What Future Saints Teach Us About Church Growth?

Brief Overview

• The Church grows strongest when its members live out their faith with genuine conviction and allow that faith to shape how they treat others in daily life.
• Saints throughout history show us that spiritual depth and personal holiness attract others to the faith more effectively than any program or strategy alone.
• Future saints today are ordinary Catholics who dedicate themselves to prayer, service, and living the Gospel message in their families, workplaces, and communities.
• The growth of the Church depends on Catholics who are willing to share their faith openly, answer questions honestly, and live as visible examples of Christ’s love.
• Many people find their way to the faith because someone they knew demonstrated real peace, kindness, and purpose through their Catholic beliefs and actions.
• Church growth happens when we stop seeing our faith as something private and instead make it central to how we live, work, and relate to those around us.

What Saints Show Us About Living the Faith

Saints were regular people who made their faith the center of their lives and let that commitment shape everything they did. When we look at the lives of people we know today who might become future saints, we see the same pattern. They attend Mass not just on Sundays but because they genuinely want to be there and encounter Jesus in the Eucharist. They pray regularly, not because they feel obligated, but because their relationship with God means something real to them. They serve others in their parishes and communities because they see Christ in the people they help. They speak about their faith naturally in conversations, not in a preachy way, but simply as part of who they are. They make time for confession and try to grow in virtue year after year. They face difficulties and setbacks but return to their faith as their anchor. They show up for others during hard times and remain faithful even when the world pushes back against Catholic teachings. They understand that being Catholic is not just a label but a way of living that affects their choices, values, and priorities.

The reason saints matter for understanding church growth is that they show us what authentic faith looks like in action. A person does not become a saint by giving great speeches or organizing impressive events, although those things might matter. Rather, saints become saints because they genuinely love God and love other people with the love of Christ. This kind of love is not something you can fake or hide; people notice it. When someone encounters a truly holy person, they see something different about that person. They see someone who is at peace even during struggles. They see someone who genuinely cares about others and is not just trying to sell them something. They see someone whose words match their actions. This witness is powerful in ways that marketing and programs can never be. Young people especially respond to this kind of authenticity. They can tell the difference between someone who is living out their faith and someone who is just going through the motions. Parents notice when a teacher or coach in their child’s life actually cares and has real values.

How Future Saints Change Their Surroundings

The people today who are living as future saints do something very specific in their families and workplaces. They make their faith visible without being loud or aggressive about it. If someone in your office is a future saint, you might notice they do not gossip, even when everyone else does. You might notice they treat the people who clean the offices with the same respect they show to the boss. You might notice they are calm during chaos and kind when others are frustrated. You might notice they never cheat on their time cards or their expenses. You might notice they speak truth gently, even when it costs them something. You might notice they remember details about your life and actually care how you are doing. You might notice they seem to have sources of strength that are not coming from money, status, or entertainment. You might notice they forgive people who have hurt them, which almost seems impossible to the people watching from the outside.

In families, future saints model what it means to be a Catholic parent or grandparent or aunt or uncle. They do not just tell children to be good; they show children what goodness looks like through their own actions. They pray with their families and make faith part of the normal rhythm of life. They talk about what they believe and why they believe it in ways that children can understand. They admit their own mistakes and ask for forgiveness, showing that faith is not about being perfect but about trying to be better. They set limits and boundaries not out of meanness but out of genuine care for their children’s wellbeing. They take their faith seriously enough to say no to things that would pull their kids away from God. They speak kindly about people of other faiths while still being clear about what the Catholic Church teaches. They show their children that faith is not just about rules but about a relationship with Jesus that makes life better. They pass on traditions and practices that connect their families to the larger Church and to the long history of Catholicism.

The Connection Between Personal Holiness and Church Membership

Church growth seems like a numbers game when you look at statistics and parish registration forms. But when you look at how the Church actually grew in the early centuries and how it still grows in many parts of the world, you see that numbers follow holiness. In the early Church, people were drawn to Christianity because they saw Christians genuinely living out what Jesus taught. Christians shared their belongings with each other and took care of widows and orphans. Christians forgave their enemies and did not seek revenge. Christians faced persecution and death but remained faithful. People looked at this and wanted to be part of it. That kind of authentic witness is what makes people curious about the faith. They do not join because they were invited to a fun event, although events matter. They join because they see something in the faith and in the faithful that makes them want what the Christians have.

