In France, Catholic youth restore Christian shrines

Young French restoring a cross. Photo: Mathieu Raffray

In France, the Catholic Church received more than 10,384 adult converts during Easter baptisms this year – a 45% increase compared to 2024. Remarkably, for the first time, young adults aged 18 to 25 formed the largest demographic group among new adult converts, surpassing those aged 26 to 40, who traditionally dominated the statistics.

For the fourth year in a row, Father Mathieu Raffray of the Institute of the Good Shepherd has been calling on French youth through social media to join him in “rebuilding Christian France.”

From July 13 to 20, twenty-eight young men and women took part in restoring a 19th-century abandoned monastery in Tivière, transforming it into a spiritual center for retreats. Father Raffray connected with them through social media, especially his popular Instagram platform, followed by both believers and non-believers in France.

Although most participants were Catholics, this year’s group also included atheists, baptized but non-practicing people, and newly baptized converts. This mix led to meaningful discussions and moments of shared prayer, with many drawing inspiration from those of deeper faith. “Many young French people want to discover the Catholic faith and are led to ask questions about it through history, heritage and culture,” Father Raffray notes.

The priest points to the popularity among youth of various initiatives caring for Christian heritage, such as SOS Calvaires and Rénove Une Statue – French organizations restoring roadside crucifixes and statues throughout the country. Christianity, he emphasizes, “because it emphasizes that we are both body and soul,” naturally embraces such efforts.

“It’s about restoring physical buildings, but ultimately, what interests me is the restoration of souls,” Father Raffray explains. “And I truly believe that all these young people, when they finish the camp, feel that they have grown, learned something, and been spiritually restored.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in France a couple repaired an abandoned Catholic church in order to baptize their child.

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