I’m questioning the growth of young Catholics in America

Not sure if this is a rant or a question or a call for prayer, but the title just about speaks for itself. I was born Catholic (New Orleans) and moved to virginia and was subsequently raised it, even chose to be an altar boy when I was younger. Then I grew up, have been enjoying my life, had fun in college, and stayed true to my faith even when I often fell short, going to mass, confession and even leading a bible study at one point. So for me I’m in this area of being culturally catholic but also very much so spiritually, living in this world and trying my hardest to not live of this world, but again I’m human. So here’s my issue, I see all these young people my age flocking to mass all of a sudden and it just feels so off, it doesn’t feel catholic. Catholicism to me and most people is a religion of suffering and humility, arguably the lives of saints show this. All these younger people seem to lack humility or have way too much of it. I don’t believe that it’s just their hearts are on fire, I’ve seen that, I have friends who have converted and put Christ first. The emergence of young worshipers feels very fake and not Catholic, like very praise and worship-y, almost non-denominational in a sense. I also feel like a lot of it is driven by seeking traditional values which ofc makes sense in this secular, consumerist society, but it’s hurtful to the human. These young men don’t want wives built around christ, they want homemakers, vice versa for the young women towards men. Is this the devil making me have a distaste for this new emergence of young catholics? am I right for seeing this change and being skeptical? I would love a fun, realistic Catholic woman, but I never go to church to spit game, and it feels like to me that’s what young people are doing, like they’re abusing our ways to get lucky. Idk, someone give me some insight here.

Posted Apr 5, 2026, 3:12 PM UTC

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