Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, Archbishop of Philadelphia, has announced a new initiative aimed at reconnecting Catholics who have distanced themselves from the Church. This effort also seeks to explore how the Catholic Church in Philadelphia can effectively serve the local community in the coming years. "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," said Archbishop Pérez.

In his recent Pastoral Letter, he extended an invitation to over 1.5 million Catholics under the Church's care across the five-county metropolitan area.

A key component of this initiative is a series of dialogue sessions available this spring at various locations throughout each county for those interested in participating. "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," Archbishop Pérez emphasized.

Individuals can register for these sessions, which will be conducted in multiple languages, by visiting https://trustandhope.org/.

Archbishop Pérez stated, “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.”

The pastoral letter outlines plans for establishing missionary hubs in each county over time at parishes and other sites. These hubs would feature full-time staff working with pastors committed to outreach efforts. Staff roles could include pastoral service coordinators, communicators, event specialists and missionaries dedicated to facilitating encounters with Christ and his Church. These hubs aim to deliver pastoral, educational and social services efficiently by linking various Catholic ministries—especially in disadvantaged areas—to maximize resource utilization.

Archbishop Pérez encouraged Catholics to embody their faith as missionary disciples following Pope Francis’ exhortation in “The Joy of the Gospel” for Christians “to go forth and boldly take the initiative."

"As your Archbishop," he concluded, "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."

For more information or access resources such as reading the full pastoral letter or signing up for dialogue sessions visit https://TrustAndHope.org.