The number of individuals entering the Catholic Church continues to rise across the state of Ohio.
An increasing number of Ohioans are preparing to become Catholic in and outside of the Columbus diocese this year.
The number of catechumens, individuals who are unbaptized, and candidates, previously baptized individuals who will enter full communion with the Church through the sacraments of initiation – the Eucharist and/or Confirmation – is increasing from previous years.
Locally, the Columbus diocese will welcome nearly 500 catechumens into the Church this year through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Individuals preparing for baptism represent 46 diocesan parishes among 50 OCIA directors.
By comparison, the diocese had just over 200 catechumens last year. The increase in catechumens can be attributed to several factors.
The diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis worked to centralize and structure the OCIA process. More than 50 percent of parishes were trained in the process.
“We are receiving a larger volume of young adults in their mid- to late 20s through early 30s,” added Dr. Marlon De La Torre, senior director for the office. “The profile of the person I have encountered over the past three years is someone between the ages of 23 to 35. They express an ardent desire for truth.
“In their journey, they consistently come to the realization that the Catholic Church provides the answers to their questions about the origin of God, faith, the person of Jesus Christ, how to deal with despair, addressing moral confusion and belonging to a community of faith that shows the importance of having a relationship with God.
“The number of inquiries I receive via phone, email or text revolves around the desire for doctrinal and moral clarity in how to live their life with Jesus Christ. This leads them to the Catholic Church.”
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In Cleveland, data shows an overall increase each year since 2020.
From 2020 to 2026, the number of catechumens baptized Catholic in the northeastern diocese bordering Lake Erie has risen by 198 percent.
A total of 538 candidates are preparing to enter full communion with the Church this year, demonstrating a 41-percent increase from the year prior. Additionally, 485 catechumens are in formation to be baptized.
In the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, 1,096 individuals will receive the sacraments of initiation. The total number includes 556 catechumens and 540 candidates.
The growth is a 28-percent increase from the previous year. In 2025, 853 individuals received the sacraments of initiation.
Numbers in Ohio’s archdiocese have risen each year since 2021, The Cincinnati Telegraph reported. A total of 301 candidates and catechumens entered the Church five years ago.
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In the Diocese of Steubenville, 71 individuals are preparing to be baptized, and 78 individuals will complete the sacraments of initiation. The numbers indicate 149 individuals are expected to enter full communion with the Church at Easter.
The Steubenville diocese had 103 individuals in formation a year ago. Two years ago, that number was 79.
“It is tremendous seeing the growing number of Catholics entering our diocese the past few years and the reasons they chose Catholicism,” said Dino Orsatti, director of communications.
Seth White of Marietta, part of the Diocese of Steubenville, will enter the Church at Easter.
“The tradition and the beauty surrounding the Mass and the Eucharist … is absolutely amazing – and of course, you can’t ignore the Real Presence in the Eucharist,” he reflected.
In the Diocese of Youngstown, 282 individuals will enter the Church this year. The number includes 143 catechumens and 139 candidates among 45 parishes.
In 2025, a total of 191 individuals were welcomed into the Church in the northeastern diocese. In 2022, that number was 138 and has risen each year since.
The Toledo diocese, located in the northwest corner of the Buckeye State, will see 300 catechumens and 370 candidates enter the Church this year.
The 670 individuals who will receive the sacraments of initiation is up from last year. At that time, the Toledo diocese had just over 620.
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that the number of catechumens in the Diocese of Columbus was 365. The number was updated on April 2, 2026, after additional information was provided.