Something wonderful is happening here. We live in a time of new life. While it may not feel that way to all, the Church is growing, the Spirit is moving, and Jesus is still offering his new life. Readings for Today.
Something wonderful is happening here
If you have been paying attention, you might have noticed that religion is making a small comeback. All over the world the number of people coming into the Catholic Church has been remarkable.
The National Catholic Register reported that the Diocese of Cleveland “expects 812 converts at Eastertime 2025, which is about 50% higher than in 2024 (542) and about 75% higher than in 2023 (465). It’s so high that the diocese had to move its Rite of Election — during which prospective converts meet with the bishop near the beginning of Lent to declare their intention to join the Church — to the city’s Public Auditorium and Conference Center, because the cathedral wasn’t big enough to accommodate the nearly 3,000 attendants, including converts, sponsors, family and friends, according to Nancy Fishburn, the diocese’s executive director of communications.”
The same article reports that there is a 56% increase in the Texas diocese of San Angelo. The Diocese of Winona-Rochester has a 67% increase in those entering the Church, and the numbers there are almost double what they were in 2022. “In 2023, in a parish in a town of 12,000 people, St. John’s welcomed 32 adult converts, followed by 27 in 2024. This year the total number is 38: 30 adults and eight children.” The article reports that dioceses in all parts of the United States are seeing increases. And it is not just the United States. According to the French bishops, 10,384 adults will be baptized this year on Easter night, and more than 7,400 teenagers aged 11 to 17. This brings the total number of catechumens receiving baptism in France this year to over 17,800, an increase of 45% for adults compared to 2024. Of these 42% of these are 18-25 year olds.
Similar stories are reported in Canada, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Mongolia, the Netherlands and Spain among others. And here at Saint Dominic Parish in Denver, we are seeing similar trends.
The New York Times features a columnist who wrote about her former life as a quite active Mormon. She left the Mormon faith, not for another religion but for a more secular life. And yet she feels something is missing.
She writes this: “Actively religious people tend to report they are happier than people who don’t practice religion. Religious Americans are healthier, too. They are significantly less likely to be depressed or to die by suicide, alcoholism, cancer, cardiovascular illness or other causes. In a long-term study, doctors at Harvard found that women who attended religious services once a week were 33 percent less likely to die prematurely than women who never attended.”
It seems that many are discovering what we already know. Jesus brings life. Our faith is not one where we only share the positive elements. Our Messiah, the Divine Son of God was crucified and killed. The first leaders of the Church do not hide their failures, but speak clearly about how they denied him, betrayed him, ran away at his hour of need and doubted him.
But they spoke clearly about how their lives were changed. They went from frightened mice to bold martyrs. A small band of believers became a Church that now boasts over 1 billion members.
And while there are many reasons for this, it cannot be denied that there is an increasing recognition of the action of God in people’s lives. There is, to quote Saint Paul, a greater likelihood these days that people “seek what is above.” They realize that just allowing the Holy Spirit into our souls produces unbelievable spiritual growth.
Consider the example of yeast and dough. If you are like me, you might not even think about yeast. But yeast is tiny. And yet when added to dough the result produces exponential growth. “A little yeast leavens all the dough.”
I am not sure what brought each of you to Mass today. But regardless, what we celebrate is that Jesus is risen. And the risen Christ can change your life.
Have you thought about your personal relationship with Jesus? What are your questions of meaning? What is your life all about? What is it you are meant to become? What kind of person do you want to be?
We live in a challenging time. Young people and young adults are told they need to make a lot of money, and they will be happy. The temptation is to look out for number one. Too many people in our country and around the world live in fear, in poverty, and even without hope.
One person who understands brokenness is Saint Mary Magdelene. Her life saw possession, immoral living, but delivery of evil in a way that brought her to new life. She is the first witness to the empty tomb. She becomes known at the apostle to the Apostles. She is the patroness of the Dominican Order.
Saint Peter denied him. Saint John needed to set aside ambition to surrender to Jesus. But because of the resurrection, their lives will never be the same. Peter becomes the pope. John is the Beloved Disciple.
So where is it God can change your life? What is it God can do for you? Where do you need the healing of Jesus to remove your brokenness? How is it that faith in Jesus can help you to find meaning and purpose in your life?
Saint Dominic Parish specifically, and Holy Mother Church universally, can provide this for you because of the ways in which Jesus is Risen.
Are you looking for community? This parish has long had as a hallmark the sense of community that it creates. Looking to find a sense of purpose and meaning? We provide the Sacraments to help you to encounter Jesus himself. We provide opportunities to grow in faith through study, through spiritual direction.
We provide opportunities to take seriously Jesus’ command to serve the poor, to change lives. There is the Saint Margaret of Costello Center, and the reality of a parish that takes biblical tithing seriously by giving ten percent.
All this because of what we celebrate. Jesus self-gift in the Eucharist. Jesus total abandonment to the will of the Father. And the resurrection of Jesus that makes all things new. Even me. And you.
Jesus is risen! He is truly risen! Accept his invitation to new life.
On the friar, you can listen to our homilies (based on the readings of the day) and reflections. You can also ask us to pray for you or to pray for others. You can subscribe to our website to be informed whenever we publish an update. And we have restarted our podcasts after a hiatus. You can subscribe to our podcasts on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.