150,000 to join Catholic Church in the U.S. this Easter!

Praise God!

As many as 150,000 new or returning Catholics are expected to join the Catholic Church in 2009 in the United States. Many of them will do so at the Easter Vigil liturgies, April 11, in parishes across the country.

In some cases the numbers show the growth and vitality of the Catholic Church in places where it has traditionally been a small minority. For instance, the Archdiocese of Atlanta estimates that 513 catechumens and 2,195 candidates will join the ranks of the Archdiocese in 2009. About 1,800 of them will do so at Easter. These numbers do not include infant baptisms, which are recorded separately. [More from the USCCB press release.] [Partial listing of numbers-by-diocese here.]

In comparison, about 135,000 people came into full communion in 2008.

One of this year's American converts will be present in Rome for Easter (CNA):

At St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, California resident Heidi Sierras will represent North America at the Easter Vigil, where she will be baptized by Pope Benedict XVI.

Let's keep these Catechumens especially in our prayers during the last days of Lent and Triduum.