Catholic. Every Day.
In the Philadelphia region, 83% of Catholics are not active in the sacramental life of the Church. Many feel distant or hurt for good reasons. We’re here to change that.
The light is on and the door is open. Jesus wants to welcome everyone home. It’s time to grow.
Our Committment to You
From Crisis to Hope.
From Decline to Growth.
Introducing the “Trust and Hope” initiative, a strategic plan–and concerted effort–to renew the Catholic Church of Philadelphia over the next 20 years, not by managing decline, but by investing in growth. While others are asking “Should we close parishes?” we’re asking: “Where does the Church need to be? And how does the church need to be?”
From Listening to Action
The Trust and Hope Initiative emerged from 100 listening sessions with nearly 15,000 participants. What we heard is that the Church of Philadelphia is poised for growth, but in order to grow, we must first shift from a mindset of crisis to a one of hope. This is where the true mission begins.
Our Vision:
A Church that Faces Outward
Over the next decade, we’re going to grow the “missionary capacity” of the Church of Philadelphia. In other words, we’re going to equip the church with the tools and resources it needs to grow organically, and to pursue The Great Commission of sharing the love of Jesus and spreading the word of God.
One way to do that is by building a layer of “Missionary Hubs” throughout the archdiocese.
Watch Archbishop Pérez Explain Missionary Hubs
What is a Missionary Hub?
Simply put, a Missionary Hub is a way to pursue growth over maintenance.
A Missionary Hub is a dedicated team, planted in an existing parish, where they will concetrate energy and resources to serve people who feel far from the Church. Each hub is fully staffed with a director and two or more full-time, salaried missionaries who integrate pastoral, educational, and charitable ministries for the parishes in their surrounding area.
The Plan:
-
- 50 hubs in 10 years (1 for every 5 parishes)
- First five launched in 2025—one per county
- Building the central financial capacity to both grow and provide long-term sustainability.
Professionally Staffed
Professionally staffed teams under parish leadership, trained in missionary discipleship.
Tailored to Your Needs
Each hub tailors its programs and ministries to the unique needs of its immediate community.
Collaborative Network
Connecting parishes, schools, Catholic Charities, and religious communities for a unified mission.
Relationship Focused
Our goal is to facilitate stronger, deeper relationships among individuals, families, and with God.
Learm More About Missionary Hubs
Reimaging the Parish of the Future
When Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez first took office in February 2020, he was asked point blank if he was going to close parishes. He replied, “I didn’t come to Philadelphia to close parishes, but rather to build up the Church.”
Solving this problem will take more than just prayer and hard work. It will require us to rethink the way we run–and grow–the parish of the future.
Challenging Times
As of 2026, the Church of Philadelphia includes 1.5 million Catholics and is served by fewer than 600 priests—about 300 active diocesan priests, 150 retired diocesan priests, and 150 religious‑order priests—who continue to minister generously.
Collectively, they strive to meet the pastoral and sacramental needs of every soul entrusted to their care, but the reality is that our priests are spread thin.
To make matters even more challenging, we expect up to 20% of these priests to reach retirement age in the next 5 years. The number of projected ordinations to the priesthood will not cover the deficiency in that same time frame.
But there is hope.
“Philladelphia is resilient. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
Despite our challenges, the Church of Philadelphia is on the rise.
In our seminary, we currently have more men on the path to priesthood any other diocese in the country.
And in our parishes, Mass attendance grew by 7.5% in 2025 alone.
Now is not the time to shrink in fear. This is the time to plant the seeds for a season of growth.
A Path Forward
To preserve our parishes, we’re working hard to increase resources and remove obstacles so that pastors and parish staff can focus on serving you! We’re doing everything from standardizing parish management software, to creating entirely new roles including Parish Life Directors, and Diocesan Missionaries.
In the end, will some parishes close? It’s possible. But we’re committed to using all the tools at our disposal to preserve every parish we can, and help them thrive.
Learn More About Our Plans to Preserve Parishes.
Ways to Get Involved
Prayer is a standing invitation from God to experience His love—a simple moment where you are embraced in compassion and where He hears all of our voices.
