In recent years, an encouraging trend has emerged in Catholic communities across the globe: more young people are returning to — or discovering for the first time — the richness of the Catholic faith.

A rising tide of youthful engagement is unmistakable. But the Church must act to support these young people in their faith and allow them to flourish as active members of the Catholic community.

The Times cited a report in 2024 that while Britons are more likely than ever to be non-believers, a “quiet revival” in Christian faith is taking place among congregations under the age of 25.

In 2018, just 4 per cent of young adults aged 18–24 reported that they attended church monthly. As of 2024, this has risen to 16 per cent, with young men increasing from 4 per cent to 21 per cent and young women increasing from 3 per cent to 12 per cent.

Global gatherings of faith

Every four years, the Pope invites young people aged 18-35 to gather for an event called World Youth Day.

In 2023, 1.5 million youths gathered in Lisbon, Portugal, for the final Mass, celebrated by the late Pope Francis. As a newly qualified primary school teacher in my mid-20s, I am excited to be part of this resurgence.

As I write, I am preparing to travel with Bishop Fintan Gavin and 50 other young people from the Diocese of Cork and Ross to the Jubilee of Youth pilgrimage in Rome, at the invitation of our new Pope Leo XIV.

There is great joy and vibrancy among the youth attending such events. Furthermore, online Catholic influencers and digital missionaries are bridging faith and tradition with modern culture in dynamic, creative ways.

I challenge
bishops, priests,
religious and laity
to joyfully display and share their faith
in the wider community.

– Sarah Ryan-Percell

The hidden network of young Catholic life

Catholic communities can sometimes function like social media algorithms, rewarding only those who seek them.

Once you dip your toe into the Catholic young adult community, you discover pilgrim hikes across the country, prayer groups such as Youth 2000, day events such as CONNECT in Cork City, the recently launched Knock Youth Village, and more.

If you are not in the circle, however — if you haven’t actively searched for the Catholic community — these events remain hidden.

They serve as a recharge of the “faith battery” for those who attend. I always return from CONNECT, World Youth Day, or the FOCUS Missionaries’ SEEK Conference with renewed vigour and hope for the Church.

These events spark courage among attendees — courage to invite another friend to the next one or, at the very least, to discuss our experiences, prompting others to ponder their faith.

Longings, questions, doubts and convictions

The Church cannot merely open the doors and hope young people will walk in. We must go out to meet people where they are — in schools, colleges, and workplaces.

The Church must listen — truly listen — to the longings, questions, doubts, and convictions of young people.

“Blind faith” is a thing of the past. In today’s world, there is so much knowledge and information at our fingertips, so the Church must be willing to be held to account, scrutinised, and confident in defending its core values.

Models of joyful faith

Young people need to find the joy of being involved and invested in their faith communities. Inspiration can be drawn from Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, who demonstrated how a joyful faith enriches rather than hinders the life of a young person.

Blessed Carlo — soon to be named a saint — was a 15-year-old who enjoyed soccer, video games, and daily Mass.

Though Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati died on July 4, 1925 — 100 years ago this year — his zest for life, friendships, and commitment to the poor is an enduring example. He is also due to be canonised later this year.

Spaces for encounter and service

The Church should prioritise spaces where young people can wrestle with big questions, encounter Christ in Word and Sacrament, and be trusted as co-workers in the vineyard — not tomorrow, but today.

One approach is to invite young people to join in community efforts and to support their parish through charitable organisations, such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul or youth clubs.

A bold, relevant Church

We are not demanding the Church reinvent itself, but rediscover itself: to be bold in truth, courageous in justice, radical in mercy, and uncompromising in love.

Young people want the fullness of the Gospel, not a watered-down version. We long for a Church that speaks with clarity on spiritual matters while also confronting injustice, climate change, mental health struggles, and social isolation.

This action must extend beyond the Church building. I challenge bishops, priests, religious, and laity to joyfully display and share their faith in the wider community.

The rising tide and the challenge ahead

The late Pope Francis, speaking at World Youth Day in 2023, exclaimed: “Will the mighty of the earth listen to this youthful enthusiasm that wants peace?”

Yes, a tide is rising — but tides can recede if not met with steady shores.

The Church has a window of opportunity: not only to welcome young people, but to walk beside them, challenge them, and be challenged by them.

If the Church takes that call seriously, the flood may yet come — not one of devastation, but of renewal.

• Sarah Ryan-Percell is a 24-year-old primary school teacher from the Catholic diocese of Cork and Ross.
• Original text provided to the Irish Times for a published article.