Catholic conversions surge as young adults seek ‘something holy’
Candles danced and hymns rang out this spring as an estimated 1,600 adults establishing their new spiritual home in the Catholic Church gathered for Lenten-season liturgies known as the Rite of Election.
So many converts had spent months preparing for the sacraments that would bring them into full church participation that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix had to split the event into multiple services in 2026 and also in 2025.
Beneath the wings of the solemn occasion, which spread across four churches throughout metro Phoenix, was a wave of emotion that struck Bishop John Dolan.