‘Mission renewal’ starts with priests, Catholic education, says archbishop in pastoral letter

Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland released a 37-page pastoral letter titled “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” to call for mission renewal throughout the archdiocese. The letter, published Oct. 1, urges clergy to pursue personal holiness and calls for a renewed focus on Catholic education and a culture of evangelization among the lay faithful.

Archbishop Sample described the current period as a watershed moment for the Church in western Oregon, noting a stunning increase in people joining the Church despite the state's secular nature. He specifically highlighted the growing number of young people entering the faith and stated that the Church must be prepared for this growth by clarifying its mission and renewing its own discipleship.

The archbishop recommended devotion to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, particularly for archdiocesan priests. The pastoral letter is available on the archdiocese website in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.