The short answer is that a lot of young people are genuinely coming home to the Church.
You can see it in conversion stories, campus ministries, young-adult communities, and packed Eucharistic adoration nights. Recent data from the prayer app Hallow suggests this is happening in a particularly visible way on college campuses: OCIA participation at nearly 60 U.S. colleges and universities increased by 87.6% from the 2024–25 academic year to 2025–26.
At Texas A&M University, the number of adults entering the Church rose by about 69%, from 121 in 2024–25 to 204 in 2025–26. Other campuses also reported major increases: Stanford reportedly tripled its number of OCIA candidates and catechumens, while New York University saw an 88% increase in OCIA participation and a tripling of daily Mass attendance.
Gen Z faith is a major trending topic. What a time to be alive.
Of course, Time magazine and other secular outlets have challenged viral claims, citing reports that make it difficult to call this a universal “Gen Z revival.”
But the data does show that, in many places, young people are actively seeking something more.
Maybe the better question is: Why are some young people seeking the Church now?
They are looking for truth. For beauty. For belonging. For forgiveness. For silence. And, above all, for Jesus in the Eucharist.
This is not just a trend. Thousands are coming home, and we welcome them, pray for them, and are so happy for them.
Are you seeing this in your parish?