200 welcomed into the Church at the Easter Vigil

GREENSBURG –  At the Easter Vigil Mass, in parishes across the Diocese of Greensburg, 200 people, young and old, will be officially welcomed and fully initiated in our Catholic community. According to Vincent Reilly, Managing Director of Faith, Family, and Discipleship for the Diocese of Greensburg, 83 of those individuals will be baptized, confirmed and will receive the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.  117 candidates, who were already baptized in either the Catholic Church or another Christian denomination, will be confirmed and receive the Holy Eucharist for the first time.

For the Diocese of Greensburg, the number of those entering the church at Easter has increased 28% over 2025.   Reilly said people joining the Catholic Church have increased worldwide, including in France and Ireland, and in locations that have never had to have Christian Initiation of Adults before.  In the United States, dioceses are reporting larger numbers of catechumens and candidates.  

“Many people are looking for meaning, stability, and truth in a world that can feel uncertain,” Reilly said about the increase.  “Young adults are becoming interested in religion due to not learning about faith as a youth and are hungering for something more.  Because parents are not sharing the faith in their home, more people are discovering the Church as young adults.  There has also been a renewed emphasis on evangelization within the Church, especially inspired by Pope Francis and now Pope Leo XIV, who are encouraging Catholics to invite others and share their faith more intentionally.”

The mix of those called to join the church in the Diocese of Greensburg is split between former Protestants desiring the join the Catholic Church. Reilly said they are finding a home because of our traditions dating back to Christ, most especially our belief in the Eucharist.  The others are people who were baptized as infants but were never raised in the faith. Many are experiencing Catholicism for the first time, even though they were baptized as Catholics at a young age.

“Their journey is often powerful because they encounter the Gospel and the person of Christ for the first time in a deeply intentional way,” Reilly added.

If someone is interested in exploring Christian Initiation, Reilly advised them to call their local parish about the process.  There is no pressure or commitment required to begin to ask the questions about the faith. “Come with an open mind and heart,” Reilly advises.  “The process is designed to meet people where they are, whether they’re full of questions, doubts, or curiosity.  Most importantly, don’t feel like you need to have everything figured out beforehand.  Faith is a journey, not a test you have to pass before you begin.”