--- title: What is a pastoral letter? description: Bishops are first and foremost pastors. Their primary duty is to shepherd the faithful toward a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. One of the primary ways in which they do this is by writing lette --- [Skip to content](https://info.aod.org/articles/what-is-a-pastoral-letter#main-content) English Show submenu for translations ![AOD\_Logo\_horizontal\_FullColor-medium-1.png\]](https://info.aod.org/hs-fs/hubfs/AOD_Logo_horizontal_FullColor-medium-1.png?height=40&name=AOD_Logo_horizontal_FullColor-medium-1.png) - [Default HubSpot Blog](https://detroitcatholicschools-7101042.hs-sites.com/blog) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Default HubSpot Blog](https://detroitcatholicschools-7101042.hs-sites.com/blog) - English Show submenu for translations - AOD.ORG AOD.ORG Archdiocese of Detroit Knowledge Base - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Knowledge Base](https://info.aod.org/articles?hsLang=en) 2. [Sharing the Light](https://info.aod.org/articles/sharing-the-light?hsLang=en) 3. [Unleash the Gospel](https://info.aod.org/articles/sharing-the-light?hsLang=en#unleash-the-gospel) # What is a pastoral letter? Bishops are first and foremost pastors. Their primary duty is to shepherd the faithful toward a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. One of the primary ways in which they do this is by writing letters on some aspect of the faith. Just as the Holy Father writes letters to the bishops, clergy and faithful of the worldwide Church, a local bishop periodically writes letters to his priests and to the faithful of his diocese. In the Archdiocese of Detroit, Archbishop Vigneron released *Unleash the Gospel* following our archdiocesan Synod 16 on the New Evangelization. - [Becoming Catholic](https://info.aod.org/articles/becoming-catholic?hsLang=en) - [Catholic Schools](https://info.aod.org/articles/catholic-schools?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Curriculum Frequently Asked Questions](https://info.aod.org/articles/catholic-schools?hsLang=en#curriculum-frequently-asked-questions) - [CSA](https://info.aod.org/articles/csa?hsLang=en#main-content) - [CSA](https://info.aod.org/articles/csa?hsLang=en#csa) - [CSA en Espanol](https://info.aod.org/articles/csa?hsLang=en#csa-en-espanol) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://info.aod.org/articles/csa?hsLang=en#frequently-asked-questions) - [Cultural Ministries](https://info.aod.org/articles/cultural-ministries?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Black Catholic Ministry](https://info.aod.org/articles/cultural-ministries?hsLang=en#black-catholic-ministry) - [CYO](https://info.aod.org/articles/cyo?hsLang=en#main-content) - [CYO](https://info.aod.org/articles/cyo?hsLang=en#cyo) - [Development - Mission Advancement](https://info.aod.org/articles/development-mission-advancement?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Ways to Give](https://info.aod.org/articles/development-mission-advancement?hsLang=en#ways-to-give) - [Evangelization](https://info.aod.org/articles/evangelization?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Formation Opportunities](https://info.aod.org/articles/evangelization?hsLang=en#formation-opportunities) - [Catechesis](https://info.aod.org/articles/evangelization?hsLang=en#catechesis) - [Lay Formation and Certification](https://info.aod.org/articles/evangelization?hsLang=en#lay-formation-and-certification) - [RCIA](https://info.aod.org/articles/evangelization?hsLang=en#rcia) - [Young Adults](https://info.aod.org/articles/evangelization?hsLang=en#young-adults) - [Youth Ministry](https://info.aod.org/articles/evangelization?hsLang=en#youth-ministry) - [Evangelical Charity](https://info.aod.org/articles/evangelical-charity?