Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia has announced a new campaign aimed at welcoming individuals who have become distant from the Catholic Church and raising awareness about the Church’s contributions in the region.

The initiative includes a privately funded marketing and advertising campaign that will reach across Philadelphia and its suburbs. A central element of this plan is the creation of five missionary hubs, which are intended to connect with Catholics who do not regularly attend Mass as well as others seeking spiritual engagement or opportunities to serve those in need. According to estimates, approximately 83% of baptized Catholics in the area do not attend Mass on a regular basis.

“The Catholic Church in our region has 1.5 million Catholics, directly helps hundreds of thousands of people through our schools and charitable ministries, and has an economic impact of more than $1 billion a year. It was important to highlight the broad scope of compassionate and dignified service we provide to people of faith traditions and diverse walks of life,” Archbishop Pérez said. “Following the example of Jesus Christ, we are moving to encounter all of our brothers and sisters wherever they are. I want everyone to know that they are not alone and that they will always have a home in the Catholic Church.”

The missionary hubs will be located in each of the five counties served by the Archdiocese. Each hub will bring together pastoral, educational, and charitable ministries within specific neighborhoods, with teams led by parish pastors supported by five trained individuals per hub. The design allows for neighboring parishes to participate in hub programs.

“Through these hubs we will go forth to share the mercy and healing love of Christ by meeting the needs of all people, especially those who feel distant from the Lord. Through their evangelical outreach, programs, and resources, we want to welcome and invite people to connect more deeply with Jesus,” Archbishop Pérez stated.

Planning for these initiatives began earlier this year following a pastoral letter from Archbishop Pérez. This was followed by nearly 100 meetings throughout the region where close to 15,000 participants provided input on future directions for the Church.

A key component is also a new marketing campaign titled “Catholic. Every Day.” featuring advertisements across local television, radio stations, digital platforms, billboards, and bus shelters. These ads are scheduled through July 2026 with targeted periods during major events such as religious holidays as well as high-profile occasions like the Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup matches hosted in Philadelphia, MLB All-Star Game festivities, and celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.

“In this digital age, it’s critical that we use all the means available to us to get our story out,” said Archbishop Pérez. “This campaign will remind Catholics of their rich heritage of service to others in Philadelphia while introducing our message to new audiences in fresh and compelling ways.”

The Archdiocese has also updated its website as part of this effort and earlier launched a video series called Faces of Hope on CatholicPhilly.com highlighting stories from members serving their communities through faith.

AgileCat and MayoSeitz Media are partnering on advertising efforts with continued support from Devine+Partners.

Further information about missionary hubs can be found at https://TrustAndHope.org.