France saw a record number of non-infant baptisms this Easter while Australia also saw a surge in both catechumens and candidates entering the Catholic Church.

The Archdiocese of Sydney saw 457 people joining the Church this Easter. In a February press release, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP said the steep increase from 2025 – catechumens this year are up by 35% and candidates by 95% on last year’s figures – is “proof that the Holy Spirit is active and alive.”

Catechumens are seeking baptism into the Christian faith, while candidates are baptised Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church.

Official figures show similar trends in other dioceses across the country.

Meanwhile, in France, a record-breaking 21,386 people were baptised at Easter Vigils around the country, a significant rise from the 17,788 baptised in 2025, which was also a record. Ten years ago the number was just over 4,100.