Catholic Church is Seeing More and More Converts

Articles | November 17, 2025 | by Catholics for Catholics

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One of the factors seems to be the slaying of Charlie Kirk, while other reasons cited are young people are tired of the vagaries of pop culture.

By Catholics for Catholics

In mainstream pop culture, Catholicism is making a comeback. Big time.

According to a story published in the New York Post, the Big Apple has always seen young people come to Gotham for pleasure, materialism and to chase a career on the hectic streets of Manhattan. But recently, young folks, non-Catholics, are going there seeking to become Catholics.

One of the latest factors is something totally unforeseen; the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, said some of the priests interviewed for the story. Though Kirk was a protestant, there were many indications that he was well on his way to converting to Catholicism.

Since Kirk’s assassination in September, Mass attendance has gone up, according to The Post’s story. Churches across the country have reported more conversions, especially among young people.

And the fact that such a large number of people are seeking faith in uber secular New York City is remarkable.

At a recent, very crowded Sunday night mass at St. Joseph’s Church in Greenwich Village, Father Jonah Teller, told folks that the figures enrolled in the parish’s Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — the system in which adults convert to Catholicism — had tripled since last year, with roughly 130 people signing up.

Something akin happened at St. Vincent Ferrer on the Upper East Side, where their OCIA numbers have doubled since last year, augmenting to almost 90 people.

Fox News reports rising Sunday Mass attendance across Catholic churches in New York, alongside an increase in conversions to the Catholic faith.

Video: Fox and Friends pic.twitter.com/y3Y7dJhSPA

— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) November 17, 2025

At the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, they’ve also doubled their head count with about 100 people. Their Sunday 7pm mass has become congested.

“We’re out of space and exploring, adding more masses,” Father Daniel Ray told The Post.

In the Diocese of Brooklyn, they’ve also seen an upswing. In 2024, they had 538 adults enter the church, nearly twice the amount of 2023. (All priests acknowledge some will drop off before the Easter Vigil, but they still expect numbers to remain high).

“We’ve got a real booming thing happening here, and it’s not because of some marketing campaign,” said Ray.