Last week someone handed me the "mission statements" of both the Camden Diocese and Philadelphia Archdiocese, asking me to place them both online as a means of comparison, line by line. Personally, I am not a big fan of mission statements, particularly for religious bodies. I think they are too corporate and, after all, we have creeds so I'm not entirely sure I understand the point of the mission statement. But it is definitely interesting to note the differences.

Archdiocese of Philadelphia                              Diocese of Camden
We, the faithful of the Roman Catholic                    We, the Catholic Church of South
Church in Philadelphia                                                  Jersey

in communion with our Holy Father,                       envision growing ever more into
shepherd of the universal Church, and                    dynamic community of faith,
our Archbishop, shepherd of the Church                 hope, and love wherein we reveal
in Philadelphia, proclaim to everyone                      the mind and heart of Jesus through
the Good News that Jesus Christ is                             our actions and worship.
the Light of the world, who offers to all
who follow Him the light of life.

Baptized into Christ Jesus and confirmed               Empowered by baptism, inspired
by the gift of the Holy Spirit, we desire                     by the Holy Spirit, and formed by
to share this Light with all by proclaiming               the Word of God and the sacraments,
the Gospel of forgiveness and reconciliation          especially the Eucharist, we will--
to every person.                                                                 with Jesus living in us--reach out
                                                                                                    with love:

We are one in our Church's teachings
and in the variety of gifts, services, and
ministries that we employ to help build
up the Kingdom of God. We therefore
commit ourselves to:

-worship God in spirit and truth through                  -To proclaim and teach the truths
"prayer without ceasing," and particularly                 that save,
through the celebration of the Eucharist
and the other sacraments of the Church;

-create and nourish Christian community               -To welcome back those who have
in the domestic church of the family, in                    left our family of faith,
the life of every parish, and in society
as a whole

-proclaim in word and deed the Good News           -To forgive and seek forgiveness,
of Jesus Christ to all persons, inviting each
of our sisters and brothers in the human
community to share our faith and our mission;

-teach the saving message of Christ so that             -To care for our sisters and brothers
all believers may come to deeper                                  in need,
understanding, conversion and personal
witness to Christ;

-serve all our sisters and brothers,                             -To work for peace within our families
particularly the poor and needy, by                              and communities,
generous acts of charity and by working
together with all people of good will for                   -To promote respect and justice
justice and peace.                                                                for all people,

                                                                                                   -To strengthen unity
                                                                                                   within our diversity,

We pray to the Father, Son, and Holy                      And to celebrate the sanctifying
Spirit, through the intercession of Mary,                  love of God that heals and trans-
the Immaculate Conception, to whose                    forms the world.
care the Archdiocese is consecrated,
and through Saints Peter and Paul, the                 -Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante,
Archdiocesan patron. May the Lord of                    D.D., J.C.D., Bishop of Camden
Light guide us in our earthly journey
and to our heavenly home.