Cardinal Tobin: We are His Witnesses, Mary is our Model

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ, 

Last month, when I announced our new pastoral planning initiative, We Are His Witnesses, I described my vision for the Archdiocese of Newark in these words: 

If you asked me today what my vision is for the Church in northern New Jersey, I would make my own the Holy Father’s words from Evangelii Gaudium: 

I hope that all communities will devote the necessary effort to advancing along the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion which cannot leave things as they presently are (EG #25). 

What is this “path” of pastoral conversion and missionary discipleship that we are called to follow as the People of God here in northern New Jersey? Jesus tells us that He Himself is the way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6). He invites us to repent, to change the way we live, and to follow Him. What’s more, He invites us to be His witnesses and to share His love and His truth with everyone we encounter. 

Pastoral conversion and missionary discipleship are not new concepts. They have been integral to our Church’s life and ministry since the earliest days of Christian history. As recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, many prominent figures, especially Saints Peter and Paul, have guided our Church’s efforts in synodal processes designed to adapt and change the Christian community’s approaches to proclaiming the Gospel to all nations and peoples.   

In many ways, the Blessed Virgin Mary is the model for everything that the Church does as a community of believers following in the footsteps of our Redeemer and advancing along the paths of holiness and missionary zeal under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  

Continue reading Cardinal Tobin’s latest newsletter.