By Catholic Philly Staff Report • Posted June 30, 2023

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced June 29 that Pope Francis has appointed 10 new Missionaries of Mercy for Philadelphia.

In total, the Holy Father has commissioned 11 missionaries for our local Church as a visible expression of the mercy of God, which is at the heart of the priesthood and all of Catholic life.

Rev. Msgr. George A. Majoros, Pastor of the partnering parishes of Sacred Heart Church in Clifton Heights and Saint Charles Borromeo Church in Drexel Hill, was the first Missionary of Mercy for the Archdiocese. He was commissioned by Pope Francis in 2016 and will continue to serve as a Missionary.

The ten new Missionaries of Mercy for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are:

  • Rev. Kenneth C. Brabazon, Pastor of Saint Isidore Church in Quakertown (Bucks County);
  • Rev. Matthew D. Brody, Pastor of Saint Richard of Chichester Church in Philadelphia (South Philadelphia);
  • Rev. Monsignor Francis J. Depman, Pastor of Saint Rocco Church in Avondale (Chester County);
  • Rev. Peter J. DiMaria, Pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Bridgeport (Montgomery County);
  • Rev. Msgr. Paul V. Dougherty, Pastor of Saint Margaret of Antioch Church in Narberth (Montgomery County) and Chaplain of the Deaf Apostolate;
  • Rev. Monsignor Joseph P. Duncan, Pastor of Saint Patrick Church in Malvern (Chester County);
  • Rev. Douglas M. McKay, Rector of the Malvern Retreat House in Malvern (Chester County) and Chaplain of Our House  Ministries in Philadelphia (Grays Ferry);
  • Rev. Augustus C. Puleo, Faculty Member and Director of the English Language Program and Spanish Program (ESL) at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood (Overbrook);
  • Rev. Christopher B. Rogers, Pastor of Saint Patrick Church in Kennett Square (Chester County); and
  • Rev. Charles Zlock, Pastor of Saint Raymond of Penafort in Philadelphia (Cedarbrook).

These Missionaries of Mercy will help facilitate pastoral initiatives that focus on conversion and divine mercy, with a particular attention given to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

They have also been given the authority of the Holy Father to absolve in his name certain sins that are ordinarily only forgiven by the Pope. These specific types of sins are commonly known as sins “reserved to the Holy See.”

Archbishop Pérez will officially commission the Missionaries of Mercy with their mandate from the Holy See at Vespers on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

To learn more about the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Missionaries of Mercy, visit archphila.org/mercy/.