The scent of beeswax and ancient stone hangs heavy in the air of St. Michael’s Church, a hushed anticipation settling over the pews. Jan Schumann, a 34-year-old lawyer, sits with hands clasped, a quiet reverence in his gaze. He is one of 43 adults in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising who will, in the coming hours of the Easter Vigil, embrace a new spiritual path – a surprising surge in baptisms that defies the prevailing narrative of dwindling church attendance.
A Quiet Rebellion Against the Tide
For years, the headlines have screamed of exodus: thousands abandoning both Catholic and Protestant churches across Germany. Yet, in Munich, a different story is unfolding. In 2020, 29 adults were baptized. The number dipped to a mere ten in 2022, a year scarred by the abuse scandal report and the lingering shadow of the pandemic. But then, an unexpected rebound: 34 adult baptisms in 2025, and a remarkable 43 this year. While these numbers must be contextualized against the 25,000 church departures in the archdiocese in 2025 alone, they represent a significant counter-current, a testament to individual spiritual journeys in an increasingly secular world.
So numerous are these new converts that the venerable Liebfrauendom can no longer accommodate them all. Instead, they will be dispersed among the city’s inner-city churches, where priests will anoint them with chrism oil and pour consecrated water over their heads, uttering the ancient words: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Jan Schumann’s Journey: From Atheism to Awe
Jan Schumann doesn’t see himself as a trendsetter. Born in southern Brandenburg and raised near Dresden, his parents – an engineer and a teacher from the former East Germany – did not baptize him. “They grew up in that rationalized doctrine,” he explains, sitting in the church pew between legal appointments. His father was never a church member; his mother, once Protestant, likely left years ago. He hopes the Easter Vigil will spark a deeper conversation with them.
Schumann’s connection to faith, though dormant, was always present. He recalls his Catholic grandmother, her unwavering faith, her church visits, and the biblical stories she shared. “The bond with her was very close,” he says. In the third grade, on his own initiative, he joined a voluntary Christian education group, a rarity in his childhood. But it wasn’t until his twenties, when he left home for university in Munich, that he truly began to explore religious questions. “I always felt a need to have more contact with God and especially with the church,” he confesses.
The Catalysts: Loss, Love, and a Search for Meaning
Schumann’s decision to seek baptism was shaped by three pivotal factors: the death of his grandmother, his devout Catholic partner – “someone with whom I can discuss religious questions in depth” – and a theologian, the father of a colleague, with whom he engages in profound conversations about faith. He pauses, then continues, “I have a feeling that certain worries and wishes in my life are heard through my prayers. The moment I open myself, I also get something back, feedback, an interaction.”
Thomas Hürten, a specialist in faith orientation for the archdiocese, prepares these adults for baptism. The current group of 43 candidates ranges from 16 to 65 years old, with the majority under 30. Half were born and raised in Germany; the other half arrived through work or study from twelve nations across four continents, including Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia.
Diverse Paths to Faith: From Netflix to Near-Death Experiences
What compels these individuals to seek baptism later in life? Hürten notes that many come from largely atheistic or non-religious backgrounds, such as Albania, China, or the former East German states. Some seek a connection to the forbidden religion of their ancestors. Others are Muslims contemplating conversion, or individuals grappling with “ultimate questions” after the death of a friend, or inspired by books and podcasts. Even the popular streaming series “The Chosen,” depicting the life of Jesus Christ, is increasingly cited as a reason for seeking baptism.
Many, Hürten observes, fall in love with someone who attends church, join them, and find the discussions about God and the world to be not unreasonable, but even inspiring. “They begin to see an unconditional meaning in their existence, not just one dependent on parents, society, or their own achieved goals – not just an existence they have to embellish themselves.” There are also those who have experienced profound inner transformations, having been close to suicide, struggling with addiction, incarcerated, or discovering faith in therapeutic settings. “But much more often, it’s not so dramatic, but simply the fact that someone you don’t think is completely crazy says they still believe, and God isn’t such an unreasonable idea as everyone always thinks.”
The reasons for this rising demand for adult baptisms are still being “gradually” investigated, Hürten says. “Perhaps there is a felt, rather than conscious, impression that this society needs more foundation and values than it is always supposedly attributed.”
Embracing Faith Amidst Scandal: A Call to Action
What about the countless abuse cases and the undemocratic system of the Catholic Church that have driven so many away? Jan Schumann is unfazed. “The abuse is first and foremost a societal issue for me and has nothing automatically to do with faith,” he asserts. His impulse, he explains, is to “stand against this injustice, which contradicts Christian faith one hundred percent, because it is about charity,” as a believing Christian. “If everyone always withdraws from things just because things go wrong in organizations, then we as a society don’t make progress either. Participation improves things.”
To be baptized, Schumann had to attend Hürten’s faith orientation courses. “This is not a format where you are supposed to be converted,” he emphasizes. Hürten describes it thus: “What I want to spare our people is a faith that relies on immaturity, manipulation, or censorship. We don’t want to persuade.” Not everyone stays in the course and finishes their journey with baptism.
The instruction includes a basic course on Catholic faith and Christian life, teaching central prayers, how to pray, the manner in which scripture is read, and offering individual counseling. “Everyone starts from a different point,” Hürten says. “They have neither the same level of schooling nor religious education.”
The Easter Vigil: A New Beginning
For Jan Schumann, the Easter Vigil begins on Holy Saturday, April 4th, at 9 PM in St. Michael’s. Immediately following his baptism, he will also receive Communion and Confirmation at the altar, completing his journey to becoming an adult Catholic. Is he nervous? The 34-year-old, dressed in a blue blazer over a white shirt and suit trousers, shakes his head. “Reverence for the moment” describes it better. His parents will be there, sitting in one of the church pews. His father probably won’t talk to him about God that night. But, Schumann notes, “they both accept this life decision of mine.”
Source: https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/erwachsenentaufe-erzdioezese-muenchen-und-freising-st-michael-dekanat-osternacht-li.3449925
