Eighteen adults in Austria were formally accepted as candidates for baptism, confirmation, and communion during a special service on Friday, March 13, 2026. The ceremony, held at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Linz, marks a significant step in their faith journey and underscores the growing interest in adult conversion within the Catholic Church.
The candidates, from across Upper Austria, were presented to Bishop Manfred Scheuer by their families, spiritual mentors, and godparents. The Diocese of Linz, like other dioceses in Austria, typically requires a year-long preparation period for adult baptism, focusing on the core tenets of Christianity, spiritual practices, and living a Christian lifestyle.
Zulassungsfeier für erwachsene Taufkandidat:innen in der Krypta des Mariendoms. / © Diözese Linz / Johannes Kienberger
Personal Journeys of Faith
During the service, several candidates shared their personal stories of faith. One man described growing up without a religious affiliation but always feeling a sense of something missing. He credited his grandmother with instilling in him the importance of trust, prayer, and faith in everyday life. “The faith was somehow always a part of my life,” he shared in his testimony. He said his partner, who actively practices her faith, also encouraged him to explore Christianity more deeply.
“The baptism is for me a conscious yes to faith and a step that feels right,” he explained.
Another candidate spoke of a deliberate search for meaning and a desire to explore different belief systems before finding resonance with Christianity. She acknowledged the lack of effortless answers to tough questions but found hope and strength in the belief in God and the goodness of the world. She expressed a desire to not only live her faith individually but also to be part of a community.
“You can believe in God without belonging to a church, but I often felt lost,” she said. “In conversations and in preparation for baptism, many questions were explained understandably, so today I can say: I am not just trying to believe in God – I believe in God and want to live this faith consciously.”
Angelika Danner, Katechumenatsverantwortliche der Diözese Linz verlaß die Glaubenszeugnisse der Taufwerber:innen. / © Diözese Linz / Johannes Kienberger
Bishop Scheuer: God Knows Each Person by Name
In his homily, Bishop Manfred Scheuer emphasized the significance of a person’s name and the personal relationship between God and humanity. He stated that a name is more than just a label. “The name replaces the fingerprint, it is our business card and defines us,” he said. He explained that a name reflects one’s origins, future expectations, and role models in faith, and facilitates connection with others.
Predigt Bischof Manfred Scheuer: „Gott kennt jeden Menschen beim Namen“. / © Diözese Linz / Johannes Kienberger
Bishop Scheuer also reminded the congregation that God reveals himself with a name. Referencing the encounter between Moses and God in the burning bush, he noted that God proclaims, “I am who I am” – a name that expresses God’s reliable presence. “We are not a number, not a statistic in a divine bureaucracy. He knows our name, he knows our innermost being, he knows our weaknesses and strengths. ‘You belong to me,’ says God: not in the sense of enslavement, but in the sense of a lifelong, loving bond. It is like a love relationship, like a great friendship,” Scheuer said.
The bishop encouraged the candidates to, like the disciples in the Gospel, continually seek God and ask questions about faith. “Who is the God of Jesus and how is he? What is his message? How does he meet us in today’s world? How is faith lived here in Austria? You ask the Christians in your parish: What do you believe? What characterizes your faith? These questions will always occupy us. We will never know all the answers, we will not always be able to give an answer.” He added that those who ask Jesus “Where do you live?” receive the invitation: “Come and see – I am here in the world, with the people, especially with those who are in any way affected by material and spiritual necessitate. Come and see: I am here in the world, with you.” Spiritual life, he emphasized, arises from listening to God’s word, which is Jesus in person.
Bischof Manfred Scheuer segnete alle Taufwerber:innen. / © Diözese Linz / Johannes Kienberger