Stay Connected
Follow our journey. See what happens when a Church decides to trust God and hope boldly. Who knows? You might find inspiration for your own corner of the Kingdom.
Pray with Us
Pray with us for a bold renewal of faith, hope, and trust in our Church.
“Heavenly Father, you call us to renew our faith in you and love for our neighbor every day in your Son, Jesus.”
Explore Our Open Positions
Director of Mission Initiatives
We are seeking a dynamic and visionary Director of Missionary Hubs who will be dedicated to guiding the staff of regional Missionary Hubs rooted in the values and teachings of the Catholic faith and consistent with the Archbishop’s vision.
Communications Manager
The Communications Manager will oversee strategic communications and development to strengthen the financial sustainability and public presence of the area served by the hub. This role requires a creative storyteller, strategic planner, and relationship builder passionate about advancing the parish mission.
Service Coordinator
The Service Coordinator will play a pivotal role in supporting the mission of the Church of Philadelphia by managing and coordinating the efforts of volunteers. This individual will ensure that volunteer programs align with gospel values, foster community engagement, and provide meaningful opportunities for individuals to contribute their time and talents.
Trust and Hope Ambassador
The Trust & Hope Ambassador Program is a voluntary, grassroots communications network that supports the Trust & Hope initiative by extending its story, progress, and local impact into parishes, schools, and ministries across the Catholic Church of Philadelphia.
Brand Ambassadors serve as trusted local connectors, working in coordination with Missionary Hub staff and receiving support and direction from the Catholic Church of Philadelphia’s Strategy Office, the team responsible for developing and implementing Trust & Hope.
Take Action in Your Community
Connect with your pastor about your parish’s engagement, volunteer with a local hub, and share your unique gifts in service to renewal.
Give us Your Feedback: (Planning Study Survey)
Your voice matters. Help us shape the future of our church by taking our “planning study” survey.
Train as a Missionary Disciple
Explore classes to deepen your faith and learn to share God’s love with others.
Help Others Become Disciples
Discover resources to guide others in answering the call to mission.
Everyone Can Evangelize
We are all called to evangelize. Through the Holy Spirit, we are equipped to share the Gospel in our everyday lives.
The Pastoral Letter
In a time that calls for unity, renewal, and vision, Archbishop Pérez invites every member of our local Church to join him in a heartfelt and honest conversation about our future together. Trust and Hope is more than a letter – it is a call to walk forward as one, guided by faith, courage, and belief in each other. This letter marks the beginning of a journey we will take together. Your voice, your prayers, and your presence are not only welcome – they are essential.
Let the conversation begin.
FAQs
Why are we doing this?
We are embarking on a concerted process to renew the Church of Philadelphia over the next 20 years and invite everyone to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ. Currently, 83% of baptized Catholics are not participating in the sacramental life of the Church. The mission of the Church has always been to announce the resurrection and foster closer relationships with Jesus. This initiative aims to support the growth of the Church of Philadelphia in a way that best meets the needs of the souls entrusted to its pastoral care.
What is the timing for this plan – when and how will it be rolled out?
After a year of conversations and discernment with you and as many others as possible, this plan is envisioned to roll out over the next 10 years. The Archdiocese encompasses the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia, and it will require tailored approaches to be successful across these diverse regions. We also want to allow sufficient time for people to learn more, discern their participation, and refine our efforts over time.
Does this mean my parish is closing?
No. While parish life may change and some parishes may close over time, the goal of this program is growth. Each of our parishes faces the same challenge: the majority of Catholics in their parish do not attend Mass. This fact presents an opportunity for every parish to grow with vibrancy. The parish communities that are most willing to consider those who are not attending and to adjust their practices, schedules, and cultures accordingly will be best positioned to enter this new chapter in the life of our Church.
What is a missionary hub?
A missionary hub is an initiative planted in a local community, most likely within an existing parish setting. It will be singularly focused on missionary outreach for a region within a county. It will encompass various Catholic ministries and invite people into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Our current understanding of a parish footprint effectively ministers to the 17% who come to the church door. A missionary hub is designed to help our parish communities focus on the 83% who do not.
