Harvard University’s Catholic ministry reportedly plans to see the “largest class ever” of converts, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The newspaper recently covered the growth in Catholicism on college campuses, including secular ones like Harvard.
Wall Street Journal reported:
This fall, the Catholic Center and its affiliated parish, St. Paul’s, boast 80 people seeking to formally enter the church. That’s double the number from last year and “our largest class ever, by a wide margin,” said Fr. Nathaniel Sanders, 34, Harvard’s undergraduate Catholic chaplain. Sunday Mass attendance now averages 300 students, up from around 200 a few years ago. Students describe it as a staple event on campus, followed by a big sit-down dinner that includes both Catholics and non-Catholics.
Other campuses have seen similar results.
The newspaper reported:
Catholic chaplains serving dozens of U.S. colleges describe growing student interest in the Catholic faith, including Mass, Bible studies, confessionals and other engagements. “On a secular campus, there’s a search for another voice—the perennial voice of the Church,” said Fr. Justin Bolger, who serves the Catholic community of both Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. He reports that 35 students are preparing to enter the church this year, the largest number in at least a decade.
Some cited the intellectual history of the Catholic Church while others pointed to beautiful liturgies as a source for interest and conversion.
The College Fix also recently covered the growth in the Catholic campus ministry at Arizona State University.
MORE: College students share inspiring Christmas season takeaways
