Not too long ago, an adult who is joining the Church this year commented on how many people seem to be becoming Catholic recently. Indeed, the Archdiocese of Washington welcomed over 1,300 new Catholics last year, the highest number the diocese has ever recorded. There have also been several high-profile conversions to the Catholic Church: actors Shia LaBeouf and Russell Brand, comedian Rob Schneider, Notre Dame philosopher David Solomon, and Tammy Roberts Peterson, wife of psychologist Jordan Peterson, are among recent converts. There is certainly a hopeful trend of individuals rediscovering the value of traditional religion in our secularized culture.

In addition, our local Church has experienced a surge in young men pursuing the priesthood. Last year, sixteen young men from our Archdiocese were ordained as priests, the largest group since 1960. From our own parish, Fr. Ryan Braam and Fr. Alex Wyvill were ordained in 2022, Fr. Christopher Feist was ordained in 2024, and Deacon Noah Junge, C.S.C., will be ordained to the priesthood next month. There are many signs of hope!

Despite these encouraging developments, there is also serious cause for concern. Pew Research released data last week showing that for every 100 individuals who become Catholic, 840 stop identifying as Catholic. In other words, for every individual who joins the Catholic Church, more than eight are quietly disappearing from our pews. This does not include the many individuals who continue to identify as Catholic but do not attend Mass regularly. Each of us can likely name at least a dozen family members and friends who were raised Catholic but are no longer practicing.

I see these statistics not as a reason to despair but as a call to action. Those of us who are convinced of the truth of Jesus Christ and his Catholic Church must take seriously our responsibility to live out and share our faith. For the past sixty years or so, the Church has been insistent in teaching that all of us—not just priests and religious, but also lay people like you and me—have the responsibility to evangelize, to share the Gospel. We have been commissioned and equipped by the Holy Spirit to spread the truth and love of Jesus within our families, our workplaces, and our communities.

The urgency of evangelization cannot be overstated, because it concerns the eternal destiny of souls. Entrance into Heaven is not automatic, but depends on our faith in Jesus and obedience to his Gospel. "[A]ll salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 846). If we truly love our family, friends, and neighbors, we cannot remain silent about the Gospel—salvation is at stake.

Here are some simple ways to evangelize within your spheres of influence:

1. Invite a family member or friend to attend Mass or a small group study.
   “[L]et us go forth to bring to everyone the invitation of the King, our Saviour..” —Pope Francis

2. Offer your Lenten prayers and sacrifices for the conversion of your friends and family.
   “...Pray much and make sacrifices for sinners, for many souls go to hell because there is no one to make sacrifices for them.” —Our Lady of Fatima to the shepherd children

3. Don’t be afraid to engage in spiritual conversations. Look for natural opportunities to talk about faith in everyday life.
   “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope...” —1 Peter 3:15

4. Strive to be a saint.
   “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” —Pope St. Paul VI

5. Be joyful!
   “Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. You give the most when you give joy.” —St. Teresa of Calcutta

May this season of Lent be a time for us not only to be renewed in our personal holiness but also in our mission of evangelization. The Church needs our action!