No Second Tunic

February 6, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

From the moment God called Abraham to leave behind his homeland and journey to a place He would reveal (Gn 12:1), the people of God have been called to leave behind the security of what is familiar and to follow Him into a future of His design. This call echoes throughout salvation history. Whether this message was communicated by a prophet’s voice, the visitation of an angel, or the Word Himself, the call has remained the same: to trust and follow. Jesus echoed this call when he commissioned the Twelve, instructing them not to be encumbered by the baggage of a “second tunic”:

“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick” (Mt 10:7-10).

Throughout history, the Church has continually responded to societal changes with apostolic boldness and faithfulness, leaving behind the “second tunic” — anything that did not directly serve the mission — and adapting her methods without compromising her timeless message. Like Abraham, we are people of faith, called to journey forward, guided by God’s grace, into the “new land” of mission and evangelization.

A discerning “read” of salvation history reveals two significant eras: the Apostolic Age and the Christendom Age.

The Apostolic Age

From her very foundation in the mission of the Apostles, the Church was rooted both in the life of the people of Israel and in a culture dominated by the Romans and their pagan gods.

During her earliest centuries, the Church had minimal formal structures, was often persecuted, and grew primarily through the courageous witness of the faithful—especially the martyrs. Though she faced external hostility, the Church thrived through her focus on mission, boldness, and fidelity to Christ.

The Christendom Age

By the fourth century, Christianity started on a path of becoming a dominant cultural force, shaping societal norms, institutions, and worldviews. While not every individual embraced the faith deeply, Christian truths were on the way to undergirding the social order, enabling the Church to grow in influence.

A New Apostolic Age

Today, we face a cultural landscape that, in many ways, more closely resembles the Apostolic Age than Christendom. As Pope Francis reminds us:

“I dream of a ‘missionary option,’ that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation” (Evangelii Gaudium).

While our times are markedly different from those of the first Christians, we share with them this significant reality: we, too, face the need to adapt creatively with fewer financial and human resources.

Parish life in the Archdiocese of Detroit has rapidly changed over the last several decades, with fewer people in the pews, a declining number of priests, and a surplus of aging church buildings without the financial resources to properly care for them. In response to this reality, our parishes must decrease their physical footprint while expanding their spiritual presence. We are called to proclaim Christ crucified, celebrate the sacraments, and serve as witnesses of God’s enduring love—just as our ancestors did—with renewed focus and methods.

In 2020, building on the fruits of Synod ‘16, the Archdiocese of Detroit began this process of renewal and leaving behind our “second tunic.” Through the establishment of Families of Parishes, we improved our ability to align our resources and energies, allowing clergy and lay staff to share their gifts more effectively. We began a transition from a model focused on maintaining aging buildings and an unsustainable number of liturgies to one centered on unleashing the Gospel.

This focus on missionary conversion—and our adoption of Families of Parishes—is a living reality, not a box to check and discard. As we give thanks to God for the progress we have made, we also remain focused on what is next in our effort to renew our structures so that they are Spirit-led and radically oriented toward mission for generations to come.

To provide clarity on our current circumstances and next steps, the appendix to this pastoral note offers key data points that illuminate both the challenges we face and the pressing need to continue aligning our resources within the broader Families of Parishes framework. Our attention to renewal is twofold: on the health of our priests and the health of our parish communities, both of which are essential to ensuring that our efforts are not simply sustained but are fully focused on advancing our mission to proclaim the Gospel and build up God’s Kingdom.

Flourishing priests:

As we reflect on renewal, I am aware of my essential duty to provide for the pastoral care of the priests of the Archdiocese of Detroit. True renewal and fulfillment of the Church’s mission is impossible without them. We are nearing a time when our local Church will have fewer priests than parishes, which places extra burdens on the priests caring for these communities. It is essential that all of us—clergy, religious, and laity—unite in support so that our priests are healthy and thriving and able, therefore, to lead healthy and thriving parishes in fulfillment of the mission of saving souls for which they were ordained.

Flourishing parish communities:

In aligning our resources for mission and taking care to support our priests in their ministry, we will also continue to build up parish communities that are fully alive and growing, with a clear sense of their mission to form new ‘joy-filled’ disciples of Jesus Christ. These parish communities prioritize a culture and vibrancy that attracts the disaffiliated, youth, and young adults, while continuing to equip established parishioners with the joy of the Gospel. They are open to new expressions of parish life, discerning whenever appropriate that it is time to prioritize the Apostolic work of the Church—the parish’s ministry in the community—over efforts to sustain aging church buildings. When resources are correctly aligned, staff and lay-faithful are better able to meet the many needs of a parish community in Word, Sacrament, and Service.

The task of renewal and alignment within Families of Parishes requires discernment, collaboration, and courageous leadership. To assist in this important work, the Archdiocese of Detroit has established the Department of Parish Renewal to guide us through this season of change with clarity and purpose, always under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Department of Parish Renewal will serve as a dedicated resource to support our parishes and Families of Parishes in keeping their structures aligned with the mission.

We also heard “the Holy Spirit say to our local Church through Synod 16 that Catholic Schools are an apostolate that is the responsibility of all parishes and all Christ’s faithful. This conviction needs to be a foundational principle for the renewal of this ministry” (Unleash the Gospel, 3.3C). Schools are a center of discipleship, so the way in which each Family of Parishes serves its school communities is an essential planning component.

This missionary department will focus on four key areas: communication, facilitating, accompanying, and implementing the vision of mission alignment.

