Losing something or someone you love is always extremely difficult. You grow fond of something or someone and then, sometimes rather suddenly, they’re no longer there.
Some of you might be feeling that way about the end of The Catholic Times print publication that was announced last month.
Today, you’re reading the final edition of a newspaper that captured stories from the diocese for parts of three centuries, beginning in 1875 when The Catholic Columbian was launched. You can read more about the history of the diocese’s newspapers in the retrospective found in his issue.
Many of you have called to say how much the paper has meant to you over the years. Staff members can’t express enough how much gratitude they feel that you have supported The Catholic Times and read what has been presented not only recently but for many decades. Some readers have subscribed to the paper for 50 years or more.
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It has also been gratifying to hear subscribers say they read each issue from front to back. In some cases, they’ll re-read articles and clip them to share with someone else or put on their refrigerator door.
The beautiful thing about newspapers is they serve as sort of an archive or time capsule for what has transpired through the years. Print seems to bring a sense of credibility and validity to a story, though given the state of journalism today in some quarters, that theory might be challenged.
A newspaper has been part of the fabric of the diocese almost from its inception. Back in 1875 when the paper was founded by Bishop Sylvester Rosecrans, the diocese was in its infancy and only 10 years had passed since the end of the Civil War.
Over the course of 150 years, 13 bishops have led the diocese. Each one of them has brought unique gifts and talents to share with their flock. Some took an active part in the newspaper, writing columns or sharing their thoughts. The most recent to regularly pen a column was Bishop Emeritus James Griffin, who served in Columbus from 1983 to 2004.
Many historical events have transpired during the last 150 years in the Church, including the election of 12 popes. Outside the Church, countless political leaders have left their mark and the world has, sadly, experienced two world wars and major conflicts in Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East that took hundreds of thousands of lives. Many brave, young Catholic men who made a commitment to protect of freedoms of expression and religion did not come home.
Looking through the newspaper archives at those years, numerous listings of sons of the diocese who fought in these wars, some of whom perished in battle, can be found. There were also priests and religious from the diocese who were involved in these major conflicts, providing spiritual counsel,
Masses and faithful support to the troops.
In the Church, the most profound change had to be the Second Vatican Council and the changes to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that came from it. In the diocese, countless events were chronicled that took place in parishes, schools and throughout its 23 counties. One of those came in 1944 when the Diocese of Steubenville was created out of 13 eastern and southeastern Ohio counties previously in the Diocese of Columbus.
The diocesan newspaper has undergone its own changes as well, evolving from The Catholic Columbian to the Columbus Catholic Register and, in 1951, The Catholic Times. Priests served as editors for much of the history of the newspaper until recent times, religious have been among its staff members and bishops acted as the publisher.
Dedicated individuals have made the newspaper possible throughout its history. The number of staff members has shrunk dramatically over the last few decades.
Outsiders might find it hard to believe that The Catholic Times for most of the last decade has been
produced by a staff of just two full-time employees along with the support of a graphic designer from the Office of Communications and several freelance writers and photographers.
The Catholic Times has always been committed to trying to give its readers the best product possible using all available resources.
When newspapers were flourishing during the previous century, the staff of The Catholic Times was much larger, but as circulation waned, staff reductions were necessary to keep costs down. Nevertheless, a strong emphasis continued to be placed on local stories impacting the diocese.
The goal was to keep the faithful informed, and the staff hopes that was achieved with some success.
For everyone involved in producing The Catholic Times, the demise of print is just as difficult to accept as it is for many of the readers. Several years ago, the editor of a prominent archdiocesan newspaper put it this way in the last print issue: “This is the column I hoped I would never have to write.”
That sentence summarizes the feelings of countless editors and reporters. For a print journalist, there’s something about seeing his or her work on the page and how it impacts people that offers a profound sense of satisfaction. Print journalists work behind the scenes. Unlike other media outlets, print reporters’ identities are relatively unknown except for a byline. It’s part of the credo to make the story the focus and not the individual reporting on it.
Everyone has witnessed the changes in how the world receives information, particularly over the last 30 years. There’s no denying that secular and diocesan newspapers have lost significant numbers of print subscribers. The switch to all digital is not just happening here. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announced last month that it would discontinue its print publication after almost 250 years. That’s just one example.
The Archdioceses of Detroit and Cincinnati and Diocese of Pittsburgh stopped printing a newspaper in the last decade. Five of Ohio’s six Roman Catholic dioceses have now turned to alternative forms of media.
It’s sad to see this form of communication, which has served the people so well for so many years,
become obsolete. But technology has changed the delivery methods over the last century. It wasn’t all too long ago the telegraph was a means to communicate and television hadn’t yet been invented.
Some readers have voiced concerns about how they will keep up with events in the diocese. That’s understandable. But rest assured that you are considered a valued member of the diocese and that the Office of Communications will do its best going forward to find mediums that reach everyone in some form or fashion.
For most of the staff members who have worked for The Catholic Times over the years, the job to spread the good (and sometimes not so good) news has been a labor of love. The fruits of those labors will now be presented in alternative media.
As the diocese moves to digital communications through The Catholic Times website and social media platforms, please know that your loyal readership and support, both financially and spiritually through your prayers, have meant so much for us.
The same local Catholic content shared in print will be available through the digital resources. You can follow The Catholic Times website for information about the Diocese of Columbus at www.catholictimescolumbus.org. Subscribe to the eConnect newsletter on the website to ensure that stories will be delivered via email.
God bless you all. Thank you again for your faithfulness and your devotion to this publication.
Please know of our prayers for all of you. Please pray for us.