We Are His Witnesses: A Call to Renewal

We Are His Witnesses is a major pastoral initiative launched by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, on Pentecost Sunday, June 2025. It is a call for the entire Archdiocese — clergy, religious, and lay faithful — to journey together on a path of pastoral conversion and renewal.

Rooted in Sacred Scripture and inspired by Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), this initiative challenges us to reimagine what it means to be a parish today. It invites us to rediscover the missionary heart of the Church and renew our commitment to proclaiming the Gospel in word and action.

The Urgency of the Moment

The Archdiocese of Newark, like many dioceses across the country, faces significant challenges:

• A steady decline in parish membership

• Decreased Mass attendance and sacramental participation

• A shrinking number of priests available to serve as pastors

• And yet, a growing local population, offering new opportunities for evangelization and outreach.

In response, We Are His Witnesses invites every parish to examine how it serves its community — evaluating ministries, leadership structures, resource usage, and capacity for mission — with the goal of building vibrant, sustainable, and mission-driven parishes.

What This Means for Our Parish

This process may involve:

• Renewing existing ministries to better meet the needs of the faithful

• Increasing collaboration among neighboring parishes

• Realigning parish structures and leadership

• And in some cases, facing difficult but necessary decisions regarding mergers or closures

These conversations won’t always be easy, but we enter them with faith and hope, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide us. We do not walk this journey alone—we walk together, as one Church, united in Christ.

Your Voice Matters

Because this is a collaborative process, Cardinal Tobin wants to hear directly from you—the parishioners of St. Lawrence. Your voice, your concerns, and your hopes for the future are essential to shaping the path forward.

We will be holding two Parish Listening Sessions at the St. Lawrence Parish Center:

Tuesday, November 4 at 6:30-8:30 PM
Thursday, November 6 at 6:30-8:30 PM 

You are asked to attend ONLY ONE session, as the content will be the same on both dates.

How to Register

To help us prepare, we kindly ask you to register in advance:

Visit www.catholicleaders.org/archdiocese-newark-parishsessionregistration 

Once on the page, scroll down and select the tab labeled “Northern Hudson – Planning Area E” and complete the registration form.

Alternatively, you may call the parish office at (201) 863-6464 and leave your name and contact number to register by phone.

What to Expect at the Session

Each session will include:

• An overview of the We Are His Witnesses initiative

• A presentation of the current pastoral realities and relevant data

• A look at possible models for parish structure and collaboration

• And small and big group discussions where your voice can be heard

This is not just another meeting. It’s a moment to come together as a faith community — to reflect, to speak, and to dream about the future of our Church.

St. Lawrence needs you now. Your participation and support will help shape how our parish and the Archdiocese respond to the needs of today and prepare for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.

We hope you will join us in this important step forward—walking together as faithful witnesses to Christ’s love and mercy in the world.

Thank you and God bless!

Fr. Rolando

and a cute kitty!