In parishes where you see real growth, you usually find priests and parish leaders who are deeply committed to their faith and to serving others. You find lay people who are not content just attending Mass but who want to serve and grow and bring others along. You find communities where people actually know each other and care about each other, not just as committee members but as brothers and sisters in Christ. You find places where the faith is alive and active, not just going through old routines. You find people who take the sacraments seriously and understand that the Eucharist and confession are transformative. You find families that make their faith the priority and are not ashamed to live according to Catholic teaching even when it goes against what the culture says. When people see this kind of faith in action, they become interested. They start asking questions. They might come to Mass to see what it is all about. They might eventually decide that they want to be part of this community.

The Role of Witness in Making Disciples

Jesus told His followers to go and make disciples of all nations, which means teaching people about the faith and helping them follow Jesus. The first way people learn about the faith is by seeing it lived out in the people around them. A child who grows up watching a parent get angry when someone cuts them off in traffic and then learn that same parent goes to church every Sunday sees a disconnect. But a child who watches a parent stay calm, forgive, and maybe even pray for the other driver sees something real. That child learns that faith is not just something you do for an hour on Sunday but something that shapes you all week long. A young person who sees a friend stand up against bullying because of their faith learns that conviction matters. A person going through a difficult time who sees a Catholic friend face that same difficulty with hope and prayer learns that faith makes a difference. These small moments of witness are what open hearts to the message of the Gospel.

Saints understood this, which is why so many of them lived their faith in very practical, visible ways. Saint Francis walked around tending to lepers and animals, and this showed people his radical commitment to imitating Christ. Saint Catherine worked tirelessly for the Church even when church leaders did not listen to her, and this showed people that faith was worth fighting for. Saint Thérèse lived a quiet life in a convent, but her writings and her example showed millions of people that holiness does not require doing big things but doing ordinary things with love. Saint John Vianney heard confessions for hours every day because he understood that people needed the sacraments to grow spiritually. Saint Ignatius worked to establish schools and teach young people because he believed education connected to faith could change lives. Saint Teresa of Calcutta spent her life with the dying and the poor, and her work made people see that Jesus was present in every human being. All of these saints were doing something visible. All of them were witnessing to what they believed.

How Faith Communities Grow Through Authentic Relationships

People do not usually join a church because of a bulletin advertisement or even because of a good homily, although good preaching matters. People usually join because someone they know invited them and because they felt welcome and cared for when they came. Future saints understand this, so they build real relationships with the people around them. They are not just making small talk; they are actually interested in other people’s lives. They remember details about what someone told them and ask follow-up questions. They offer to help when they see someone struggling. They invite people to church not in a pushy way but in a natural way, like inviting someone to something they think that person might enjoy. They stay connected to people even when those people do not immediately become Catholic. They show that they value the friendship for its own sake, not as a way to recruit someone.

In parishes, this looks like small groups and communities where people can really know each other and support each other. It looks like people going to each other’s homes and sharing meals and stories. It looks like people being honest about their struggles and their doubts rather than pretending everything is fine all the time. It looks like people celebrating each other’s joys and mourning each other’s losses. It looks like people challenging each other gently to grow closer to God. It looks like people who have different backgrounds and political views but who are united in their commitment to Christ. This kind of community is attractive. When people experience real belonging, they want to be part of it. When people feel genuinely known and valued, they do not leave. When people can bring their whole selves, questions and all, they find a home.

The Importance of Living the Corporal Works of Mercy

Jesus said that people will be judged on whether they fed the hungry, gave water to the thirsty, welcomed the stranger, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and visited those in prison. These acts are not just nice things to do; they are central to what it means to be Catholic. Future saints take these works seriously, and their commitment to them draws people to the faith. When a parish opens a soup kitchen or a food pantry, people notice. When Catholics volunteer at homeless shelters and treat the people there with dignity and respect, that witness matters. When young people see their school doing service projects and building relationships with people in the community, it shapes who they become. When a family invites a lonely person to Thanksgiving dinner or a neighbor to Sunday dinner, that hospitality speaks volumes about what the faith teaches.

The Corporal Works of Mercy matter for church growth because they show people that the Catholic faith is not just about what you believe in your head but about how you treat the most vulnerable people in society. In a world where many people feel forgotten and discarded, Catholics who actively seek out the poor and the suffering and show them love and respect are making a statement about the value of every human being. This is countercultural. This gets people’s attention. People start asking why Catholics are doing this work. People start wondering what motivates this kind of sacrifice and service. People start thinking about the faith in new ways. Some people eventually decide that they want to be part of this. Parishes that are serious about the Corporal Works of Mercy tend to attract younger people and more diverse communities because they are addressing real needs and walking alongside real people.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy and Winning Hearts

The Church also teaches seven Spiritual Works of Mercy, which include instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, admonishing sinners, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving offenses willingly, comforting the afflicted, and praying for the living and the dead. Future saints practice these works because they understand that people need spiritual support as much as they need food and shelter. When someone is struggling with doubt, a saint listens and helps that person work through their questions without judgment. When someone has done something wrong, a saint speaks truth in love and helps that person see how to do better. When someone is suffering, a saint listens and prays and shows up and offers real support, not just empty words.

