North Carolina diocese leads nation in conversions to Catholic faith, data shows

The Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, has been named the leading diocese in the U.S. for conversions to the Catholic faith, according to a recent analysis by Catholic World Report.

Drawing from figures in the 2024 edition of The Official Catholic Directory, the study compared dioceses' ratio of adult and non-infant baptisms and full receptions into the Church, relative to their Catholic populations.

According to a Sept. 18 press release from the diocese, the numbers place Raleigh well ahead of the national average. For every 71 Catholics in the diocese, there was one adult baptism or reception into the Church — significantly higher than the national average of one per 413 Catholics.

The contrast is even starker when compared to the bottom-ranking Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, where only one person entered the Church for every 2,448 Catholics.

Local Church leaders say the growth isn’t accidental. Patrick Ginty, who directs faith formation for the Diocese of Raleigh, sees the surge as the fruit of grassroots evangelization, digital outreach, and a renewed sense of mission among parish communities.

“It speaks to the good work that is being done in many parishes in bringing ‘culturally Catholic’ families back to the practice of their faith,” he said, according to Catholic World Report.

He noted the importance of online platforms like podcasts and debates, where “the conversation is taking place.”

The Diocese of Raleigh spans 54 counties in the state, which is in a part of the country where Catholics make up a relatively small share of the population. With just over half a million Catholics, the region’s growth in conversions may partly reflect a broader trend: Dioceses in areas with fewer Catholics often report higher rates of new adult entrants to the faith, relative to their total population.

Ginty said, “It’s exciting to see the greater Church waking up and taking on the Great Commission of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”