Rockville Centre, N.Y., Oct 5, 2012 / 03:28 am
Facing financial challenges, New York's Diocese of Rockville Centre is converting its weekly newspaper The Long Island Catholic into a subscription-based monthly magazine, Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre announced Oct. 2.
Sean Dolan, director of communications, said the diocese hopes that readers will "enjoy the new diocesan magazine and support it enthusiastically."
He said the magazine will be a resource for faith formation for the diocese's Catholic families.
"It will be something people will be proud to leave out, pass along and share. In this year of faith, we need to evangelize. And we think this new magazine will help in that regard."
Dolan said the newspaper has a "rich history" and served Catholics and local businesses for more than 50 years."
The new form of the publication will save the diocese hundreds of thousands of dollars in its annual subsidy, he added. It will contain local news, faith stories, regular local columnists and new national columns.
The diocese said the magazine will be "more formational than informational." It will explore individual stories about local Catholics' faith. Columns on parenting and work will help readers bring their faith to daily life.
The magazine is based on the Diocese of Lansing's FAITH Catholic Publishing model, which is used by more than 20 dioceses across the country.
Bishop Peter Libasci of Manchester, N.H., a former auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre, uses the magazine model and has received favorable responses in readership surveys.
Subscriptions to the new magazine cost $30 per year for 10 issues. Those who contribute to the annual Long Island Catholic Collection on Dec. 3 can receive a subscription at a reduced price of $20.
The diocese's website, www.drvc.org, will serve as the primary source for daily updated news and for breaking news.
The first issue of the new monthly magazine will be sent to current newspaper subscribers at the end of November.
The Diocese of Rockville Center serves over 1.7 million baptized Catholics with 134 parishes in 115 towns.