These spiritual works matter enormously for church growth because they address the real struggles that keep people away from faith or that cause people already in the Church to lose hope. In a world full of anxiety and depression and loneliness, people need places where they can admit their real struggles and find support. When a Catholic community becomes known as a place where people can be honest about doubt and questions, more people will come. When people know they will be met with compassion rather than judgment, they will risk opening up about what is really going on inside them. When people see that Catholics actually care about their spiritual wellbeing and will take time to listen and pray and walk with them through hard times, they become curious about the faith. When people experience real comfort in grief or crisis because someone from their church showed up and stayed close, they understand what it means to be part of the body of Christ.

How Future Saints Handle Disagreement and Division

One thing that keeps people from the faith is seeing Catholics fight with each other or treat people badly because of disagreements about politics or theology or how things should be done in the parish. Future saints handle disagreement differently. They disagree without being disagreeable. They listen to the other person’s point of view and try to understand why that person believes what they believe. They assume good intentions even when they are frustrated. They do not spread gossip or undermine people behind their backs. They go directly to the person if there is a conflict. They seek unity while respecting that reasonable people can have different opinions about some things. They are willing to be wrong and to change their minds when new information comes to light. They forgive people who have hurt them and do not hold grudges. They understand that being Catholic means being part of a community and that community requires sacrifice and patience.

This kind of behavior is powerful witness to people outside the Church who have seen religious communities torn apart by conflict and anger. When people watch Catholics disagree with kindness and respect, it makes them wonder if there is something different about this faith. When people see a parish or a family work through conflict and come out stronger on the other side, it shows that faith actually can make a difference in how we handle hard things. When people hear Catholics admit when they are wrong and ask for forgiveness, it changes how they think about the Church. Too often, the public image of Catholicism is shaped by fights on social media or stories of people being harsh and judgmental. Future saints counter this image by showing that you can be a committed Catholic and also be kind, humble, and willing to listen.

The Power of Prayer and Sacramental Life

Saints have always been people of deep prayer and commitment to the sacraments. They understood that their spiritual life was not separate from their work in the world but was the foundation of everything they did. Future saints today maintain this commitment to prayer and the sacraments even in a very busy world. They go to Mass regularly and understand that this is not just a religious obligation but a source of grace and strength. They pray the rosary or read Scripture or spend time in quiet prayer because they want to deepen their relationship with God. They go to confession not just once a year but regularly because they want to stay close to God and remove the things that separate them from Him. They trust that God’s grace is real and available through the sacraments.

When people who are not Catholic see someone who is genuinely changed by their relationship with God through prayer and the sacraments, it gets their attention. A person who is calm during crisis might be asked why they seem so peaceful. A person who forgives generously might be asked where they get the strength. A person who keeps going back to church and confession even after making mistakes might be asked why faith matters so much to them. These questions open the door to sharing about how the sacraments work and how prayer changes you. People are hungry for meaning and connection, and when they see that the Catholic faith provides real spiritual nourishment, many become interested. They do not want to hear about faith in abstract terms; they want to see how it works in real life. They want to know if what Catholics believe actually makes a difference. Future saints show them that it does.

Creating Welcoming Parishes

For church growth to happen, parishes need to be places where people feel welcome and valued. Future saints who work in parishes understand this and work to create an environment where newcomers feel comfortable. They stand at the door and greet people with genuine warmth. They make an effort to remember names and faces. They invite people to coffee hour and introduce them to others. They answer questions about the faith without making the person asking feel stupid. They offer classes for people who want to learn more about Catholicism. They provide childcare and activities for children so that parents can actually participate in Mass and meetings. They make sure that the church building is clean and well-maintained. They fix things that are broken. They remove obstacles that might make it hard for people to come.

