Phoenix: Catholic campus ministries across the United States are experiencing a remarkable surge in students seeking baptism, confirmation, and full communion, reflecting a growing desire among young adults for stability, certainty, and faith amid today’s cultural turbulence. Evangelists and campus ministers attribute this growth to a combination of pastoral engagement, strategic outreach, and the appeal of vibrant Catholic communities on college campuses.
At Arizona State University (ASU), the Newman Center recently welcomed its largest cohort of students into the Catholic Church. Ryan Ayala, former seminarian and ASU campus minister, reported that 52 students received sacraments at Christ the King Parish in Mesa during the fall semester, with another 50 expected at the Easter Vigil in spring. “This is by far the largest class we’ve had,” Ayala said, noting the diverse backgrounds of students from first-time Christians to Protestant converts and baptized Catholics completing their sacraments.
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) program at ASU has more than doubled in participation, incorporating a focused nine-week process paired with FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) Bible studies. The ministry emphasizes consistent engagement: “No phone call goes unanswered,” Ayala said, highlighting that students from Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, nondenominational, nonreligious, atheist, and even Muslim backgrounds are seeking faith formation. Ayala credits the growth to both pastoral diligence and cultural dynamics, observing that Generation Z students increasingly ask deeper philosophical and theological questions.
Father Bill Clements, who has directed the ASU Newman Center for 15 years, highlighted a broader shift in student attitudes. “In the last two years, a switch was flipped. People are tired of crazy. They’re hungry for direction, truth, goodness, and beauty,” he said. To accommodate increased interest, Clements expanded OCIA offerings to three sessions annually and relies heavily on FOCUS missionaries to guide students through their faith journey. Weekly Bible studies engage about 400 students, while 1,500 attend one of six weekend Masses at the Newman Chapel.
Student testimonies underscore the personal impact of these programs. Yailen Cho, baptized and confirmed on Nov. 23, shared that the Newman Center’s welcoming environment and FOCUS Bible studies helped her deepen her relationship with God and embrace the Catholic faith. “I want everyone to be happy, and I want to be happy. If you live by the Word, as the Bible says, you can be happy in heaven forever,” she reflected.
Similar growth is evident at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where 50 students are currently preparing for initiation, up from 30 last Easter. Rita Zyber, OCIA coordinator at St. Mary Student Parish, attributes this rise to students seeking grounding amid global chaos, noting full attendance at daily liturgies and weekend Masses. Jesuit priests at the parish, drawing on Ignatian spirituality, resonate strongly with the student body, reinforcing faith formation and engagement.
In Nebraska, Father Ryan Kaup, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Newman Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, described the current period as a “golden age of campus ministry.” At the Easter Vigil this spring, 72 students entered the Church, and 125 more have expressed interest this semester, indicating a sustained and accelerating trend of spiritual commitment among young adults.
The surge in baptisms and confirmations on college campuses highlights the renewed vitality of Catholic ministry among young adults. Campus ministers point to a combination of intentional outreach, personal accompaniment, and the beauty of Catholic liturgy as central to this growth, offering students a path to faith that is both spiritually enriching and deeply resonant amid today’s uncertain cultural landscape.