Vine and Branches

The Vine and Branches initiative seeks to inspire our faith community to come back to Church. It also aims to reach out to people who have not been engaged within the parish community, and who may be in need of faith and prayers, as well as a connection to Christ and one another.

“The pandemic has impacted every aspect of our lives. This includes how we come together as a community of faith – in being physically present with one another – and how we connect with Christ and receive the Eucharist. Given that we all have experienced this pandemic together, we are all working together to renew ourselves, while strengthening our ties to our local and Archdiocesan communities.” – Bishop Michael A. Saporito

This page serves as a resource for parishes in the Archdiocese to engage in the Vine and Branches initiative. Click on the menu items to access the Faith Sharing Resource for Parish Small Groupsnews related to Vine and Branches, and social media resources to promote the initiative at your parish. 

What is Vine and Branches?


Article announcing launch of ‘Vine and Branches’ initiative 
The Archdiocese of Newark will launch its new Vine and Branches campaign on Sunday, Oct. 10, to inspire Catholics in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties to return to Mass now that most pandemic-related restrictions have been lifted. Spearheaded by Auxiliary Bishop Michael A. Saporito and priests of the Archdiocese, the Vine and Branches initiative will see parishes host numerous special events and online engagement throughout the year to reconnect with congregation members who stopped attending Mass due to COVID-19. [READ ARTICLE]

Q&A With Bishop Michael A. Saporito
This initiative seeks to inspire our faith community to come back. It also aims to reach out to people who have not been engaged within the parish community but who, at this moment, are in need of faith, prayers, as well as a connection to Christ and one another. [READ ARTICLE IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH]

Bishops introduce new initiative at prayer services
The Archdiocese of Newark’s four auxiliary bishops presided over Eucharistic prayer services in each of their counties on Oct. 4 to engage with local parishioners and introduce them to the Archdiocese’s Vine and Branches back-to-church initiative, which launches Oct. 10. [READ ARTICLE]


Vine and Branches Faith Sharing Resource

Based on the Sunday readings, this booklet covers six weeks in the Fall from October 10 to November 14.  Participants and parish staffs can use this to pray and reflect on the coming Sunday’s Scriptures.  There are also suggestions for action or outreach to the larger communities that need help.


Vine and Branches Logos and Social Graphics