A parish with good leadership and welcoming people will grow, even if it is not doing anything fancy or complicated. Conversely, a parish where people are cold to newcomers and where things are neglected will not grow no matter what programs it runs. Future saints understand that hospitality is a spiritual practice and that how we treat people in the parking lot and the vestibule is as important as what happens in the church building during Mass. They understand that many people are nervous about coming to church, especially if they have not been in a long time or if they do not know what to expect. They work to reduce that nervousness and make the experience feel safe and inviting. They follow up with visitors and let them know they were missed if they do not come back. They do not let people fall through the cracks or disappear without someone checking in on them.

The Role of Families in Passing on the Faith

The strongest growth happens in the Church when families pass on the faith from one generation to the next. Future saints who are parents understand that one of their most important jobs is to help their children fall in love with Jesus and with the Catholic Church. They do this by living out their own faith visibly at home. They pray with their children at meals and before bed. They take their children to Mass and help them understand what is happening. They teach their children about the saints and about the Bible stories. They explain why Catholics believe what they believe in language that children can understand. They model forgiveness and ask their children for forgiveness when they mess up. They talk about their own struggles with faith and show their children that faith is not about being perfect but about continuing to try and continuing to come back to God.

Families are the primary place where faith is passed on, more than schools or parishes, although those are important too. When families take faith seriously, children grow up knowing that this matters. Even children who rebel or wander away often come back because they have that foundation. When families neglect faith or treat it as something that does not really matter in how they live, children get a different message. They learn that faith is optional or that what really matters is money and success and what people think of you. The statistics show that the single biggest predictor of whether someone stays in the Church as an adult is whether their parents took their faith seriously. Future saints understand this and make their family’s faith life a priority even when it is hard and even when the culture pushes back. They understand that they are not just raising children; they are helping to shape the future of the Church.

Youth and Young Adults Finding Their Way

Young people and young adults are often searching for meaning and purpose and community. When they encounter future saints in their lives, people who are genuinely excited about their faith and who are living it out in real ways, something happens. They become curious. They might start going to church just because someone invited them. They might realize that the faith has answers to questions they have been asking. They might find a community of people their age who share their values and who care about each other. Young adults especially need to see that you can be modern and intelligent and still be a committed Catholic. They need to see people their age living out their faith in their work and relationships and daily lives. They need communities where they can ask hard questions and work through doubts. They need to see young people and young adults in leadership roles in the Church, not just older people making all the decisions.

Parishes that are growing often have strong youth and young adult ministries led by people who are themselves living the faith authentically. These ministries are not just about fun activities, although fun matters. They are about helping young people develop a real relationship with Jesus and with the Church. They are about creating communities where young people feel known and valued and challenged to grow. They are about connecting young people to service opportunities so they can see how the faith makes a difference in the world. They are about being honest about the challenges young people face and helping them think through how their faith speaks to those challenges. When young adults see that the Church cares about what they think and what they are struggling with, they stay. When they feel that their faith is something alive and real and not just old tradition with no relevance to their lives, they commit to it more deeply.

The Challenge of Secularism and Staying Committed

Future saints live in a world that is increasingly secular and that often mocks or dismisses religious faith. Despite this, they choose to live out their faith openly and unapologetically. They do not hide their belief in God or act embarrassed about being Catholic. They speak about their faith naturally in conversation. They wear visible signs of faith like crosses or religious medals. They mention that they go to church or that they are reading Scripture. They do not constantly talk about their faith in a preachy way, but they also do not pretend it is not central to who they are. This kind of open commitment to faith in a secular culture is actually quite radical. It gets people’s attention. Some people will make fun or push back, but other people will respect the conviction and become curious.

The secularism we face today is different from persecution in earlier times, but it presents real challenges to living out faith. It is easy to go along with what the culture says and to keep your faith private. It is harder to speak truth about what the Church teaches when the culture disagrees. It is harder to make decisions based on your faith when financial pressure is real or when you might face criticism. Future saints do it anyway. They do it imperfectly and sometimes fail, but they keep trying. They understand that faith is not just about personal spiritual experience but about living according to truth even when it costs something. This conviction makes them attractive to people who are tired of a world with no meaning or standards and who are hungry for something real and true.

Building on Foundations of Truth and Doctrine

The growth of the Church cannot be based only on how nice people are or how welcoming a community feels. Growth that lasts has to be built on a foundation of real truth and sound doctrine. Future saints understand that what Catholics believe matters. They know the faith well enough to explain it to others. They can talk about why the Church teaches what it teaches about morality and sacraments and salvation. They are not defensive about doctrine but can speak about it confidently and clearly. They understand that people have real questions about what the Church teaches on difficult topics like marriage and sexuality and life issues. They take these questions seriously and provide answers that are honest and rooted in Scripture and Church teaching. They do not pretend that Catholic teaching is easy or that there are no hard things to believe. They acknowledge the challenge and help people see why these teachings make sense when you understand the Church’s reasoning.

