Cardinal Tobin’s update on We Are His Witnesses

On June 12, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, issued the following pastoral letter regarding the We Are His Witnesses initiative:

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you (2 Cor 13:13).

Today, the Church throughout the world celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, one of the most eloquent symbols of the love our Savior has for us. This celebration adores the mystery to which the “Mother Church” of the Archdiocese of Newark, the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, is dedicated. This mystery is also an invitation, since it reminds us that the heart of the Church’s mission is always the love of Christ — a love that draws us beyond ourselves in faith, service, and hope. Even amid the challenges facing our local Church, I am encouraged by the faith, generosity, and perseverance I witness each day throughout the Archdiocese of Newark.

When I first proposed the initiative, We Are His Witnesses, I wrote that this effort was primarily about pastoral conversion, inspired by Pope Francis’ 2013 apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). Pastoral conversion calls us to make a fundamental shift from being an inward-looking Church, focused primarily on maintenance and survival, to becoming a dynamic, outward-looking Church by better understanding and accepting the mission Christ entrusted to us. We have honestly considered the changing landscape of northern New Jersey while staying focused on evangelization and outreach, pastoral care, and the long-term sustainability of our many communities.

One of the guiding principles of We Are His Witnesses is to listen to God and to one another in faith and trust. Over the past months, throughout the Archdiocese, parishioners, clergy, religious, and parish leaders participated in surveys, shared in listening sessions, and offered feedback. I am deeply grateful for your honesty, your love for the Church, and your desire to see our parish communities continue to grow in faith and mission.

As I listened to people across the Archdiocese, some themes surfaced repeatedly. By far, the most common was evangelization and outreach. Many expressed a sincere desire to share the Gospel more personally and invite others into the life of the Church, especially young people, families, and those who no longer take part in parish life. Often, that desire came with a question: “How do we evangelize?” These conversations revealed both a deep love for parish communities and a growing recognition that no parish can carry the Church’s mission on its own.

Continue reading Cardinal Tobin’s pastoral letter HERE.