Archdiocese welcomes record number of new Catholics on Easter 2024
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles had more than 2,000 catechumens baptized into the Catholic faith, the biggest number since at least 2016. The archdiocese also had the second-most candidates since 2016 entering into full communion with the Catholic Church.
The archdiocese had 2,075 catechumens at Easter Vigil liturgies this year, a 38% increase since 2016, when there were 1,508. There were also 1,521 candidates in 2024, a 20% increase since 2016, and a 67% increase in total candidates since a pre-pandemic low in 2019.
Since 2016, the archdiocese had a high of 1,719 total candidates in 2023.
Catechumens are adults or children who have never been baptized, while candidates are those who have been baptized, but receive the sacrament of confirmation and the Eucharist during the Easter vigil.