From the Editor: Changing times for our eternal faith

Changing times for our eternal faith: Welcoming our new diocesan publication, Southwest Michigan Catholic

I was in the middle of a meeting in my office when the phone rang. It was my mom. I was immediately panicked, as she rarely calls me during the work day.

“Hey Mom,” I said as I braced myself for some type of troubling news.

“So, what’s this about no more newspaper?!” she asked worriedly. “Is this a good thing?”

My mother evidently had just received the final edition of our newspaper, The Good News, and I realized immediately that I had neglected to tell her about this transition that had been months in the works. I let out a sigh of relief, smiled at my co-workers (who let me interrupt the meeting to take the call) and began to explain that yes, indeed, this was a good thing.

If you followed The Good News, then you know that we made the difficult decision to retire it, with the September 2018 edition being its last. Saying goodbye was bittersweet. The newspaper had served our diocese for more than 20 years and we believe helped highlight news, events and features on our Catholic faith and faithful throughout the nine counties of Southwest Michigan that make up the Diocese of Kalamazoo.

But, as the Bob Dylan song goes, “The times they are a changin.”

Certainly technology played a part in our decision, as we can utilize social media  channels and our diocesan website to help keep people abreast of what’s happening. And while I have a personal fondness for newspapers, cultivated from my early days as a newspaper carrier in my small Midwestern town, I realize that the format isn’t
gaining readership among certain demographics.

However, our changing times aren’t just referring to technology. It’s also about reaching people — you — wherever you may be on your faith journey. We want Southwest Michigan Catholic to be informative and inspiring. It should be a
publication that you spend some time with and look forward to receiving.

We hope you draw inspiration from Shannon, featured in our cover story, who is a young, working mom finding ways to raise her family and grow in her Catholic faith. And it’s only by coincidence that Shannon and the subject of our other feature,
Father Chris Ankley, actually hail from the same small town, Imlay City, Mich. It’s a fact I didn’t even realize until I interviewed them both.

We also draw upon our resident experts. Socorro Truchan, who heads our Domestic Church Ministry for the diocese, offers her thoughts on how to start a prayer practice as a couple. Father John Fleckenstein, pastor, St. Philip Parish, Battle Creek, explains why those pink garments you see your priest wearing during Advent are really rose
— and there’s meaning in getting the color right.

And, of course, this publication wouldn’t be possible without the support of our shepherd, Bishop Paul Bradley who offers an insightful look at how to keep the Advent season joyful (see page 4).

We’re also thrilled to be partnering with FAITH Catholic, who has a long and successful track record of working with dioceses across the country to produce beautiful, informative and dynamic magazines.

So, welcome to Southwest Michigan Catholic. We appreciate your readership
and hope you’ll drop us a note to let us know what you think.

Best wishes for a blessed Advent and a Merry Christmas.