The Archdiocese of Philadelphia initiated the "St. Andrew Novena for the 83%" during Advent to pray for the reconciliation of baptized Catholics who do not practice their faith. Participants are asked to pray the St. Andrew Christmas Novena 15 times daily between November 30 and December 24. The initiative, organized by the Office for the New Evangelization, aims to unite practicing Catholics in praying for disconnected loved ones. The idea originated from Meghan Cokeley, director of the Office for the New Evangelization, during Eucharistic adoration. Over 400 people have registered, receiving a secure link to pray for others listed by initials.
9 days ago
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has launched the "St. Andrew Novena for the 83%," a prayer effort targeting the reconciliation of the 83% of baptized Catholics in the archdiocese who no longer engage in sacramental life.1 2 3
This Advent initiative runs from November 30 to December 24, encouraging participants to recite the traditional St. Andrew Christmas Novena prayer 15 times daily.1 2 3
Organized by the Office for the New Evangelization, it focuses on praying for loved ones disconnected from the faith, fostering a sense of communal "homecoming."1 2 3
Meghan Cokeley, director of the Office for the New Evangelization, conceived the idea during Eucharistic adoration, describing it as a joyful inspiration possibly from Jesus himself.1 2 3
She highlighted Advent's unique grace for reconciliation and invoked St. Andrew the Apostle as a "fisher of men," urging participants to ask the saint to "go fishing" for their estranged loved ones.1 2 3
Cokeley noted a widespread sorrow among practicing Catholics for family and friends who have drifted from the Church, observed during her travels across the archdiocese.1 2 3
Over 400 individuals have registered, submitting initials of family members and friends for whom they pray.1 2 3
Registrants receive a secure link to a shared list of initials, enabling collective prayer in communion with others sharing the same intention.1 2 3
The prayer is available in English and Spanish on the archdiocese's website, emphasizing that "time spent in prayer is the most fruitful investment of one’s life."1 2 3
This novena forms part of the archdiocese's "Trust and Hope" pastoral campaign, aimed at adapting to demographic shifts and promoting parish renewal in Pennsylvania.1 2 3
The initiative aligns with ongoing evangelization strategies to address declining participation and reinvigorate local Church communities.1 2 3
Related efforts, such as projects inspired by St. Monica for parents of lapsed children, underscore a growing focus on prayerful support for fallen-away Catholics.3
The core prayer, recited 15 times daily, reads: "Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of his blessed Mother. Amen."1 2 3
This traditional devotion ties directly to the intention of reconciliation, blending historical piety with contemporary pastoral needs.1 2 3
Examine the Catholic Church’s theological basis for praying for the unreached
The Catholic Church's theology underscores prayer for the unreached—those who have not yet encountered the Gospel or entered full communion with the Church—as an essential expression of the missionary mandate given by Christ, rooted in divine charity, the efficacy of intercessory prayer, and the universal salvific will of God. This practice draws from Scripture's call to proclaim the Good News to all nations , the Church's tradition of supplication for conversions , and the Magisterium's emphasis on prayer as a vital support for evangelization . Far from being optional, such prayer aligns with the Church's identity as a pilgrim people commissioned to extend God's mercy to every corner of humanity , fostering hope amid the vast numbers still distant from Christ .
At the heart of Catholic theology lies Christ's explicit command to evangelize all peoples, which inherently includes prayer as a foundational act of obedience and participation in God's plan. The Lord instructed his apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" . This Great Commission, echoed throughout the Church's documents, reveals that the mission to preach repentance and forgiveness is not solely human endeavor but requires divine intervention, beginning with prayer to invoke the Holy Spirit's light upon the unreached .
Pope John Paul II elaborates that the Church's evangelizing mission, while active through proclamation and witness , depends on prayer to soften hearts and draw people to faith . In Redemptoris Missio, he stresses that the urgency of reaching the unreached—whose numbers have nearly doubled since Vatican II—demands a "new evangelization" supported by the whole Church's prayerful commitment . This is not mere sentiment but a theological necessity: faith itself arises from hearing the Word, yet God must first "touch the hearts of the heathen" through grace elicited by supplication . Thus, prayer for the unreached fulfills the Church's prophetic role, proclaiming Christ by word and life while begging for the graces that make conversion possible .
The Catechism reinforces this by affirming the Church's "obligation and sacred right to evangelize all men", even as God can lead the invincibly ignorant to faith. Yet, this does not absolve the faithful from interceding; rather, it heightens the call to pray that barriers of ignorance or cultural separation be overcome, aligning human efforts with divine mercy .
Catholic teaching holds that prayer is powerfully efficacious in the mission to the unreached because it participates in God's own salvific will, invoking the Holy Spirit to illuminate minds and convert souls. Pope Pius XI, in Rerum Ecclesiae, insists that even the most zealous missionary labors "will avail them nothing... if God by His grace does not touch the hearts of the heathen". Therefore, habitual prayer—such as beseeching the "Lord of the harvest" to send laborers—must underpin all evangelization, rendering it more potent before "the seat of Divine Mercy".
This efficacy stems from the theological reality that prayer unites the Church in communion with Christ, the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost . John Paul II describes proclamation as introducing people "into the mystery of the love of God," a process where the Spirit fosters communion between missionary and hearer. For the unreached, prayer prepares this ground, echoing Saint Paul's urgency: "Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!", while recognizing that the Gospel's fruitfulness relies on prayerful dependence on God .
Moreover, the Church encourages specific practices, like incorporating prayers for missions into the Rosary or daily devotions , precisely because such intercession expands Christ's kingdom. Pope Leo XIII highlights the Rosary's role in reconciling separated nations through supplication to the Holy Spirit, a practice that trains even children in apostolic charity. This reflects a profound trust in prayer's power to align human history with God's redemptive plan, countering dechristianization and relativism by pleading for Gospel light.
Theologically, praying for the unreached embodies the Church's charity, extending the love of Christ to those outside the visible fold and fostering unity in the Mystical Body . Pope Pius XII urges the faithful to implore graces for non-Catholics, desiring they "enter into Catholic unity" and enjoy the "heavenly gifts" of the Church. This prayer mirrors Christ's own: "That they all may be one", embracing both the unenlightened and the schism-separated in "ardent charity".
Such intercession is not condescending but a recognition of shared redemption: millions, redeemed by Christ's blood, remain in "ignorance of the love of God", compelling the Church to pray for their eternal destiny . John Paul II calls this a "supreme duty" for every believer and institution, linking it to forming local churches among the unreached. The lives of saints, as models of holiness, further inspire this prayer, showing how fidelity to God's law draws others to truth .
In Evangelium Vitae, the Church presents itself as "the people of life and for life," humbly offering the Gospel of life through evangelization sustained by prayer . This communal prayer overcomes internal divisions, rediscovering unity and missionary strength, and counters modern pessimism with hope in a "new springtime" for the Gospel .
In today's global context, marked by expanding communications yet persistent unreached populations , the Church's theology demands renewed prayer to affirm Gospel values like peace and justice amid secularism . Veritatis Splendor ties this to moral evangelization, where prayer combats subjectivism by presenting Christ's way as lived truth . The laity, in ordinary circumstances, fulfill this prophetic mission through evangelizing prayer.
The Catholic theological basis for praying for the unreached integrates the missionary command , prayer's indispensable efficacy , and ecclesial charity , urging all to implore God's mercy for universal salvation . This practice not only supports evangelization but embodies the Church's hope in Christ's redemptive love reaching every soul.