Parishes that are growing often have strong adult education and formation. People need to understand what they believe and why they believe it. They need to go deeper than just knowing the basic prayers and practices. When people understand the theology behind the sacraments, the sacraments become more meaningful. When people understand what the Church teaches about the human person, they can better live out their lives. When people understand salvation history and how Jesus fits into the larger story of the Bible, their faith becomes more coherent and real. Future saints are often involved in teaching and formation because they recognize that helping people develop a deeper understanding of the faith helps them stay committed and helps them become evangelists themselves. Someone who truly understands why they believe what they believe can explain it to others. Someone who has thought deeply about their faith can answer questions and help others work through challenges.

The Role of Suffering and Faithfulness

Saints have always understood that suffering and hardship are part of the Christian life and that how you handle these things is a powerful witness. Future saints today face real struggles, just like everyone else. They lose jobs and face illness and experience broken relationships and grieve deaths. But they face these things while maintaining their faith and their trust in God. This kind of faithfulness in the midst of suffering is remarkable and gets people’s attention. Someone facing cancer who continues to go to church and pray and find meaning in their faith is witnessing to something powerful. Someone who loses a job but does not fall into despair and instead trusts that God will provide is showing something real. Someone who experiences a divorce but continues to believe in God’s love and the Church’s teachings about marriage is demonstrating real conviction.

In a culture that wants everything to be easy and comfortable, the willingness to stay faithful during hard times is countercultural and attractive. People notice when someone suffers well. They notice when someone does not become bitter or angry at God but instead draws closer to God. They notice when someone’s faith actually seems to make them stronger and more faithful during crisis rather than weaker. This does not mean that suffering is good or that saints do not struggle and grieve. It means that their faith gives them resources that people without faith do not have. It means that their trust in God and their belief in heaven and eternal life help them endure. When people see this, they start thinking about whether they want that kind of hope in their own lives. They start thinking about whether they want the kind of faith that holds up when everything else falls apart.

Practical Steps Parishes Can Take for Growth

Parishes that want to grow and want to develop more future saints can take practical steps to make that happen. First, parishes need to focus on forming people in the faith deeply rather than just filling pews and getting donations. This means investing in adult education and formation, in youth and young adult ministry, and in helping people develop real relationships with Jesus in the sacraments. Second, parishes need to make sure their priests and parish leaders are people of genuine faith and prayer. A priest who is not committed to his own spiritual life and to prayer cannot lead a parish effectively. Third, parishes need to create real community where people know each other and care about each other. Fourth, parishes need to be genuinely welcoming to newcomers and to people who are checking out the faith for the first time. Fifth, parishes need to help people understand that their faith has to shape how they live in the world, not just what they do on Sunday.

These steps are not complicated or expensive. They require commitment and thoughtfulness but not big budgets or fancy programs. What matters most is that people in leadership care deeply about faith and about helping people grow spiritually. What matters most is that parishes create environments where authentic faith can develop and spread. What matters most is that people see other people living out their faith in ways that are real and attractive. When these things are in place, growth happens naturally. People bring their friends. Young people stay in the faith or come back to it. Families make their faith a priority. Communities become stronger and more vibrant.

Conclusion

The future saints among us right now are ordinary people living ordinary lives but living them with genuine faith and commitment to Jesus and His Church. They are parents and teachers and workers and volunteers who show up day after day and try to live according to what they believe. They are people who pray and receive the sacraments and serve others and forgive and stay faithful even when it is hard. They are people who create welcoming communities and care for the vulnerable and speak truth in love. They are people who help pass on the faith to the next generation and inspire young people to think about what they believe and why. These people are the reason the Church grows. Their witness is what attracts new people and holds existing people. Their faith and their lives show that Catholicism is not just a set of rules or old traditions but a living relationship with Jesus Christ that changes how you live and who you become. When we look at the saints throughout history and at the future saints among us now, we see the same pattern over and over. Personal holiness leads to real community. Real community leads to authentic witness. Authentic witness leads to genuine faith in others. And genuine faith in others leads to church growth that is real and lasting and changes lives. If we want the Church to grow, we do not need better marketing or bigger budgets or fancier programs. We need more people who are willing to be future saints, to take their own faith seriously, and to let that faith shape how they live and how they treat the people around them. When Catholics do this, the Church grows. When Catholics do this, people see something real and beautiful and true. When Catholics do this, they change the world.