MEDIA MATTERS
By Nathan Rumohr

If you are reading this, you probably know that The B.C. Catholic is a valuable resource reflecting the lives of the faithful throughout this province, Canada, and the world.

Catholic media have always played an important role for the Church.

"Catholic media can contribute to the continuing formation of people, especially with Catholic schools shrinking," said the late U.S. Cardinal John Patrick Foley, the godfather of Catholic media in North America. "We need something to replace what has been this most important influence in our lives and in our faith."

Cardinal Foley, who died Dec. 11, worked to increase the presence of a Catholic influence in almost all forms of media. The cardinal, who started writing radio plays for a Philadelphia radio station at the age of 14, was an example of how one can evangelize and educate through media.

Popular and well respected, he went on to become president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications at the Vatican. In the U.S. he was the "voice of Christmas" for 25 years, as he gave English commentary for midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.

To continue the evangelizing efforts of Catholic media, there will be a second collection in parish churches Feb. 5. All monies collected will go directly to the parishes to help offset their costs of supplying The B.C. Catholic to parishioners in their homes.

Over the next year, The B.C. Catholic will be expanding its coverage, providing readers with a variety of new features. As part of this, the paper plans to increase its news coverage and its Internet presence at www.bccatholic.ca with more stories told through video, and more information sent out on its blog, The Busy Catholic (www.busycatholic.blogspot.com.)

The B.C. Catholic appreciates parishioners' support and will continue to strive for journalistic excellence while using these media to evangelize.

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