Archbishop Pérez Issues Landmark Pastoral Letter Extending Heartfelt Invitation for All Catholics, Especially Those Who Feel Disconnected, to Join Him in Forging a Revitalized Catholic Church Throughout the Region
Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, Archbishop of Philadelphia, recently announced an initiative to re-engage Catholics who have become disconnected from the Church and explore how the Catholic Church of Philadelphia can best serve the needs of the people of the Philadelphia region in the decades to come. The Archbishop noted, “Today, 83% of our fellow baptized Catholics don’t come to church. That fact needs to make us uncomfortable. We need to have urgency around this.”
He issued this invitation in a recent Pastoral Letter to the more than 1.5 million Catholics whose souls are entrusted to the pastoral care of the Church throughout the five-county metropolitan area.
One immediate feature of the initiative is a series of facilitated dialogue sessions being offered this spring at numerous locations in each county of the region for all those who wish to take part. As Archbishop Pérez said, “I am writing to you because I need your help. Your voices and presence are essential as we navigate our way forward together as the Church of Philadelphia.”
Individuals can sign up for sessions conducted in multiple languages by visiting https://trustandhope.org/.
Archbishop Pérez continued, “The time has come to explore bold ways to grow the Church of Philadelphia by asking the question, ‘Where does the Church need to be and how?’ To do this, we must inspire a pastoral change of heart that focuses on those who are absent and aligns our collective efforts across parishes, schools and charitable ministries to listen, rebuild trust, provide hope, and invite people home.”
In his pastoral letter, Archbishop Pérez said that a major goal is to establish missionary hubs in each county over time that will be based at parishes and other locations. All would feature full-time staff working with a pastor who is committed to outward engagement. Staff members could include pastoral service coordinators, communicators, event specialists and missionaries focused on facilitating an encounter with Christ and his Church. These unique hubs will provide pastoral, educational and social services efficiently by connecting various Catholic ministries, particularly in disadvantaged areas, to ensure that they utilize available resources for maximum impact.
Archbishop Pérez urged Catholics to live their faith as missionary disciples, which stems from Pope Francis’ call in his exhortation, “The Joy of the Gospel,” for Christians to go forth and “boldly take the initiative, go out to others, seek those who have fallen away, stand at the crossroads, and welcome the outcast.”
Archbishop Pérez concluded, “As your Archbishop, I want you to know that God continues to reach out to encounter you. He loves you. You have a home in the Church. The light is on, and the door is open.”
To read the full pastoral letter, to watch a video message from Archbishop Pérez, to sign up for a dialogue session, or to learn more please visit https://TrustAndHope.org.
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