Westminster Diocese reports rise in new Catholics

WESTMINSTER DIOCESE has reported a rise in the number of people asking to be received into the Church this Lent, bucking a year-on-year trend of decline.

Last week at Westminster Cathedral, 269 catechumens and 353 candidates took the next step in their journey to becoming Catholics – an 11 per cent increase on 2015 figures. Only one other year in the last five has seen a rise.

During the Rite of Election – when both candidates and catechumens were asked to publically express their desire to enter fully into the life of the Church – Cardinal Nichols declared the catechumens ready to go forward to prepare for the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion. The next stage will take place at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. The candidates, who are already baptised Christians, were affirmed by their sponsors and will join the catechumens on Holy Saturday.

In his homily, Cardinal Nichols, who was one of five bishops presiding over the liturgy, recounted the story of Pope Francis’ “response to the Lord’s call” and reminded those gathered in the cathedral that faith is “a gift from Jesus” adding: “We are here because we have been chosen …to receive this gift of faith … to help each other to live by faith and to be its messengers in our world”.

Westminster Diocese has recently established evangelisation teams. A spokeswoman said it was too early to gauge their impact but they hoped the number of converts would continue to increase as mission programmes become established in parishes.