Archbishop Nelson Pérez at his installation Mass on Feb. 18, 2020, at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. / Credit: Sarah Webb/Archdiocese of Philadelphia
CNA Staff, Jan 17, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
AftertheArchdioceseofPhiladelphiafoundthat83%ofbaptizedCatholicsaremissingfromthepewsinthearchdiocese,ArchbishopNelsonPérezdecidedtolaunchamissionaryoutreachprograminhisarchdioceseto“invitepeoplehome.”
Thenumberof“missingCatholics”isbasedonMasscountattendancedatacompiledeachyearbythearchdiocese.(ThenumberrelatesonlytotheArchdioceseofPhiladelphia.)
Pérezislaunchinga10-yearmissionaryendeavortobringCatholicsbacktothepewsbyimplementing“missionaryhubs”inmanyparishesinthearea.ThemissionaryhubsaredesignedtoworkwithexistingparishesandministriesbyprovidingadditionalresourcestoministertothosewhohavelefttheChurch.
Pérezsaidhedoesnotwantto“perpetuatethiscycle”of“widespreadparishclosures”duetofinancesandnumberofpriests—somethingmanydiocesesarefacingintheUnitedStates.
“Iwanttobegintoclose
