This is the eighth issue of The Central Minnesota Catholic since we switched to a monthly magazine format last January. We hope the content has been enjoyable and educational and has inspired you to live your faith more deeply.
As we made the transition, we heard from many readers about the importance of keeping an emphasis on local stories from our 16-county diocese, and we remain committed to that approach. Nearly all of our stories and articles are written by magazine staff members and columnists from our local Catholic community, including the articles featured in the four-page Spanish section.
In this increasingly digital age, as more people — including young people — turn to the internet and social media for the latest news and information, we also remain committed to using digital resources better to tell the Church’s story and evangelize new audiences.
We offer several ways to stay updated on the news beyond the print pages of the magazine:
• The “Monday Morning Update”
This weekly newsletter — sent by email every Monday morning — features the latest local, national and international Catholic-related news. It includes a PDF attachment (suitable for publishing in parish bulletins) with additional news notes and a list of upcoming local events. If you don’t receive the newsletter, you can subscribe at www.thecentralminnesotacatholic.org (click on the newsletter icon at the top of the page).
• Social media
Facebook: CentralMNCatholic
Twitter: CentralMNCath
Instagram: centralmncatholic
• “From the Heart: A Catholic blog for Central Minnesota”
At www.fromtheheartmn.com, local writers reflect on daily life and current issues through a Catholic lens. The blog was launched three years ago, and each year since it has won an award from the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada for the high quality of its content. This year “From the Heart” was honored with a first-place award for “best blog by a news organization.” On the site, you can sign up to receive the latest posts by email.
• Podcasts
“Minnesota Catholic Podcasts” is a more recent venture for our staff. The podcasts feature uplifting messages, engaging dialogue and challenging discourse on topics of interest to Catholics. They can be listened to anytime. One of our latest offerings is a conversation with a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls who recently published a new history about the community.
We also produce “The Central MN Catholic Audio” podcast, which features volunteers reading each edition of the magazine. It’s a good option for people who have trouble reading printed materials.
You can subscribe to the podcasts on iTunes and Google Play. You also can access them on The Central Minnesota Catholic’s website: www.thecentralminnesotacatholic.org.
As we look to the future, we want to hear your suggestions and ideas for magazine stories and digital media offerings. I also hope you will take advantage of the “For Reflection” section that accompanies my column. It provides questions related to the magazine’s content. We also typically ask readers to send us their answer to a question we pose on a timely subject.
One concern I’ve heard in the last eight months is that the magazine’s type is small and difficult to read for some people. The type is actually the same size it was in the newspaper, but we are looking into the possibility of using a heavier type that would make the text easier to read on glossy paper. In the meantime, the audio or web versions of the magazine might be helpful options.
You can contact me directly to share your thoughts and ideas at 320-258-7624 or jtowalski@gw.stcdio.org. Or you can contact associate editor Kristi Anderson at 320-258-7630; kbanders@gw.stcdio.org.