Carved By Grace: How Gaudi Led A Japanese Artist To The Catholic Faith (Link to article below) https://www.osvnews.com/carved-by-grace-how-gaudi-led-a-japanese-artist-to-the-catholic-faith/
Paula Rose Parish speaking with Robert Nugent about her journey from Protestant Minister to Catholicism.
Yes I have watched this excellent interview. True converts from Protestantism bring great scriptural knowledge. They don't want a Catholic church that's veering towards what they left behind.
From Sacred Chad page: Last night at the Easter Vigil, 21,386 people were baptized into the Catholic Church across France. A new record. The second record year in a row. In 2025 the number was already a record at 17,788. This year it rose to 21,386. Ten years ago in 2016 the number was just over 4,100. It has more than tripled in a decade. 42% of those baptized are aged 18 to 25. Another 40% are aged 26 to 40. This is not an older generation returning to the faith of their childhood. These are young people choosing it for the first time. When asked why they sought baptism, 40% cited personal hardships such as illness or the death of a loved one. 34% said they had learned more about Christianity. 32% said they had a strong spiritual experience. The Archbishop of Lyon said the numbers continue to surprise. France is one of the most aggressively secular countries in the world. The Church was supposed to be dying here. Nobody told the 21,000 people who walked into a church last night and asked to be baptized. He is risen!
I wonder if people are warned that there is little time left? That their Guardian angels warned them?
I have felt that something like that is going on. It seems to grow and gather. And the more rosaries that reach heaven the more grace reaches out.
I was so honored to be a sponsor of a long time baptist friend this year for OCIA. As a cradle Catholic, it was cool to see the whole OCIA process. My friend was truly just checking this all out at first and then was completely blown away by our faith and the process and to be there with him as he took his first communion was such an honor for me. It was truly an amazing holy week for me and have been so full of joy this whole past week. His wife and son also joined the church at the Easter Vigil and their 16 year old daughter is now going to go through next year. Praise the Lord!
Such a joy. In times of great darkness; light. Philippians 4:8 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
The canonisation of Carlos Acutis seems to be fulfilling the prophecies associated with it. It seems to be mainly younger people who are converting. God uses evil and transforms it into a greater good. The internet, which conveys so much bad, also leads people to think about things they have never heard of before. Today’s youth are largely growing up in a secular environment and have learnt hardly anything about Christ or Catholicism. I once had a brief chat with a convert; I was amazed at how fascinated he was by Catholic teaching. It is the only one that can really explain everything consistently. For me, as someone who was on the wrong path for many years but grew up with the Catholic faith, Catholic theology is just something I’m used to and not as exciting as it seems to be for someone hearing about it for the first time. The ’68 generation rebelled against ‘old-fashioned Christian’ values. The younger generations know only a world without these values, and seem to realise that inner fulfilment can only be achieved through them. I assume, Dave, that it’s okay if I post the figures for the other countries mentioned by Catholic Arena as well. It’s encouraging. https://x.com/CatholicArena/status/2040456383552704763 Spain: Number of adults becoming Catholic this Easter increased by 164% compared to last Easter. United States: Diocese of Lansing, Michigan: 940 people becoming Catholic over Easter — highest number in two decades. Archdiocese of St. Louis: 1,000 people joining the Church this Easter — record numbers of adults. Washington, D.C.: 1,500 new Catholics this Easter — record numbers. Archdiocese of Miami: 1,000 adults entering the Church — 25% increase on last year; record numbers. Archdiocese of Boston: Record number of adults; 51% increase from last year. Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston: Highest number of new Catholics at Easter in 15 years. Archdiocese of Albany, New York: 122 adults received; 300% increase since 2021. Mobile, Alabama: Over 600 people becoming Catholic this Easter — 35% increase on last year. New York Times reports a “surge”/“explosion” of new converts with record numbers across the USA, citing online influences (e.g., Fr. Mike Schmitz, Dr. Taylor Marshall) England: Nottingham: Highest number of new Catholics this Easter in 40 years. Archdiocese of Liverpool: Record numbers of adults for baptism and full communion. Westminster : Largest Rite of Election in 15 years. Belgium: Record numbers of adult baptisms this Easter: 30% increase from last year and 300% over the past decade. Tens of thousands of young people across the Western world posting on social media about their impending conversions to Catholicism. Overall Catholic Church membership passed 1.422 billion for the first time (per 2026 Pontifical Yearbook)
