Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez has launched a sweeping initiative to welcome back Catholics who feel distant from the Church while highlighting the Church’s broad impact across the Philadelphia region.
A Sept. 29 news release says the initiative includes a privately funded, region-wide marketing campaign and the creation of five missionary hubs aimed at reaching Catholics who no longer attend Mass, as well as those seeking a spiritual connection and access to Church resources for those in need.
“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,” Archbishop Pérez said in the release.
“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.”
Missionary hubs established
One of the centerpiece features of the campaign is the establishment of missionary hubs in each of the five counties served by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. These hubs will integrate pastoral, educational, and charitable ministries in a coordinated way to serve people who feel far from the Church.
The first five hubs are:
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- Delaware County: Saint Katharine Drexel Parish, Chester
- Montgomery County: Saint Alphonsus Parish, Maple Glen
- Bucks County: Saint Isidore Parish, Quakertown
- Chester County: Saint Ann Parish, Phoenixville
- Philadelphia County: Saint Matthew Parish, Northeast Philadelphia
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Each hub will have a team of five trained individuals under the leadership of the parish pastor and will be tailored to meet the unique needs of local communities. Neighboring parishes will be encouraged to join in the outreach.
“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,” Archbishop Pérez said.
Planning for the hubs began earlier this year with the archbishop’s January pastoral letter, followed by nearly 100 listening sessions across the region that drew almost 15,000 participants.
‘Catholic. Every Day.’ campaign
The initiative also includes a broad marketing effort branded as “Catholic. Every Day.” Ads featuring the “faces of Catholicism” in the region will appear on TV, radio, digital platforms, billboards, and bus shelters through 2026, according to the release.
The privately funded ad campaign is timed to coincide with major events in 2026 such as the the Winter Olympics and several events Philadelphia will be hosting such as the FIFA World Cup, the MLB All-Star Game, and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Commercials will also air during programming including college football games (Notre Dame and Penn State), Sunday Night Football, CMT Music Awards, CBS Sunday Morning, and Eagles pregame shows.
“In this digital age, it’s critical that we use all the means available to us to get our story out,” Archbishop Pérez said. “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 campaign is supported by AgileCat, MayoSeitz Media, and Devine+Partners.
As part of this effort, the Archdiocese also unveiled a redesigned website and earlier this year introduced Faces of Hope, a CatholicPhilly.com video series featuring stories of local Catholics living their faith through service.
For more information about the missionary hubs, visit TrustAndHope.org.
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