The B.C. Catholic has announced it will transition from a weekly newspaper to a new print and digital model, starting next month.
An article published on The B.C. Catholic website June 12 said the decision was made “after many years of reflection and seeking feedback from readers, priests and ministry leaders.”
The publication is expected to continue publishing a weekly digital newsletter and move to a redesigned monthly print edition in September.
“We are living in a new apostolic age,” Archbishop Richard Smith of Vancouver was quoted as saying in the article. “The Church must go where people are, accompany them and invite them into a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ.”
Archdiocesan staff said they expect The B.C. Catholic’s new format to “reach more people, tell more inspiring stories and draw Catholics more deeply into the life of the Church.”
The final edition of The B.C. Catholic newspaper will be published June 29. The weekly email digest will begin July 10, and a monthly redesigned print edition will begin in September.
“As part of the renewal, The B.C. Catholic will receive a refreshed design, improved website, and stronger social media presence,” the announcement said. “The new platform will also place greater emphasis on faith formation, events and community.”
Matthew Furtado, archdiocesan director of communications, said while the transition reflects “changing media habits,” its “deeper purpose is to reimagine the way we tell stories, so The B.C. Catholic can evangelize more effectively, serve as a trusted voice, and reach thousands more families.”
Furtado said digital engagement with the Church has been growing rapidly, with email and social media able to reach tens of thousands of Catholics across the region.
“This new model is designed to communicate with greater clarity, beauty and reach,” said Furtado, “pairing the immediacy of digital media with the more reflective experience that print provides.”
