Archbishop Vigneron addresses priests deacons with new pastoral letter

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron of Detroit this week issued his third pastoral letter since becoming the Archbishop of Detroit in January 2009. Titled The Preacher -- Servant of the Word of God, the new pastoral letter is directed toward priests and deacons on the subject of preaching, and is centered on efforts being undertaken in the Archdiocese of Detroit toward building a culture of New Evangelization.

“From the first hour of the Church’s manifestation of herself as the Lord’s witness to the world on Pentecost morning, preaching has been a preeminent expression of her missionary identity,” said Archbishop Vigneron. “As we enter into an era in which we will transform our pastoral energies toward the conversion of the faithful to become joyful missionary disciples of Christ, our preaching as priests and deacons of the Church is a fundamental element of our personal efforts to evangelize. It is my hope The Preacher – Servant of the Word of God will prompt prayerful reflection and perhaps inspiration as we strive to more deeply engage the faithful to renew our holiness and prioritize our love of Christ, the Bread of Life.”

The pastoral letter may be found on the Archdiocese of Detroit website.

Archbishop Vigneron introduced the letter to his fellow priests at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit yesterday, during a Mass to mark significant anniversaries of service -- including the archbishop's own 40th anniversary in the priesthood. In May, Archbishop Vigneron had announced that the Archdiocese of Detroit would hold a synod on evangelization in November 2016.

Archbishop Vigneron had issued his first pastoral letter as Archbishop of Detroit in 2012, Forward in Hope to Share Christ, related to an archdiocesan-wide strategic planning process for parishes. His second pastoral letter, In Union with Christ's Dying and Rising, was issued in February 2013 and addressed the rite of Christian burial.