Archbishop Mark Invites the Church to Sustain Thriving in Ministry

For more than a decade, I have watched priests and clergy wives in the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania discover something essential through Thriving in Ministry: those who serve the Church need trusted companions along the way.

Ministry brings profound joy, but it also carries responsibilities and burdens that are difficult to understand from the outside. Thriving in Ministry gives priests and clergy wives a place to gather regularly with peers for prayer, honest conversation, friendship, and practical wisdom. Over time, these gatherings become genuine communities of trust.

This ministry began in the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania with the support and financial commitment of the diocese and the willingness of our clergy and clergy wives to invest in one another. The response has been remarkable. Half of our active parish-assigned priests and approximately one-third of our clergy wives have participated in Thriving in Ministry .

I have witnessed the fruit of these relationships firsthand. They strengthen those who serve, encourage clergy households, and contribute to healthier and more faithful parish life.

With generous support from Lilly Endowment, Thriving in Ministry…