Bishop Saporito: How ‘We Are His Witnesses’ will strengthen our Church
In June, parishioners across the Archdiocese of Newark were introduced to We Are His Witnesses, a pastoral initiative inspired by Pope Francis’s encyclical Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). At that time, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., addressed the faithful, calling them to reimagine parish life, mission, and ministry in response to a changing world.
He also announced that Auxiliary Bishop Michael Saporito would lead the initiative with the support of an Archdiocesan Planning Commission, working in collaboration with pastors and parish leaders from the Archdiocese’s four counties.
Bishop Saporito recently spoke with Jersey Catholic about We Are His Witnesses and the road ahead. In part one of our conversation, he reflects on the purpose of the initiative, why the timing is critical, and the challenges and opportunities facing the Church in Newark.
As We Are His Witnesses moves forward, what key points should the faithful keep in mind?
Bishop Saporito: “First, the initiative is about pastoral conversion and our call to missionary discipleship. What do I mean by that?
Let’s begin with pastoral conversion. It means taking an honest look at ourselves — and also at the structures of the Church. Are they serving our mission of evangelization today?
We often operate with a mindset of ‘this is just how things are done.’ But the circumstances that shaped those patterns no longer exist. We are now facing a different reality, and the way we structure parish life needs to reflect that.
When we look at the data, it’s clear that the current model is unsustainable. But this isn’t just about what’s not working — it’s also about what new opportunities might be possible.
We Are His Witnesses calls us to conversion so that we can reach people more effectively. Yes, there will be pruning. But the goal is to strengthen the mission of the Church.”
In his June 8 letter, Cardinal Tobin said the realities we face are urgent. Some, like declining Mass attendance, have been happening for years. Why is now the time to act?
Bishop Saporito: “We need to strengthen the Church in Newark. The challenges we face — fewer priests, lower attendance — have been unfolding slowly. That gives us a brief window to prepare while we still can.
Now is the time to face reality with hope — and prepare intentionally for the future. If we do that, we may help slow or reverse the decline.”
Can you explain more about the challenges we currently face?
Bishop Saporito: “Projections show that our population will continue to grow, which means there is a real opportunity to share our faith. At the same time, we face hard realities: Mass attendance and participation in the sacraments have declined sharply — by 50 to 60 percent over the past 20 years. And looking ahead, we will have significantly fewer priests available.
We don’t want to shrink back in fear. We Are His Witnesses is a consultative process. Everyone will be invited to participate and offer input.
We’re asking people to reflect not only within their own parishes, but across wider regions of the Archdiocese. That’s why discipleship and pastoral conversion are at the core of this effort.”
You have acknowledged that some parishes will close or merge.
Bishop Saporito: “We Are His Witnesses is about a conversion of hearts, minds, and habits, so we can be more effective across the four counties of the archdiocese and ensure our parishes are strong and sustainable for the future. It calls for an honest evaluation of our current practices and structures. Over time, some parishes may need to merge or close. It won’t be easy, but as one Church, we’ll walk together in faith, compassion, and mutual support.”
In what ways?
Bishop Saporito: “So much has changed over the years — family structures, people’s mobility. For example, a devout family may go to four different parishes in a single month because of travel, sports, or family schedules.
What does that mean for how we think about parish life? Many have asked these questions individually. We Are His Witnesses gives us the chance to ask them together, as one Church.
This isn’t a top-down decision from one office at the Archdiocese. All 212 parishes will be involved — regardless of size, activity level, or location. Everyone’s voice matters. We want everyone involved.”
As part of the process, parishioners completed a survey called the Disciple Maker Index (DMI). What stood out to you?
Bishop Saporito: “Well, first, the purpose of the DMI survey was to help us understand where people feel connected — or disconnected — from their faith community.”
You want to understand how people are living their faith?
Bishop Saporito: “Exactly. It all comes down to mission.
We don’t just want to rearrange structures. That won’t solve anything. Instead, our hope is for renewed life and renewed energy. The survey helped us ask the right questions about what it means to be Church today.”
Did the results reveal anything surprising?
Bishop Saporito: “Yes. First, the response was remarkable — 50,000 people participated. Unsurprisingly, most were regular churchgoers. They love their parishes, their priests, and their faith. Faith is an essential dimension of their lives.
I expected the responses to skew older. But while younger people were underrepresented, the data showed a wide age range — from 18 and up — with strong participation from people aged 30 and 50. That gives us a solid snapshot of where we stand.”
Did anything else stand out?
Bishop Saporito: “One of the DMI questions asked whether respondents have ever invited a young person to consider the priesthood or religious life. Over 70 percent said no, even though we have a shortage of vocations.
The same pattern showed up with invitations to Mass or parish activities — even among our most engaged members.
As Catholics, we sometimes hold back from sharing our faith. The survey confirms that. But that’s not a reason to lose hope — it’s an opportunity.
We can help people grow in confidence and skill as evangelizers. Because if we are going to make an impact on our communities, we can’t rely only on clergy or religious. As the body of Christ together, laity as well as clergy, we must be encouraged to be disciples and share the Good News.
We are all called to be disciples. That’s what We Are His Witnesses is ultimately about.”
Coming in November…
In part two of our conversation, Bishop Saporito reflects on mission, evangelization, and discipleship, and how his personal faith journey shapes his approach to We Are His Witnesses.
You can learn more about We Are His Witnesses here.