Communicate

For Families of Parishes to be mission-ready, they must effectively define their challenges and prayerfully discern how to meet these challenges collaboratively. The Department of Parish Renewal will be a listening office, ensuring transparency by helping to direct all communications between Archdiocesan staff and Families of Parishes related to this renewal effort. These communications will address the necessity of the mission-alignment process, provide clear metrics, and a timeline, making use of printed materials, digital resources, and on-site consultations.

Facilitate

The Department of Parish Renewal will work closely with clergy, pastoral staff, Family Pastoral Councils, and Family Finance Teams to implement our realignment missionary efforts. Conversations with parish leadership will be founded in honest and spirit-led discernment about a future with fewer priests and, often, fewer people. Facilitation of this conversation and discernment will include one-on-one consultations, group sessions, and collaborative discussions tailored to the unique needs of each Family of Parishes.

Accompany

Understanding that change often brings challenges, the Department of Parish Renewal will lead the Archdiocese’s efforts to accompany our clergy and faithful through this journey. The team will remain attentive to the emotional and spiritual impact of these transitions, including any parish community mergers or church building closures, by offering guidance and support to help parish communities grieve, begin to heal, and embrace this opportunity to make God’s presence more visible and active in their midst.

Implement

Implementation will be carried out with great care, ensuring that all steps have been thoughtfully communicated and facilitated. The goal is to create an environment where these changes can take root effectively, fostering growth in faith and mission. The team will be attentive to the urgent need for change within our present alignment and number of parishes and clergy. The Department of Parish Renewal will remain steadfast in its commitment to guide and support parish communities and Families of Parishes throughout this process.

Drawing from the experiences of other dioceses that have undergone similar transformations, the Department of Parish Renewal will engage in this work region by region over the next few years. This estimated timeline allows for a thoughtful and collaborative process:

• Central Region: March to June 2025 (a shorter timeline than our other regions due to the efforts already underway here)
• South Region: July to December 2025
• Northwest Region: January to June 2026
• Northeast Region: April to September 2026

The Families of Parishes model will continue to serve as the structure for this alignment. Based on our current data and projections, a reduction in parochial footprints is necessary, as each Family of Parishes, with assistance from the Department of Parish Renewal, discerns how best to leverage its resources for the mission going forward. It is also possible that some Family groupings and clergy assignments may change as a result of the Mission-Ready process. While many of these changes will occur organically, all will require discernment, leadership, and the wise boldness that only the Holy Spirit can provide.

At the heart of our current efforts is the foundational conviction of Synod ’16: The Archdiocese of Detroit is called to “obey the Holy Spirit and be made by Him into a band of joyful missionary disciples” (Unleash the Gospel, 2). Pope Francis challenges us to embrace a “‘missionary conversion,’ a change in our culture, such that every person at every level of the Church, through personal encounter with Jesus Christ, embraces his/her identity as a son or daughter of God and, in the power of the Holy Spirit, is formed and sent forth as a missionary disciple” (Unleash the Gospel, 2).

As we move forward in this process, we draw strength from the assurance that God is with us. This work is not merely organizational, but deeply spiritual—an opportunity to renew our trust in the Holy Spirit, as the Apostles experienced on Pentecost when the Twelve were filled with the fire and courage of the Holy Spirit to leave the upper room and share the Good News. Together, let us embrace this moment as a time to grow in faith, hope, and love, confident that God is leading us into a future full of promise and grace. Although some of the outward appearances of parish life will evolve—as they have done throughout the history of the Church—the essential elements of parish life will remain the same: We will continue to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, celebrate the Sacraments of Healing and Initiation, nurture our shared call to holiness—especially by supporting vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life, and marriage—help our children in Catholic schools and religious education to flourish and know Jesus, engage those on the margins, and foster a loving community rooted in the faith that once sustained our ancestors and now sustains us.

In the words of Pope Francis during his 2013 pastoral visit to Assisi: “We are not alone; we do not walk alone. We are part of the one flock of Christ that walks together.”

To our priests: With me, you are shepherds entrusted with a holy and noble mission. Like the Apostles, you are called to proclaim the Gospel with boldness, trusting not in earthly resources but in the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to renew our support for one another and draw strength from the fraternity we share in the priesthood. Be assured that the Lord walks with you and will provide all you need to fulfill your mission. This work I am sharing with you today will bring its own challenges, but I am confident that the grace each of us received at our ordination, our share of that same Spirit that came upon the Apostles at Pentecost, will sustain us in the months ahead. Let us lean on that grace, seek the intercession, consolation, and protection of Our Blessed Mother, Queen of the Apostles, and not forget our own fraternal bonds as we mutually support one another through what lies ahead. As the Master said, “In the world, you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world” (John 16: 33).

To the faithful of the Archdiocese: Together, we form the body of Christ, are animated by the Spirit, and have been sent forth to proclaim His love to the world. Our call is clear: We must trust in God’s providence, remain steadfast in prayer, and embrace the opportunities to share the Good News of Christ’s message and mission in new and powerful ways.

Let us embody the resilience captured in Detroit’s motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus, “We hope for better things; it will rise from the ashes.” We are a people of hope, guided by the Spirit who renews all things. The Holy Spirit has been sent to us by the Father and the Son to lead and sustain us. We trust that He will guide us, as He has throughout salvation history, into the fruitful future God has prepared for His Church.

Let us go forward together, with courage and faith, into this New Apostolic Age. Christ is risen. He is with us still. We have nothing to fear.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron

Archbishop of Detroit