, are challenged and renewed by the witness of newcomers, while the latter are gradually introduced to the different dimensions of Christian life. And thus, everyone is enriched.
Mgr Olivier de Germay,
Archbishop of Lyon
Member of the Commission for Initiation and Christian Life,
Bishop responsible for the catechumenate
April 2025
10 384 adultes seront baptisés cette année dans la nuit de Pâques, et plus de 7 400 adolescents âgés de 11 à 17 ans. Portant ainsi à plus de 17 800 le nombre de catéchumènes qui recevront cette année le baptême en France, soit une hausse, pour les adultes, de 45 % par rapport à… pic.twitter.com/DQgmDx158U
— Église catholique en France (@Eglisecatho) April 10, 2025
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