Will missionary hubs replace existing parishes?
No. Missionary hubs are not intended to replace existing parishes. Rather, they are designed to enrich, supplement, and actively support parish life in the broadest possible way. They will serve as additional resources to help parishes grow by reaching out to those who have drifted away from the Church and supporting ministry in areas that traditional parish structures may not be able to sustain. Missionary hubs are meant to work alongside and in collaboration with existing parishes. They will create a network of evangelical activity across the Church of Philadelphia that fosters new opportunities for outreach, spiritual growth, and community engagement.
How will locations of missionary hubs be decided?
The goal is for communities to learn about the initiative, prayerfully discern their involvement, and express their desire and willingness to participate in the outlined expectations. Once interest in this feedback is gathered, the Archbishop and other leaders within our local Church will confer with parish leadership. Following the completion of that process, parishes will be selected to serve as missionary hubs over time.
If my parish is not where a hub is planted, what happens?
Your parish will continue to serve the mission of the Church in your area. The hope is that stable and growing parishes will maintain their progress. Each parish is invited to participate in the activities of the missionary hub, as the hub will operate across parish lines.
How can we measure the success of this initiative?
Initially, we aim to see progress in establishing and staffing missionary hubs. The long-term results will be reflected in metrics such as Mass attendance, baptisms, confirmations, vocations, and the number of individuals involved in parish and diocesan ministries.
How are we going to pay for this?
The missionary hubs will be primarily subsidized by private philanthropic funding secured over time and hopefully endowed for long-term sustainability.
What does it mean to be living in apostolic times?
Apostolic times refers to a way to understand the reality of our current landscape. Today’s Church is operating in an environment that is more closely related to the early church (aka the time of the apostles). Like the early Church, society is not always supportive of religion, and there are people who have no experience with or context about the value of religion.
What is a pastoral change of heart?
When the Archbishop Pérez speaks of a pastoral change of heart, he is speaking about the lifelong mission of every follower of Jesus to constantly reflect on ways we need to orient our lives toward Jesus and His Great Commission. That journey involves prayer, study, and a constant examination of conscience about who we are and if we are truly sharing the compassionate love of Christ with each other to the best of our ability
How will we fund the initiatives in Archbishop Pérez’s pastoral plan?
A comprehensive campaign will invite private donors, foundations, and corporations from across the Archdiocese to support Archbishop Pérez’s innovative pastoral plan. Funds raised will be used to launch these initiatives and to build endowments to fund them for future generations. A thorough planning study involving a broad array of stakeholders representative of the demographic makeup of the Archdiocese will solidify the campaign’s final goal and guide our approach.
What are the priorities of the comprehensive campaign?
The current priorities for the planned campaign are as follows:
1. Establishing Missionary Hubs
2. Planting missionaries and development directors in Catholic schools without full-time staff in this role and support existing directors
3. Comprehensive support for priests across every stage of their vocation
4. Assisting parishes with needs identified at the local level.
For additional information on these priorities, please see our Planning Study Fact Sheet (Available in Spanish).
Archbishop Pérez has actively sought input and feedback from priests, deacons, consecrated religious, and laypersons across the Archdiocese to shape and strengthen these strategic priorities. In the coming weeks, parishioners will be invited to participate in this planning study, ensuring broad participation in shaping the future of the Catholic Church of Philadelphia. Additional details on how to share your feedback will be provided soon.
How will campaign funds raised by parishes be used at the parish level?
Parishes will receive a designated share, or percentage, of the campaign funds collected at their local parish, to be used in the areas of greatest local impact. Each pastor, together with his parish leadership, will determine how these funds will be best used—whether to strengthen parish ministries, support a capital improvement, or meet another important need.
Please note: campaign funds are separate and distinct from annual offertory and parish operating budgets. We ask that parishioners continue to support their local parishes as they typically do while prayerfully considering an extraordinary gift to the Archdiocesan campaign.