Editor's Report

On Starting Well, and Continuing the Conversation

Posted

This is the first issue of the New Year, and believe it or not, it’s always one of the most difficult to produce. It has nothing to do with our page count, which is always smaller than usual because advertisers, or at least the people that place the ads, tend to be away from their office celebrating Christmas and New Year’s, as the rest of us just did. Editors of Catholic newspapers are left with the quandary about what exactly to put into an issue such as this. The fact that the Catholic New York staff has enjoyed a few well-deserved days off during the holiday period naturally adds to our workload when we return.

It’s a little late for wall-to-wall Christmas coverage, although we manage to print a few such stories, like Christmas Midnight Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. And with the help of the archdiocese’s Family Life/Respect Life Office, we continue our listings of March for Life festivities on tap for Washington, D.C., and locally here in New York later this month. Along with all the interest and enthusiasm it normally generates, this year’s March for Life will be a little more special because Cardinal Dolan will be the principal celebrant of the opening Mass of the National Prayer Vigil for Life in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

I’ve only been to one of those Vigil Masses over the years, but I still remember the great crowd that turned out for it and can only imagine how much excitement the cardinal’s presence will generate. He’ll be celebrating the evening liturgy on Jan. 21, the day before the march, as part of the responsibilities of his role as newly elected chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities. Something tells me he’ll do pretty well in that capacity.

Back here in the home office at Catholic New York, we just finished saying farewell to reporter Ron Lajoie, who retired as of the end of 2015. I’m sure, as readers of his well-written stories over the past seven years, you will join me in wishing him well. Check out his story on the seminarian rock and roll band at St. Joseph’s Seminary on Page 15. If you want to send Ron a personal note, please write us at Catholic New York and we’ll pass it along to him. Fortunately, we’ll keep Ron in the fold as a freelance writer and you can look forward to continue reading his stories.

One thing I’ve learned over my years is you can’t do much without good people around you. We’ve got some good ones that bring CNY to you, both in print, on the web and in other digital formats. We are blessed with a solid staff of editorial, advertising, production and administrative personnel that helps me to accomplish all that we do on behalf of our readers.

Some of you know that I had a serious health issue last May that necessitated me spending six or seven weeks at home and then returning to work for several weeks on a part-time basis while I completed a cardiac rehab program. Our crew did a fine job in my absence and gave me the opportunity to recuperate without feeling pressured to return before I was ready.

One other thing that profoundly affected me during that time was the number of people who sent their best wishes through emails, notes or personal conversations, including many who said how hard they had been praying on my behalf.

Fact is, I know that readers pray for Catholic New York, because many have said so throughout the years. One of the blessings of doing this job for a while is getting to know the people who read the paper. To share our faith together is a great grace. It is what we attempt to do each time we publish Catholic New York. We’re looking forward to another good year with you.