NEWARK, N.J. — Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, has established a Parish Mission Renewal Office to support the continued implementation of We Are His Witnesses and advance parish renewal and missionary discipleship throughout the Archdiocese of Newark.

Launched in June 2025, We Are His Witnesses is a multiyear initiative guiding the Archdiocese on a path of pastoral conversion. Inspired by the Word of God and rooted in Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), it calls the Church to reimagine parish life, mission and ministry in response to a changing world. The initiative seeks to renew missionary discipleship, strengthen parish vitality and engage the faithful in listening, discernment and shared action.

The Parish Mission Renewal Office will accompany parish communities as they discern ways to collaborate more closely, strengthen their shared mission and better serve the faithful. The office will initially focus on parishes participating in the Parish Mission Partners phase of We Are His Witnesses. Its work will continue to develop as the initiative progresses and additional parish needs are identified.

“The Parish Mission Renewal Office will provide our parishes with consistent, practical support as they discern how best to serve their communities and advance the Church’s mission,” said Cardinal Tobin. “This is not a one-time planning exercise. It is an ongoing process of prayer, listening and action that will strengthen parish communities and help them embrace a more missionary approach to parish life.”

The office will work closely with pastors, parish staff and lay leaders as they develop and carry out shared plans for pastoral ministry and evangelization. It will help parishes identify local missionary opportunities, establish goals, assess progress and draw upon resources available through archdiocesan offices and ministries. The office also will provide pastoral and practical guidance to parish communities navigating organizational or canonical changes.

Peter A. Denio, D.Min., joined the Archdiocese of Newark as director for Parish Mission Renewal on Sept. 8, 2026. Denio oversees the Archdiocese’s parish mission renewal strategy and the team that accompanies participating parish communities. He also advises archdiocesan leadership on pastoral realities within parishes and helps ensure that We Are His Witnesses continues to develop in response to parish needs.

Denio brings more than 30 years of experience in pastoral ministry and leadership formation. His background includes Church theology, communal discernment, Church management and organizational transformation. His pastoral sensibility and experience working with Catholic leaders across the country will help guide parish communities through discernment, collaboration and renewal. Denio holds a Master of Public Administration from Seton Hall University, a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College and a Doctor of Ministry from Catholic Theological Union.

Milissa Else will serve as a facilitator in the Parish Mission Renewal Office, working directly with pastors, parish leaders and parish communities to support collaboration, planning and progress toward shared mission goals. She also will help lead listening sessions, parish meetings and leadership gatherings while supporting clear and consistent communication throughout the renewal process.

Else has served the Archdiocese of Newark for five years as assistant to the chancellor for pastoral projects, providing training and support to pastors, parish staff and parish pastoral councils. Since 2021, much of her work has focused on the Synod on Synodality and the local diocesan consultation process. She also serves as a part-time director of religious education at a parish. Before joining the Archdiocese, Else directed a national adult faith formation program, trained small-group facilitators in 20 dioceses and worked with parishes, dioceses and religious communities across the country through a nonprofit consulting firm. She holds a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University.

Additional staff will be appointed to the office, including a second facilitator and an administrative assistant. Together, the team will support current and future Parish Mission Partners, as well as other parishes, in discerning opportunities for deeper collaboration and shared mission.

Working in collaboration with other archdiocesan offices and ministries, the Parish Mission Renewal Office will help parishes focus their people, ministries and resources more fully on evangelization. Its work will respect each parish's identity and pastoral needs while helping communities strengthen their shared mission and service to the faithful.

For more information about We Are His Witnesses, including initiative updates, resources and answers to frequently asked questions, visit www.WeAreHisWitnesses.org.

About the Archdiocese of Newark
The Archdiocese of Newark serves 1.3 million Catholics across northern New Jersey’s Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties. Led by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the sixth archbishop of Newark, the Archdiocese includes 211 parishes, 64 Catholic schools and numerous missions and ministries committed to faith, education and social service. For more information, visit www.rcan.org.

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Media Contact: Sean Quinn | Archdiocese of Newark | Office of Communications | Sean.Quinn@rcan.org | 973-497-4248