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70 years of good news in southern FloridaThis issue of the Florida Catholic is a significant one. It marks not only the first for a new year, but also the beginning of the celebration of the Florida Catholic’s 70-year history. This is significant for us in the Diocese of Palm Beach as we continue to celebrate our 25th year. The Florida Catholic has covered news in the Catholic Church in Florida for 70 years and we are part of that coverage since our inception 25 years ago. A Catholic newspaper is an important part of a diocese’s life and proclamation of the Gospel. Catholic journalism is by no means new and goes well past 70 years to the beginning of the church. Long before St. Francis de Sales and St. John Bosco, the patrons of Catholic journalism, were using the Catholic media in an effective manner, Sts. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John used the media by formatting the first Catholic newspapers. The four “Gospels” are precisely the “good news” of and about Jesus Christ. In the Greek language that is exactly what “Evangelion” (Gospel) means – “good news.” Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the four evangelists, are each a “reporter of the good news.” Thus is derived the word “evangelist.” Like all journalists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John reported in a concrete manner about what they heard and witnessed. Examine closely how St. Mark begins his account: “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mk 1:1). He is about to relate the good news of Jesus and the good news that Jesus proclaimed. Even more revealing is the manner by which St. Luke begins his account: “Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in orderly sequence for you” (Lk 1:1-2). Now there is an investigative reporter of good news! Of course, unlike other journalists, the four evangelists were divinely inspired so what they reported is true as the fundamental deposit of faith. However, just as we have different newspapers to reach different audiences, God used different men to do the same thing. Taken together, the four Gospels give us a complete picture of Christ and his message, but they do so from their own vantage. Like all journalists, the four evangelists, under God’s inspiration, emphasized what was important to their audiences, emphasized what they themselves experienced and also editorialized. Once again let us look at Mark and Luke. They both referred to “the beginning” in an almost casual manner. However, like all writers, they are being clever by drawing our attention to the opening of the inspired revelation of God in the book of Genesis, which states: “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth” (Gn 1:1). Likewise does their fellow evangelist, St. John, who commences, “In the beginning was the Word” (Jn 1:1). They are editorializing on the word “beginning” to draw us to a deeper understanding of the fundamental revelation of God, which is now given in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the new beginning. God used human talent and experience to help us delve even more into the mysterious meaning of his eternal plan. Catholic newspapers, unlike the four Gospels, are not inspired by God. However, in a very real sense, they carry on the work of the four evangelists by reporting pertinent news and information on the church, which continues to teach the good news. Our Catholic newspapers give us a unique view of the Gospel of Christ as it is lived in action through the people of God in the particular area where they comprise the church. Like the four evangelists, the writers of Catholic newspapers address themselves to a particular audience with particular concerns. What may be extremely pressing in one part of the world or one area may not have the same significance in another. That is why we need a diocesan newspaper, which brings us church news in the area where we live with our own particular concerns. We need this service of Catholic newspapers because the secular press reports church news from its own limited vantage. They do not always focus on the church in an adequate manner. Many times, important church events are not even covered. Oftentimes they are covered, but with erroneous or biased information. That is why Catholic newspapers are essential to us as Catholics. We are blessed in the Diocese of Palm Beach with a fine Catholic newspaper, the Florida Catholic. It has been part of our 25-year history. Its importance in our diocese from the beginning cannot be overstated. We are a large diocese of more than 5,000 square miles. During the past 25 years, our population has grown considerably so that we are now well over a quarter of a million Catholics. We are a growing diocese that presently comprises some 50 parishes and missions, as well as 17 schools. We continue to grow as the ethnic makeup of our diocese continues to change. The Florida Catholic provides us with information about what is happening in our parishes and schools, and in the life of our diocese in a comprehensive and articulate manner. In addition, it provides us with information on what is occurring in the universal church in a manner that is pertinent to our life in the Diocese of Palm Beach. It also covers what is happening in other dioceses around our country. What makes the Florida Catholic unique is that it focuses its attention on the other dioceses of Florida, thereby giving us a more complete picture of the Catholic Church in the state of Florida. Since the Florida Catholic is an effort among several dioceses of Florida, it truly is a reflection of the communal nature of the church. We need good news and we need the good news of the Gospel above all else. We need to learn about that good news as it is lived day by day by the people of our diocese, area and state. The Florida Catholic, carrying on the work of the first four evangelists who reported that good news, continues the mission of the Gospel in a special way. As we begin the year celebration of the Florida Catholic’s 70th anniversary, all of us in the Diocese of Palm Beach, celebrating our 25th anniversary, express our gratitude and best wishes to all those who staff and prepare this fine publication. May it continue to be a source of good news as we stand upon the apostles and evangelists in proclaiming and handing on the Gospel of Christ.
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