On the heels of the global Synod on Communion, Participation, and Mission, which proclaimed with Magisterial authority that “The way to promote a synodal Church is to foster greater participation of the People of God in decision-making processes (#87 in the Final Report), Archbishop Perez asks in his January 2025 pastoral letter for our “voices and presence… as we navigate our way forward together as the Church of Philadelphia.”
Just as Pope Francis called all to participate in the Synod, Archbishop Perez is calling on all in the Archdiocese to join the discernment – listening for God – about where the Church in Philadelphia needs to be and how we need to be church in those places.
Join us for a community conversation on Sunday, March 16th from 1:00 to 3:00pm to share and listen to hopes for our church! If you can’t make it and want to participate in the discernment, send us an email at [email protected]
Letter to the Editor | Philadelphia Inquirer | Published February 21, 2025
“As a Catholic sister, I’m heartened by Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez’s plan for the archdiocese “
to meet people where they are.” As director of St. Raphaela Center in Haverford, I encounter people from many backgrounds, including former Catholics. I minister to wounds of mistrust, especially in women, as people share experiences of not feeling spiritually nourished nor a sense of belonging, either for themselves or those they love. There is incredible potential in this moment for the archdiocese to heal these wounds by becoming a credible witness of welcome.
We can do that by growing roles in and through the proposed process for women and so many others who have been prevented from sharing their ministerial gifts. Opening a transformative space for authentic encounter requires that we demonstrate to those who have felt abandoned by the Catholic church that their presence and experiences are truly valued in this pastoral process. This requires offering safe spaces for honest sharing and deep listening. I’m eager to partner in the hard work it will take to become a community that takes people’s experiences seriously by allowing them to affect us, welcoming them in a shared search to walk together on the journey of faith.”
– Sr. Michelle Cimaroli, Director of St. Raphaela Center