From Agnostic to Baptism in the Catholic Church. Article from The Catholic Herald By Emma Hallinan: "I have always considered myself to be agnostic. Even though my mother was baptised an Anglican and my father a Catholic, I grew up in a very secular household with no relationship to the Church or God. At 19, I met my first Catholic friend, and had my first encounter with the Catholic Church. We went travelling with her family in my early 20s, visiting Florence, Assisi and Paris. I saw the relics of saints and reluctantly bathed in the waters of Lourdes. In truth, the experience was wasted on me. I did not appreciate it and I did not understand it. I did not seek the Church, nor did I encounter it in any meaningful way. But I did stay in touch with my Catholic friend. During the lockdown in 2020, like many people, I looked for something to do to fill my time and picked up painting again after many years. At the same time, my friend had become a more devout Catholic and asked if I would paint Jesus for her, which I agreed to do. While painting Jesus, I felt drawn to learn more about Him. I began researching Him, and the more I read, the more I wanted to find out. I kept feeling this pull towards the Church, but I could not understand why. In 2025, in response to this call to the Church and to Jesus, I started listening to Fr Mike Schmitz’s Bible in a Year. All of a sudden, the Bible and the teachings of Christ began to make sense. Yet I still felt nervous about contacting a Catholic church. Then something happened which I can only describe as divine providence. In the podcast, Fr Mike said: “Do not put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” In that moment, it felt as if God was speaking directly to me and calling me to the Church. So I found my local Catholic church, Our Lady Help of Christians in Blackheath, and attended a weekday Mass. That was when my life changed. I began attending weekly Mass and started RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) in November. I cannot get enough of learning about Christ and the Catholic Church. I consume everything I can, podcasts and books, and I have learnt so much through RCIA. Alongside being educated in the Catholic faith, I have developed an intimate relationship with Christ through prayer, especially Eucharistic adoration. The first time I went to adoration at my parish, I could not believe the peace I felt afterwards, or the calmness in my heart and mind. After explaining this experience to my catechist, Margaret, and how I had become consumed with learning about and knowing Christ, she told me about St Patrick’s Church in Soho, where I now volunteer and regularly attend adoration. I now go to adoration every week, and it brings me such peace to be in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. It is a contentment I have never felt before. My whole life, I felt as though I was searching for something outside myself to fill an internal void. I thought I could never fulfil it, until I met Christ. Christ brings wholeness. He fills that void I have been searching for, even when I did not realise it, my Since encountering Christ, I have realised that in the past anything I tried to use to find peace provided only temporary relief. It never lasted; it always faded. But with Christ, I feel lasting peace, lasting joy and lasting contentment. I now bring my vulnerabilities, my worries and fears, my whole self, to Christ in prayer. Of course, I still struggle. Sometimes I feel guarded or reluctant to open my heart to God, especially if I think I have done something displeasing to Him. I can feel the urge to withdraw. That is because sometimes we expect God to react as others have in our lives. But through prayer and study, I have come to realise how important it is to resist this urge and embrace the truth that God is all good and that we can bring anything to Him. We do not need to be reluctant or withdrawn, because He is always there for us, waiting for us, however we are. He will never let us down. I feel as though I am on a journey of learning to trust God’s unconditional love, which I hope, in time, I will be able to do more fully. It is why I look forward to receiving the sacraments, so that I can draw closer to Him. Once I am received into the Catholic Church, I intend to use my artistic skills to glorify God. I remember one of my priests mentioning in a homily that we should use the gifts God has given us to glorify Him and spread the Gospel. I have started an art piece titled “Sacraments of Mercy”, inspired by a passage from Saint Faustina’s diary, whom I am choosing as my confirmation saint. The piece will explore how God gives us the gift of His mercy through the sacraments. It will be about inviting people to know Christ, as my friend invited me. It may or may not be successful, but that does not matter. God has given my life purpose, and I am happy. I am going back to Lourdes the Monday after my baptism, where I intend to prayerfully encounter Christ. It feels as though I have come full circle, and I know that, with Christ in my heart, the experience will be profound this time. Encountering Christ has changed my life, and I will spend my life inviting others to know His love too. And with my heart filled with hope, even if they do not accept Christ at the first invitation, I know that if they continue to be invited, the void in their lives will eventually be filled by Him."
That's fine Steve, the article I shared just happened to be about France. It's great to hear of all the others who have come Home too.
Well, Padraig. whether the Lord comes soon or dallies, the quantity of my days is diminishing! Rev 22:17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let him who hears say, “Come.” And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price. 18 I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.
