March 16, 2026 — Bloomington, Ind. Indiana University Bloomington students have shown a marked increase in engagement with evangelical and Catholic groups this academic year, featuring packed Bible studies, overflowing Masses and weekly worship gatherings with hundreds in attendance, as documented by the campus newspaper Indiana Daily Student in reporting framed as IU’s Christian Revival: Evangelical and Catholic Student Gatherings Surge.
The surge aligns with students seeking purpose in their 20s amid stabilizing national trends in young adult Christian affiliation, according to a March 1 feature article and a March 16 opinion piece.
Catholic Center Growth
At the St. Paul Catholic Center, Bible study attendance climbed from about 345 students in the 2023-24 year to 525 this year, while conversions rose from fewer than 35 in 2024-25 to around 160 currently. Masses, retreats and events have seen record turnout, with services overflowing.
Senior Liam McDonald described his experience:
“From there, I’ve found such substance in my relationships with the people around me but also with God.”
Sophomore Eric Cannon noted in the opinion piece that the incoming spring class entering the Catholic Church is “nearly five times larger” than last year, highlighting events like Latin-recited Masses with incense.
Evangelical and Protestant Momentum
Evangelical groups are also expanding. The Salt Company, a ministry of Embassy Church, draws hundreds weekly to a packed warehouse. Chi Alpha focuses on small-group Bible studies and discipleship, while the Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) runs a large on-campus house for worship and community.
CSF ministers called it a “campus ministry that happens to have housing.”
IU’s Christian Revival: Evangelical and Catholic Student Gatherings Surge features evangelical weeknight off-campus prayer and worship alongside Catholic activities, with CSF membership rising.
Expert and Broader Observations
IU Religious Studies Professor Candy Gunther Brown observed a shift with more students “exploring or returning to faith.”
Cannon contextualized the trend against political and cultural divides, citing global upticks like a 45% increase in baptisms in France in 2025. A FOCUS.org release lists IU as a new campus for their Evangelical Catholic ministry, countering secularization.
No major national coverage has emerged, with local mentions limited and social media searches yielding unrelated results. Coverage centers on observable campus trends like crowded services.
IU’s Christian Revival: Evangelical and Catholic Student Gatherings Surge underscores two parallel movements without noted controversy. For details, see csfindiana.org.
Related coverage: JHM Hub posts.