The Church in France has published a report showing that on Easter Vigil 2022, more than 4200 catechumens will receive the sacrament of baptism
Newsroom (15/04/2022 4:15 PM, Gaudium Press) On Holy Saturday, 2022, the Church in France will baptize about 4300 adults. In the last five years, the number of catechumens baptized on Easter has varied between 4,000 and 4,200.
Numbers of catechumens
However, due to the pandemic, this year’s numbers represent a 17% increase over 2021.
Aproximately 28% of the baptized are between 18 and 25 years and are mostly students. Three out of four catechumens are under the age of 40. Women represent 63% of those requesting baptism. Only 17% of the baptized say they have not practiced any religion previously.
Whole Families seeking the sacraments
The director of the National Service for Catechesis and Catechumenate, Pauline Dawance, explained that there is a “family phenomenon” of seeking the sacraments.
Several members ask for one or more sacraments of Christian initiation within the same family. Dawance says that this proves that “faith is contagious and that there is no age to be a witness and to transmit the joy of the encounter with Christ.
The increase of catechumens shows the strength of the Church
The Archbishop of Tours, Most Rev Vincent Jordy, noted regarding the numbers that: “The joy of welcoming these new Easter baptisms is all the stronger for the life of the Church in France, deeply marked not only by the pandemic but also by the shock of the reports on sexual abuse in the Church.” (FM)
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj