Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez recently appointed 14 clergy leaders to help guide the Catholic Church of Philadelphia’s upcoming campaign. Serving on the Clergy Committee, these priests and deacons will help ensure that all efforts remain grounded in the pastoral realities of parish life while advancing the Archbishop’s vision for missionary renewal.
Representing clergy from throughout the Archdiocese, the committee will provide pastoral counsel, share frontline insights from parish ministry, and help shape the campaign as planning continues. Their experience will help ensure that the campaign remains rooted in the realities of parish life and responsive to needs of priests and the faithful.
The committee’s formation marks another important milestone in the development of the Trust and Hope initiative. Inspired by Archbishop Pérez’s call to shift from maintenance to mission, the campaign seeks to renew the Church by strengthening parish communities, supporting priests, and inviting more people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
“I am deeply grateful to these priests and deacons for sharing their wisdom, pastoral experience, and leadership as we embark on this transformative effort,” said Archbishop Pérez. “Together, we have the opportunity to strengthen and grow the Catholic Church of Philadelphia by inspiring a renewed spirit of faith, hope, and missionary discipleship and helping more people encounter Jesus Christ.”
The committee includes the following priests and deacons.
- Father Kevin Gallagher, Chair — Saint Denis, Havertown; Annunciation BVM, Havertown
- Father Louis Bellopede — Saint Agnes, West Chester
- Father Kenneth Cavara — Saint Mary Magdalen, Media
- Father Christopher Coffiey — Saint Bernadette, Drexel Hill
- Father Francesco D’Amico — Saint William, Philadelphia
- Monsignor Francis Depman — Saint Rocco, Avondale
- Deacon Donald DiCarlo — Saint Thomas of Villanova, Villanova
- Father Sean English — Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Lower Gwynedd
- Father Daniel Joyce, SJ — Arrupe Jesuit Community, Merion Station
- Monsignor Kevin Lawrence — Saint Andrew, Newtown
- Monsignor Michael Matz — Saint John Neumann, Bryn Mawr
- Deacon Kevin Mead — Saint Elizabeth, Chester Springs
- Father Christopher Walsh — Saint Cecilia, Philadelphia
- Father Patrick Welsh — Saint Matthew, Philadelphia
Last year, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia partnered with the Steier Group to conduct a campaign planning study. The study assessed support for priorities connected to Archbishop Pérez’s vision, including evangelization and holistic modes of care for clergy. The results, shared last month, revealed broad support for these priorities and affirmed the Archdiocese’s readiness to advance to the next phase of campaign planning.
Members of the Clergy Committee were selected to represent the rich panoply of pastoral landscapes within the local Church and the variety of challenges to parish life in those contexts. They are recognized for their leadership, wisdom, and respect among their brother priests and bring deep pastoral as well as administrative experience to the campaign planning process.
As planning for the upcoming campaign continues, the Clergy Committee will help keep the effort focused on its central mission: bringing more people to Jesus Christ by supporting priests and strengthening parish life. Together with lay leaders, parish communities, and the faithful throughout the Archdiocese, the committee will advance Archbishop Pérez’s vision of a Church that moves confidently with great hope and zeal while proclaiming the Gospel with renewed conviction for the good of all souls.
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