It’s for Real

April 1, 2026

Amid a restless culture marked by isolation and distrust, Christ continues to draw people into the life of the Church

By Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

April 1, 2026

Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori

This year, unprecedented numbers will be received into the Church at Easter. In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, more than 2,000 are entering — and Baltimore is not alone. Dioceses throughout the United States and around the world are reporting similarly large numbers.

Many entering the Church are young adults. Some are involved in campus ministry programs; others are beginning their professional lives. Some are contemplating marriage, others priesthood or consecrated life. What is happening? What is drawing these young adults — and many others — to the faith?

Various explanations are offered. Some point to how isolated our culture has become. Many people interact more with their smartphones than with those around them, yet they still desire something better. They want to belong to something bigger than themselves and to Someone who loves them. They want to be seen, known, understood and loved — and don’t we all?

Something more fundamental accounts for why the faith remains attractive and why the Church endures. ... It is the person of Christ, made present by the Holy Spirit.

Others point to the emptiness of contemporary culture. News and entertainment are often superficial — tainted with ideology and devoid of beauty. Afraid of being politically incorrect, many resort to clichés and banalities. But the human spirit is made for more. It is made for truth and love — and one without the other is not enough.

Still others note that trust in institutions has declined dramatically, including government and news organizations. A recent poll found that only 22% of the U.S. population believes government most often acts in the public’s best interests. Social service agencies and religious institutions, including the Catholic Church, are distrusted. Yet some have taken a second look at the Church. They recognize her scandals and the faults of her members, but they also see that, despite everything, the Church has remained consistent in beliefs and practices. In a word, the Church is reliable in a world that often seems built on sand.

All these explanations have merit, but none fully explain the surge of new members entering the Church. Something more fundamental accounts for why the faith remains attractive and why the Church endures. The Church has seasons of growth and decline, yet just when it is widely thought to be vanishing, new life and growth appear.

The reason is that at the heart of the Church is something real — indeed, “really real.” It is the person of Christ, made present by the Holy Spirit: the Redeemer who promised to remain with his Church until the end of time, the Bridegroom who loves his Church in every season, whether times are peaceful or turbulent, marked by great holiness or by scandal and decline. The Lord does not countenance sin, but neither does he abandon his Church despite the infidelities of some leaders and members. The crucified and risen Savior continues to draw all people to himself.

During the Easter Vigil, thousands upon thousands are immersed in the mystery of the Lord’s death and resurrection. His victory begins to live in them through water and the Holy Spirit. In confirmation, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are poured into their hearts, and their relationship with Christ and the Church is sealed. They receive his body, blood, soul and divinity, experiencing communion with God and with the Church.

Knights of Columbus have a special role to play in all this. Through initiatives like Cor, our life of faith is strengthened. The living presence of Christ in the Church dawns on us anew, and our hearts open to him. We are thus equipped to bear witness to our faith and to walk with those seeking something better than the culture has to offer — something and Someone on whom they can stake their lives.

Our faith is for real. Of this Blessed Michael McGivney had not the shadow of a doubt. Let us rejoice and be glad, for the Lord is truly risen! B

It’s for Real

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