Stanford recorded a sharp rise in Catholic initiations, from an average of about four adult baptisms a year to 46 full initiations this Easter, with similar surges reported at other elite universities and a 115 percent jump in OCIA participation tracked by the Hallow app.

The growth is linked to broader cultural interest in Christianity after Charlie Kirk’s death and to the example of Vice President JD Vance, a Yale-educated convert whose memoir describes finding stability in Catholicism after a chaotic Protestant upbringing.

The article suggests that the Church’s intellectual tradition, sacramental life and resistance to rapid change appeal to students seeking order, marking a notable departure from the secular progressivism long associated with elite campuses.

Stanford University is known for many things, but churning out converts to Catholicism isn’t one of them. Wealthy railroad titan Amasa Leland Stanford founded the school in 1885 as a memorial to his son, Leland Stanford Jr., who died of typhoid at age 15. In 1891, Stanford officially opened its doors as a non-denominational institution and ultimately made its name as a top-notch research school. It is not known for a religious studies program, nor does it attract students who feel called to go into ministry. In a nutshell, Stanford carries a level of prestige but has no particular religious bent. That’s what makes the current Catholic revival so shocking.

When Roman Catholic conversions on campus grew remarkably, people noticed, and the national media began to zero in on it. The school newspaper, The Stanford Review, called the movement a surge and provided some specifics:

“For three decades, the Catholic community at Stanford averaged 4 adult baptisms a year. This Easter, 46 students........

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