You may recall that two years ago the Diocese of Madison celebrated its 75th anniversary.
Two years later and very recently, the Catholic Herald (once known as the Catholic Herald Citizen, and still known by that name to many) has completed its 75th year around the sun.
If you celebrate, you may now pause, put on your party hats, and make use of your noise-makers.
Those of us who are blessed to work here can be proud of where we came from and what we’ve done.
It’s a time to remember and honor those who served in these positions before us and built the foundation with which we still function as a diocesan publication.
The print media and its impacts have certainly changed, and honestly shrunk in the past 75 years, but we’re still here trying to do the work He asks of us.
So, for everyone who has ever contributed to the mission of the Catholic Herald and everyone who has ever read it, let’s congratulate ourselves on 75 years of spreading the “Good News”.
What’s next?
That all being said, we are in a time of change not only at the Catholic Herald but also in the Diocese of Madison.
While we can mark our respective milestone anniversaries, we know that there is still work to be done to move forward.
Many of you probably noticed your Catholic Herald looks different this week.
Do not adjust your sets, this is what we look like now.
I hope you will like and eventually be comfortable with the changes we’ve made to the paper. (My apologies, in advance, to those seeing my picture for the first time).
Our goal is never to throw away what once was or merely just “keep up with the times,” but to move forward and not be stuck in a lukewarm fervor for the work that we do.
Another change that will become more apparent as the year goes on is a transition from Catholic News Service (CNS) to the new OSV (Our Sunday Visitor) News Service.
After more than 100 years, CNS ended its domestic news service at the end of last year and OSV has taken its place.
I’m confident the new organization will be just as professional, faithful, and ethical as its predecessor.
Over the years, the people, technology, and other window dressing changes, but the mission has never changed — help everyone get to Heaven.
While painstakingly learning our new way of doing things, we’ll never lose sight of that.
We’re proud of where we came from and where we’ve been, but we also need to stay alive and keep breathing the faith.
Bigger changes
This year, the Diocese of Madison is providing the “but wait, there’s more”.
Into the Deep is going to bring a lot of changes to the diocese.
I know some people are very emotional and apprehensive about what is to come.
I’m not going to sit here and tell any of you how to feel. Everyone has their own reasons for feeling as they do.
What I can tell you is that the decisions being made and the changes to be instituted are being done prayerfully and with the best outcomes in mind.
For everyone that’s feeling uncertain about a new priest, new church, new Mass time, or any other related change, let’s all promise to pray for each other. We are all in this together.
I know that not all changes are good. Some can be mistakes, but some have to be done for the good of everyone.
We got this
I’m as stuck in the past and a creature of habit as anyone, but I also know sometimes change is necessary.
As long as God is with us and we keep Him near us, we’ll never stray onto the wrong path.
Just as our physical bodies change, so do the rest of our lives.
We’re still us. God is still God.
Don’t ever forget where you came from or what your heritage is, but don’t be hesitant to the next great thing in your life or the next chapter of your or your family’s heritage.
Thank you for reading.
I’m praying for you.