An investigation by the Diocese of East Anglia has revealed that “spiritual restlessness” is driving adults to join the Catholic Church.
Why adults become CatholicsA study by the diocese’s New Evangelization Committee found that this “restlessness” was “particularly spiritual” rather than participants feeling “a general anxiety about their lives.” It has been found.
The 10 adult converts interviewed for this study included one former atheist-turned-Buddhist, two former agnostics, and a former Catholic, Mormon, Pentecostal, or Protestant. Included were people who had not. Many said that “something was missing” in their previous faith practices.
Joining the church proved to be the end of a “protracted” and “self-initiated” spiritual journey.
The survey results reflect a recent surge in church membership.
Nearly 1,000 people in the Archdiocese of Southwark and Westminster turned Catholic this Easter, while worshipers had to be turned away from Westminster Cathedral on Good Friday as it reached its 3,000-seat capacity. Ta.
Bishop Collins attended the election ceremony at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Norwich. Credit: Diocese of East Anglia/rcdea.org.uk
In the Diocese of East Anglia, an average of 65 people join the Church each year. Bishop Peter Collins has written to all parish priests in East Anglia to find participants for a qualitative research study.
The participants were 5 men and 5 women. The youngest was 23 years old, the oldest was 61 years old, and the average age was 45 years old. All have joined the church in the past five years.
In an hour-long interview, each of them revealed that their conversion was a “gradual” process, although they never used that term.
This usually involved “considering” important Catholic beliefs about Mary and Purgatory, and deciding to attend Mass proved to be a key moment. Many people found a sense of “respect” in the Catholic Church, especially during Mass and Eucharistic Adoration. One participant said of their journey to church, “Intellectual drivers may take you there, but spiritual and emotional connections will keep you there. ” he said.
All interviewees were from seven dioceses in East Anglia, and all but one had undertaken a diocesan RCIA course. “For most, it served to strengthen and further develop their previous independent exploration of Catholicism,” the researchers said.
The role social media played in the adults’ journey to Catholicism was also important.
The researchers said, “YouTube videos appear to be primarily for informational and educational value, rather than for inspiration or encouragement.”
The findings suggest that “the evangelistic potential of social media, particularly hosts of prominent Catholic YouTube channels, cannot be underestimated.”
The researchers also warned that “the accessibility of social media content providers carries the risk of distorting information, and social media companies’ algorithms cannot be consistently trusted as a safe source of information.”
They advised that evangelization methods, including social media, need to demonstrate “direction” and “recommendations” in this area.