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Walking With Moms in Need](https://info.aod.org/articles/evangelical-charity?hsLang=en#walking-with-moms-in-need) - [Christian Service](https://info.aod.org/articles/evangelical-charity?hsLang=en#christian-service) - [Grief and Loss](https://info.aod.org/articles/evangelical-charity?hsLang=en#grief-and-loss) - [Pro-Life](https://info.aod.org/articles/evangelical-charity?hsLang=en#pro-life) - [Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations](https://info.aod.org/articles/ecumenical-and-interfaith-relations?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations](https://info.aod.org/articles/ecumenical-and-interfaith-relations?hsLang=en#ecumenical-and-interfaith-relations) - [Maps & Demographics](https://info.aod.org/articles/maps-demographics?hsLang=en) - [Marriage & Family](https://info.aod.org/articles/marriage-family?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Annulments](https://info.aod.org/articles/marriage-family?hsLang=en#annulments) - [Pornography](https://info.aod.org/articles/marriage-family?hsLang=en#pornography) - [Same Sex Attraction](https://info.aod.org/articles/marriage-family?hsLang=en#same-sex-attraction) - [Separation & Divorce](https://info.aod.org/articles/marriage-family?hsLang=en#separation-divorce) - [Natural Family Planning](https://info.aod.org/articles/natural-family-planning?hsLang=en) - [Parish Care and Sustainability](https://info.aod.org/articles/parish-care-and-sustainability?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Staff and Ministry Resources](https://info.aod.org/articles/parish-care-and-sustainability?hsLang=en#staff-and-ministry-resources) - [Technology](https://info.aod.org/articles/technology?hsLang=en#main-content) - [FAQs](https://info.aod.org/articles/technology?hsLang=en#faqs) - [Sacred Worship](https://info.aod.org/articles/sacred-worship?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Mass](https://info.aod.org/articles/sacred-worship?hsLang=en#mass) - [Special Circumstances](https://info.aod.org/articles/sacred-worship?hsLang=en#special-circumstances) - [RCIA](https://info.aod.org/articles/sacred-worship?hsLang=en#rcia) - [Christian Funerals](https://info.aod.org/articles/sacred-worship?hsLang=en#christian-funerals) - [Lent Questions and Answers](https://info.aod.org/articles/sacred-worship?hsLang=en#lent-questions-and-answers) - [Liturgical Calendar Regulations](https://info.aod.org/articles/sacred-worship?hsLang=en#liturgical-calendar-regulations) - [Differences in Major Religions](https://info.aod.org/articles/sacred-worship?hsLang=en#differences-in-major-religions) - [Sacred Worship](https://info.aod.org/articles/sacred-worship?hsLang=en#sacred-worship) - [Sharing the Light](https://info.aod.org/articles/sharing-the-light?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Mooney Real Estate Holding Company and Parish Incorporations](https://info.aod.org/articles/sharing-the-light?hsLang=en#mooney-real-estate-holding-company-and-parish-incorporations) - [Parish Finances](https://info.aod.org/articles/sharing-the-light?hsLang=en#parish-finances) - [Parishioner Data Management and Privacy](https://info.aod.org/articles/sharing-the-light?hsLang=en#parishioner-data-management-and-privacy) - [Priests' Pension Plan](https://info.aod.org/articles/sharing-the-light?hsLang=en#priests-pension-plan) - [Stewards for Tomorrow/Archdiocese of Detroit Endowment Foundation](https://info.aod.org/articles/sharing-the-light?hsLang=en#stewards-for-tomorrow-archdiocese-of-detroit-endowment-foundation) - [St. John's Plymouth](https://info.aod.org/articles/sharing-the-light?hsLang=en#st-johns-plymouth) - [Synod 16](https://info.aod.org/articles/sharing-the-light?hsLang=en#synod-16) - [Unleash the Gospel](https://info.aod.org/articles/sharing-the-light?hsLang=en#unleash-the-gospel) - [Compartiendo la Luz](https://info.aod.org/articles/sharing-the-light?hsLang=en#compartiendo-la-luz) - [Default HubSpot Blog](https://detroitcatholicschools-7101042.hs-sites.com/blog) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://info.aod.org/hs-fs/hubfs/AOD_Logo_horizontal_FullColor-medium-1.png?width=62&height=24&name=AOD_Logo_horizontal_FullColor-medium-1.png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://www.aod.org) Archdiocese of Detroit Resource Center Copyright © 2026, Archdiocese of Detroit