Rising Mass attendance among youth
Despite the downturn in attendance, the report noted a significant rise in numbers among young adults aged 18–29. This cohort, which had been declining between 2006 and 2016, showed a numerical increase of 4,000 churchgoers between 2016 and 2021, the Catholic Leader noted.
“The report states that the proportion of attenders aged 18–29 increased from 6.7% in 2016 to 11.8% in 2021,” reflecting a potential shift in engagement among younger Catholics.
“This increase in young adult participation is encouraging and suggests a renewed interest in religious practices among younger generations.”
The demographic breakdown also showed that women made up 56% of Mass attendees in 2021, down slightly from 62% in 2016. Older age groups continued to have a strong presence, with those aged 70 and above accounting for just over a quarter of the attendees.
Regional differences were notable, with the Archdiocese of Sydney and the Diocese of Darwin recording the highest attendance rates at 10.4%, while the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle — just 100 miles to the west of Sydney — had the lowest at 3.7%.
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