CMA region updates for December 2025
Midwest
Compiled by Michael Stechschulte, Midwestern Region Representative
The Diocese of Green Bay brought on a new team member at the end of April to fill its multimedia content coordinator role, one that was reshaped after many staffing and organizational changes within the Office of Communications and Marketing. William Van de Planque, a resident of Georgia at the time, answered God’s call to move a thousand miles across the country and serve the needs of the local Church just before his wedding in June. Over the past seven months, Van de Planque has worked with all things On Mission Media, including the six-time per year published magazine, On Mission, weekly e-newsletter, website and social media; all in a collaborative effort with the rest of the communications and marketing team, the FAITH Catholic publishing group, and a pool of freelance writers and photographers. He is proud to be serving and sharing the good news of the Church in northeast Wisconsin and is always seeking to follow God’s voice in everything he does.
The Glenmary Home Missioners are excited to welcome Lindsay Braud as the new director of communications and marketing. She replaces John Feister, who retired in June after a long and storied career in Catholic communications. Braud joins the talented Glenmary communications team of Laney Blevins, Omar Cabrerra and Theresa Nguyen Gillen, which produces the award-winning Glenmary Challenge and El Reto magazines. A longtime friend of Glenmary, Braud served on its editorial board for five years and spoke with members of the communications team several times a year at various events. Prior to joining Glenmary, Braud worked for the Comboni Missionaries for 12 years. Her history of working with a religious community has well prepared her for this new role.
Loyola Press will soon release a new picture book by New York Times No. 1 best-selling author-illustrator Peter H. Reynolds with his brother Paul A. Reynolds called “Our Treasures Within.” The book brings Pope Francis’ message to life for children and families and is a wonderful resource for Catholic classrooms, parishes, and homes. Inspired by a virtual gathering held by Pope Francis with children across the globe, “Our Treasures Within” shines a light on the special gifts within each of us and inspires us to share them with the world. It will be available Jan. 20, 2026, but pre-orders are being taken on Loyola Press’ website.
The team at Spirit Juice Studios recently earned two honors at the 2024-25 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards. The film, “Handmade with Love,” won for “Outstanding Achievement for Public Service Announcement — Single Spot/Campaign,” while the film, “Find Your Light at the Catholic University of America,” won for “Outstanding Achievement for Commercial — Campaign.”
Southern
Compiled by James Ramos, Southern Region Representative
Paloma and Fig are creating Advent content with journal reviews and book recommendations from Ignatius Press, Scepter Publishers, and Ave Maria Press, plus “A Resounding Yes!” podcast episodes with authors and reflections. The team is celebrating Lead Editor Franci Eckensberger and Funnel Strategist Ver Gallos, who are expecting babies in December. Plus, congratulations to intern Stephen Rule and Social Media Coordinator Anna McCorkle on their recent engagements.
Western
Compiled by Pablo Kay, Western Region Representative
The Diocese of Phoenix teamed up with the Vatican to produce a video promoting Pope Leo XIV’s November prayer intention for those struggling with mental health.
“The Pope Video,” is distributed monthly by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network and features video of the pope stating his prayer intentions. November 2025’s emphasized the pope’s support and prayers for those who struggle with suicidal thoughts.
“We come to you this month for all the people who live in darkness and despair, may they always find a community that welcomes them, listens to them, and accompanies them,” Pope Leo said in the video.
Throughout the year, the prayer campaign invites different dioceses to collaborate with the videos’ production. Other U.S. dioceses that have collaborated on previous papal prayer videos include the Archdioceses of Los Angeles and Detroit.
The decision to work with the Diocese of Phoenix was a natural one. Phoenix’s Bishop John Dolan has been a longtime champion of mental health ministry in the U.S. Church, having lost three siblings to suicide. The diocese has a dedicated Office of Mental Health Ministry that provides safe spaces for listening, community training programs and other resources for those suffering with mental illness.
In a statement, Bishop Dolan said the intention was “very close to my heart.”
“There are certain wounds and mysteries that we cannot comprehend. And yet, we hope,” he said. “We trust in a loving Father who holds our loved ones near, and we turn to one another, walking forward together as companions on the journey.”
The video’s release Nov. 4 also came on the eve of a Nov. 5-7 conference in Rome focused on mental health, at which Bishop Dolan gave two talks.
Watch the video: youtube.com/watch?v=luhc94w19Jc
The Diocese of Colorado Springs’s longtime newspaper has transitioned to a bimonthly magazine.
The inaugural issue of the magazine version of the Colorado Catholic Herald was published in October. Following the publication of the last issue in July, Herald staff spent three months working on the design of the new magazine, which is produced entirely in-house. The magazine is being printed by Publication Printers in Denver and is sent to all registered households in the Diocese of Colorado Springs.
Diocesan communications director and Herald Editor-in-Chief Veronica Ambuul credited guidance received during the CMC in Phoenix last June for helping with the transition.
The Archdiocese of Seattle marked its 175th anniversary by announcing an updated brand launch complete with a new logo, color scheme and video.
According to diocesan publication Northwest Catholic, the archdiocese’s communications team was looking to create “a refreshed and consistent look and feel for the archdiocese to help people better recognize it.”
The new color scheme is inspired by its positioning statement, “Reflecting Christ’s Radical Love” and opted for a “joyful shade of red” that conveys the virtue of love. The red color and the trefoil cross at the center of the new logo are borrowed from the archdiocesan coat of arms, “which will remain in use for canonical purposes,” the archdiocese said.
To announced the launch, the archdiocese released a short launch video Aug. 20 explaining how “the new brand identity reflects a timeless Catholic mission — with renewed clarity, energy and a deeper commitment to love, stewardship and collaboration.”