Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, announced today that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will continue its efforts to draw people back to the Church with Disciples in Mission, a parish-based program designed to foster spiritual renewal. "Disciples in Mission is an ingenious method for achieving what the Holy Father has called ‘the new evangelization,'" said Cardinal Bevilacqua. "Our evangelization efforts over the past year have shown to us that there is a great hunger for God in the Archdiocese. Disciples in Mission will help us feed that hunger."

The Archdiocese recently completed a year long campaign to bring people back to the Church and the Sacraments, culminating in the highly successful "Reconciliation Weekend," March 19 and 20, 1999. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people went to confession Reconciliation Weekend, including many who had not participated in the Sacrament of Reconciliation in years. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia continues to operate its toll-free 1-877-BLESS ME hotline, which allows people to speak anonymously with a priest. An internet website also remains in operation, at www.blessme.org.

The Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association designed the Disciples in Mission program. Disciples in Mission is a four year program that enables dioceses and parishes to energize the faithful to live as part of evangelizing communities. It is anticipated that a large number of the 287 parishes in the Archdiocese will participate, depending upon where they are in their pastoral planning process. "God calls each of us to shine the light of the Gospel on the world," said Cardinal Bevilacqua. "Disciples in Mission can be the switch that turns on that light."

Contact
Cathy Rossi
Communications Director
215-587-3747