Posted on 04/06/2026 12:01:44 AM PDT by Cronos
Vermonters in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington have celebrated this past week in the leadup to Easter on Sunday, when this year’s class of adults will enter into the Catholic Church. Current estimates indicate that their numbers are increasing substantially, especially among young adults at some of Vermont’s universities. While statewide Sunday Mass attendance has decreased and the diocese is consolidating churches, some local parishes have seen an increase in energy and enthusiasm.
In a state with a declining birth rate and an aged population, data from the Diocese of Burlington indicates that conversions among adults are increasing at a rapid rate, and enrollment at Vermont Catholic schools is up.
In 2023, the Vermont Catholic Magazine reported that 24 Vermonters participated in an optional annual ceremony at the Burlington cathedral as part of their entry into the Church. Those numbers increased to 49 in 2024, 64 in 2025, and to 108 in 2026. This marks an overall increase of 350% since 2023. These figures only represent the individuals who chose to attend this ceremony and do not represent the full number of Vermonters that enter the Church each Easter, which is estimated to be significantly higher.
Attendees at the annual ceremony earlier this year were wide and diverse, representing all ages and many parishes statewide, including from some of Vermont’s new communities.
Deacon Phil Lawson, who serves the diocese as its Executive Director of Pastoral Ministries, is encouraged by the trend.
“It is encouraging to see an increase in the number of people around Vermont seeking to come into the Catholic Church this year. The past few years have seen a steady increase in converts,” said Lawson.
This growth has not been limited to local parishes. Catholic programs at Vermont colleges are seeing substantial increases in enrollment in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA). In 2026, the University of Vermont Catholic Center reported 17 students in the program, while Norwich University reported 20. Most years, enrollment averages three students at UVM and seven at Norwich, according to Fr. Scott Gratton, who oversees Catholic students at both schools.
“There is a thirst and curiosity for God among this generation. They are searching for the definition of who they are and what they were made for. The world defines them by what they do, or how they look, or any infinite ways of reducing them to trivial divisions. The Church is telling them the Truth [sic] for the first time, they are defined by one thing and one thing alone: God’s love for them as a beloved child. Everything else comes secondary to that,” said Gratton.
OCIA students themselves agree with his sentiment.
“It has brought me a sense of purpose and direction that I have been missing my entire life,” said OCIA student Savannah Robson from Bennington. “I’m so incredibly thankful for the guidance and support that programs like OCIA provide, especially for someone like me who is still learning and growing in faith. I have never felt so devoted to God as I do now. I have never been so sure as I am now that Catholicism is the truth of how to follow what the Lord needs as I am now.”
This growth in church attendance and the conversion of adult Catholics has been noted across the country and it doesn’t appear to be solely the result of post-pandemic growth. Administrators within the Vermont Catholic Church have noticed the increase in adult converts, and speculation as to its cause has been varied. Bishop John McDermott, who was ordained as Vermont’s only bishop in 2024, said that the world and modern culture push people away.
“When the world proposes answers in technology, wealth, and power, the deepest longings of our hearts can’t be found in AI or money, only in a relationship with God who is love,” said McDermott.
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One of the states I’ve always wanted to visit! And apparently one of the most agnostic/atheist?
So this is encouraging.🍁 🕊️
I’ve been there a few times. It can be quite beautiful and simply screams New England.
Vermont is beautiful... I love the small towns. New England is an underrated part of the USA.
Oops
Posted my reply to wrong thread
It’s on this one
https://freerepublic.com/focus/religion/4373826/posts?page=1
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