April 5, 2026

The number of individuals entering the Catholic Church continues to rise across the state of Ohio.

An increasing number of Ohioans are preparing to become Catholic in and outside of the Columbus diocese this year.

The number of catechumens, individuals who are unbaptized, and candidates, previously baptized individuals who will enter full communion with the Church through the sacraments of initiation – the Eucharist and/or Confirmation – is increasing from previous years.

Locally, the Columbus diocese will welcome nearly 500 catechumens into the Church this year through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Individuals preparing for baptism represent 46 diocesan parishes among 50 OCIA directors.

By comparison, the diocese had just over 200 catechumens last year. The increase in catechumens can be attributed to several factors.

The diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis worked to centralize and structure the OCIA process. More than 50 percent of parishes were trained in the process.

Ohio Sees Surge in Converts: Nearly 500 Prepare to Join Catholic Church in Columbus Diocese Alone — More Than Double Last Year’s Count. A concerted effort by the diocese’s Office of Evangelization and Catechesis to streamline the entry process is sparking a sharp rise in new members, highlighting a powerful revival in faith as more Ohioans seek baptism and full communion through the Church’s sacraments. This dramatic uptick signals a growing religious shift with deep social and cultural implications statewide.

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