Increase Italians compared to those who come from other countries and increase young people. It is the tendency, consolidated, which concerns catechumens – people who decide to embrace the Catholic faith from adults receiving the sacraments of baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation all together – in the diocese of Milan.
This year I am in total 89: 41 of which are Italians, 14 Europeans (of these 12 are Albanians, a French and a Bulgarian), 24 South American, 7 Africans and 3 Asians. There are 54 women and 35 men, with an age between 16 and 59 years old. The three sacraments of Christian initiation will receive in their parishes after dealing with a two -year training course.
“The phenomenon of catechumens is growing, both locally and internationally»Explains the Ambrosian diocese in a note,”In Milan since 2022 the number of catechumens is increasing. A particularly significant fact concerns the origin of these new catechumens: while in the past the phenomenon was mainly linked to migration, today the number of Italian catechumens is growing today. Even the average age has gradually lowered: a third of catechumens is in fact less than 30 years old».
At national level, in 2023 (last year of which the aggregate data of the National Catechumenate Service are available) were counted 742 catechumens, mostly women, with 21% of teenagers between 14 and 18 years old and 347 young people between 19 and 30. However, it is estimated that the real number exceeds 1,000–1.100, considering that only 57% of the Italian dioceses responded to the detection. The data were released by the diocese of Milan on the eve of the vigil In Tradition Symboli scheduled for Saturday evening in the Duomo at 8.45 pm
To the celebration – which will be chaired by the Archbishop Mario Delpini, flanked by the episcopal vicars – the 89 catechumens will participate who in the next Easter vigil, Saturday 19 April, will receive baptism, confirmation and for the first time the Eucharist. With them, on Saturday evening in the cathedral, two thousand young people from the whole diocese are expected. During the vigil, which will be broadcast live on www.chiesadimilano.it And on the YouTube channel of the diocese, the Archbishop will deliver the I believe, Symbol of the Catholic faith, both to catechumens and to young people and – accompanied by their educators – will renew their profession of faith.
Before the vigil, the Ambrosian catechumens will have an opportunity to meet and dialogue with Delpini starting from 17.45 at the “Cardinal Schuster” pastoral center.
The catechumens in the diocese of Milan are, every year, between 80 and 90 people. The trend that is surprising to us is that they are increasingly young and, halfway, born in Italy. Their research paths start in the oratory, university or during the preparation paths for the wedding or catechism of their children. There are also those who start praying in a moment of pain And, only after, he understands those who are turning and perceives that he is listened to by someone », explained Don Matteo Dal Santo, Head of the service for the catechesis and the catechumenate section of the diocese of Milan al Sir (the agency of the Italian Episcopal Conference), “is a trend that shows how it is possible to become Christians at all ages, but above all that testifies that there is a ferment of life in the Church, that there are people looking for, who ask themselves questions of meaning starting from life, And that some answers to their questions find in the faith and in the Gospel ».
The tendency of the increase in catechumens, especially among the youngest, is not only Italian but also the Francewhere the laws of the last few years have obtracted in any way the exhibition of religious symbols, is knowing a particularly lively season from this point of view.
During the next Easter Vigil, throughout the country 10,384 adults and over 7,400 teenagers will receive baptism, As Merso from the investigation published on 10 April by the Episcopal Conference (CEF) and reported in an in -depth article by the periodical The Croix.
It is a fact that scores An increase of 45% compared to 2024, when 7,135 adults were baptized. This is the highest number ever recorded for over twenty years, since the national monitoring of catechumens has been started.
A growth that is not the result of a precise strategy, underline the bishops, but rather the spontaneous expression of a return to faith, particularly evident among the youngest. Among the most significant news, as he explained The Croix, emerges the Strong presence of young adults between 18 and 25 years old, students and young workers, who represent 42% of adult catechumens. Only in the diocese of Saint-Denis this range even reaches 66%. For the first time it exceeds the historic central band 26-40 years (39%), which until 2021 was twice the young people.
Also among teenagers between 11 and 17 years of age there are a boom: over 7,400 baptisms, Two thirds of which girls, with an increase of 33% compared to last year. For the first time, high school students and middle school students are equivalent as numbers, while in 2023 the former were only 36%.
