Revival of the Catholic Church in the US

Have you noticed a resurgence of attendance in Catholic Churches since about 2023? That is a question many are asking.

The statistics show that in the post Vatican II years from 1970 to about 2000, there was a general increase in Catholic membership in the US. In 2000, this was written:

Catholic full or confirmed membership grew from 37.1 million in 1970 to 47.4 million by 1997, an increase of 27.7 percent. Adult Catholics now represent 53 percent of the combined total number of Catholics and members of the 18 major Protestant denominations in the United States. The number of Catholics increased at about the rate of total population growth during a period of significant organizational turmoil. These data contradict the conclusion that American Catholics will follow the mainline pattern of dwindling membership.

(Harris, Joseph Claude. “Are American Catholics in Decline?” 6-3-2000, P 7. Accessed 7-25-2026.

https://www.americamagazine.org/from-our-archives/2000/06/03/are-american-catholics-decline/)

Post Vatican II, there was a major increase in Catholic membership, concurrent with overall population growth. This resulted in increased attendance during the changes that followed Vatican II. 

Unfortunately, after the millennium, this trend did not hold up.  From 2000 to 2020, “Catholics were shown to have the greatest change in weekly attendance, with a fall from 45% in the 2000s to just 33% in the 2020s.”

(Aleteia. “Catholics Show Lowest Attendance of Any US Faith in Survey.” Accessed 7-25-2026. https://aleteia.org/2024/04/11/catholics-show-lowest-attendance-of-any-us-faith-in-survey).

It is all speculative, seeking reasons for the decrease in attendance, in spite of an increase in overall membership just decades before. Some point to overall cultural and political changes, with a more liberal trend. Those questions continue to haunt the Church. That question is for another researcher.

But the trends began to change dramatically after 2020.  One of the positive changes in the culture is a definite increase in Catholicism in the US. According to Pew Research Center, a report in June 2025 stated,“47% of adult Americans have a personal or family connection to Catholicism.” 

(Pew Research Center, “Report: 6-16-2025.” Accessed 7-25-2026. https://www.pewresearch.org/search/catholic+church+attendance).

A most interesting trend in these mid 2020s is not just an increase in former members coming back to church, but the number of converts from other Christian denominations and other religions, as well as people who had claimed to be atheists.

In 2026, “Converts make up 8% of U.S. Catholics. The remaining 92% of U.S. Catholics were raised in the faith and still identify with it today.” (Pew Research Center, “Vance Is Among 1.5% of Americans Who Have Converted to Catholicism. Accessed July 27, 2026. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/06/05/vance-is-among-1-5-of-americans-who-have-converted-to-catholicism/).

This shows that attendance of former members and new membership are increasing, with an uptick in the number of people entering the Church at Easter.

From 2023 to the present, dioceses in the US have seen an increase in the number of adults entering full communion with the Catholic Church. These are converts, not just increase attendance by members. For example, in 2026:

This year, the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, is among dioceses reporting an uptick in Catholic conversions, with 1,701 individuals preparing to join the Church – a 30 percent increase since 2025, a 48 percent increase since 2024 and a 72 percent increase since 2023. Of those, 645 catechumens will celebrate the sacraments of baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist during the Easter Vigil on April 4 –a 14 percent rise since 2025, a 41 percent rise since 2024 and a 75 percent rise since 2023.

(Cathscan, “US Dioceses Say Rise in New Catholics May Point to Regional Revivals.” Accessed 7-29-2026. https://www.cathstan.org/us-world/us-dioceses-say-rise-in-new-catholics-may-point-to-regional-revivals).

This means that the number of teens and adults who are joining the church is showing a tremendous increase.

In Central Florida, where I live, has shown a marked increase as well, with the Diocese of Orlando bringing in 941 catechumens in 2026. (Orlando Diocese. “Record Number to Enter the Church in Central Florida.” Accessed July 26, 2026. https://www.orlandodiocese.org/e-scroll/archive/record-number-to-enter-church-in-central-florida/)

Join me in my next article about WHY there has been such a resurgence in the Catholic Church in America.