Here’s a little Archdiocese of Vancouver trivia question: Of the more than a dozen special collections that take place in parishes throughout the year, which one stays entirely in the parish?
Here’s a hint: it’s next weekend.
The answer is the Catholic Press-B.C. Catholic collection, which is taking place Feb. 1 and 2.
I’d like to tell you how much this annual collection raises, but I don’t think anyone knows. That’s because every dollar raised in the collection goes to the parish in which it was donated, in support of your local Catholic press.
I write quite frequently about media, news, and journalism, because issues of freedom of religion and expression are so critical these days, attacks on both being on the rise.
Meanwhile across the country these are tough times for news organizations. News viewership is declining, newspapers continue to lose money, and trust levels in journalism keep dropping.
At times like this, it’s more important than ever to follow and support news organizations that keep us informed.
I recently wrote: “One piece of good news is that in this era of media saturation and fake news, there is growing need for trusted news sources. An established newspaper with a long print history behind it is just such a trusted companion, helping Catholics in the Lower Mainland and the rest of B.C. navigate the waters of technology, culture and faith.”
The B.C. Catholic is celebrating its 90th year of reporting for the faithful of the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Our mandate has changed over the years; we started out as more of a house organ, letting the faithful know about developments in the Church.
Take a look at the quote that appeared at the top of The B.C. Catholic in 1931, its first year:
“In vain will you found missions and build schools, if you are not able to wield the offensive and defensive weapons of a loyal Catholic Press.” — Pope Pius X.
That quote appeared on many Catholic newspapers of the day. In those pre-Internet, pre-TV days, a Catholic newspaper was relied upon not only to share announcements and news from the Archbishop and Pope, but to support them in a society that often had an uneasy relationship with the Catholic Church.
Over the years, this paper became more of a traditional news outlet carrying local, Canadian, and international news but focusing on news of building projects, pastoral moves, meetings, and conferences.
To a lesser degree we still do that, but in the Internet age when facts and data can be found at the click of a mouse, it’s more important to tell compelling personal stories of faith, hope, and charity that align with the local and the universal Church.
Our mandate today is to share stories that will touch readers’ hearts and draw them closer to Christ and his Church. It’s the part we play in the Archdiocese of Vancouver’s new Proclaim Movement that is inviting people to have a personal encounter with Jesus, something we’ve discovered is much rarer among Catholics than we thought.
Where does the future of Catholic journalism lie? I remain hopeful. Print circulation of the newspaper remains relatively stable, hovering around 18,000 to 19,000 a week, while the actual readership per paper is probably about 50 per cent more.
Meanwhile online readership is taking off. In the past year, digital traffic to our website has climbed nearly 75 per cent. To ensure we’re as relevant as ever, our stories are published online as soon as they’re written and edited, because in a 24-hour news cycle we know readers want news fast. That’s why you’ll find our website and social media are updated several times a day throughout the week.
This weekend, Feb. 1 and 2, is the annual Catholic Press collection, an opportunity to financially support The B.C. Catholic by helping your pastor provide print and digital subscriptions of the newspaper to your fellow parishioners. Your generosity and your readership is greatly appreciated.
At a time when newspapers, broadcasters, and websites devote a significant amount of time and space to sports and entertainment, but have abandoned covering religion and faith, The B.C. Catholic has an important role to play in filling that news gap. I pray this news organization will remain a trusted and timely voice that shares stories of the Catholic community in Vancouver.
