Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP says a “second spring” of Catholic faith is occurring across Sydney and beyond, challenging popular narratives of religious decline. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
Speaking to the Sydney Catholic Business Network at the Four Seasons Hotel on May 30, Archbishop Fisher highlighted several encouraging trends that point to a resurgence in faith engagement, particularly among young people and those previously disconnected from religious practice.
With the theme: “Signs of hope in this Jubilee Year,” Archbishop Fisher told the gathering of business leaders that the signs of a revival in Australia were “a genuine hunger for spiritual meaning in an increasingly fragmented world.”
The archbishop pointed to Sydney’s Rite of Election ceremony this year as evidence of this revival, with a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in adult converts for five consecutive years.
“These aren’t just people raised Catholic who are returning – but individuals from diverse backgrounds who are encountering the faith for the first time and finding something deeply compelling,” he said.
With the archdiocese preparing for a record 20,000 faithful to join the Walk with Christ procession on June 22 and gearing up to host the International Eucharistic Congress in 2028, Archbishop Fisher noted how quickly “a spiritual winter can thaw into a spring”.
Catholic education and lay movements are also thriving. Other positive indicators include strong seminary enrolment and a revival in parish life.
“The numbers at Sunday and feast day Masses just keep growing. Soon, I might have to get a bigger cathedral,” he quipped.
Globally, Archbishop Fisher pointed to the United States, where many dioceses reported a 40 per cent increase in adult conversions last year, with Los Angeles alone welcoming 5500 new Catholics at Easter.
The United Kingdom shows similar trends, with Christian affiliation growing significantly between 2018 and 2024.
When asked what’s driving this global revival, Archbishop Fisher said: “A simple answer would be the Holy Spirit”.
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Archbishop Fisher declares a “Second Spring” of faith in Sydney and beyond at business lunch (By Darren Ally, The Catholic Weekly)
