The Archdiocese of Chicago surveyed over 2,000 people who entered the Catholic Church this year, asking a simple question: what brought you here? The results, published in collaboration with 20 dioceses across the United States, offer a snapshot of what draws Americans to Catholicism in 2026. Read the full report at Aleteia.
The survey reached 2,127 adults who participated in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) programs this year. Participants answered in English and Spanish. The Archdiocese of Chicago initiated the project after noticing an uptick in conversions nationally and wanted data on the reasons behind the trend.
What the survey found
The survey asked participants about their motivations for seeking membership in the Catholic Church, their experience of the OCIA process, and what aspects of Catholic teaching or practice most attracted them. While the Archdiocese has not yet released the full findings publicly, the survey represents one of the largest coordinated efforts to understand modern conversion patterns in the American Church.
The timing is significant. After years of declining attendance and membership in many parishes, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, dioceses across the country have reported modest but noticeable increases in adult initiation numbers since 2024. This survey is the first large-scale attempt to understand what those converts are seeking and finding.
Why this matters
Conversion trends offer a window into how the Church is perceived by those outside her walls. When hundreds of adults each year choose to enter full communion, their reasons tell us something about what the Catholic faith offers that speaks to contemporary spiritual hunger.
The survey also provides practical insight for parishes. Understanding what draws people to OCIA programs, and what they find compelling about Catholic teaching, can help pastors and catechists shape formation programs that meet seekers where they are. It may also reveal gaps between what the Church teaches and what prospective converts understand about that teaching.
For Catholic readers
If you know someone going through OCIA this year, or if you’re a sponsor or catechist, pray for those preparing to enter the Church at Easter 2027. The survey results, when fully published, may offer helpful conversation starters about why faith matters and what drew each person to this particular step.
You can read more about the survey at the link above. The Archdiocese of Chicago has not yet announced when detailed findings will be released.
Sources: 1. Aleteia — original report
