CMA region updates for November 2025
Eastern
Compiled by Carol Zimmermann, Eastern Region Representative
Lori Nichols joined The Catholic Star Herald, newspaper of the Diocese of Camden, N.J., Oct. 2 in the paper’s newly created position of assistant editor. Nichols, an award-winning photojournalist with two decades of experience for NJ Advance Media, is working with Managing Editor Jen Mauro on editing, photography, calendar coordination, digital engagement and reporting.
Jesuit Refugee Service/USA launched a webinar series in October called Ignatian Migration Dialogues. The monthly webinars will feature guest experts looking at legal and policy shifts shaping immigrant and refugee rights and how Catholics are called to respond. Check it out at jrsusa.org/ignatian-migration-dialogue-webinar-series.
Stephen White, executive director of The Catholic Project, and Brandon Vaidyanathan, sociology professor at the Catholic University of America in Washington, presented highlights from the second set of results from the survey “National Study of Catholic Priests” Oct. 14 at Catholic U. The study was conducted by The Catholic Project, an initiative of Catholic U. that was launched in response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis. For more info, go to catholicproject.catholic.edu/national-study-of-catholic-priests.
Midwest
Compiled by Michael Stechschulte, Midwestern Region Representative
Little Books of the Diocese of Saginaw is celebrating 25 years of encouraging people to “spend some quiet time with the Lord.” In honor of its silver anniversary, the ministry dedicated to helping people pray, released the "Little Book on the Eucharist" and the "Little Kids’ Book on the Eucharist." The first "Little Black Book for Lent," a pocket-sized prayer booklet, was published in the Jubilee Year of 2000 by Bishop Kenneth Untener, fifth bishop of Saginaw. It was written for his diocese to help people enter more deeply into the Lenten season. The next year, "The Little Blue Book for Advent/Christmas" and "The Little White Book for the Easter Season" were added, along with a children’s title for Lent. Although originally meant for the Diocese of Saginaw only, word of the books quickly spread in Michigan, then later across the U.S. and overseas, and a business was born. Today, the nonprofit organization is an institution; a spiritual must-have for millions of people who rely on the clear-spoken, no-nonsense reflections on faith, forgiveness, and love to inspire their prayer time. For more info, contact Stacey Trapani at 989-797-6686, at strapani@diosag.org, or go to littlebooks.org.
The Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph recently launched a new website at cskdetroit.org. The website, which went live Sept. 25, is mobile-friendly, more accessible, has better SEO, and is more modern and visual than its predecessor.
Spirit Juice Studios recently released a short film, “Believe: Bauer Miracle Story,” which is a powerful true story of faith, family and miraculous healing. In addition, the feature film, “Heart of a Servant: The Father Flanagan Story,” will have its broadcast premiere on EWTN Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. EST. The program will also be made available for free viewing on EWTN’s free on-demand site. Spirit Juice is releasing a new series on YouTube, called “Ask A Priest,” which will answer questions and help educate viewers on various elements of the faith, foster a deeper relationship with Jesus and evangelize.
After more than 16 years providing on-demand online Catholic marriage preparation courses, The Marriage Group, based in Port Huron, Mich., has developed an innovative way to serve engaged and married couples in the Catholic Church. Its newly developed online course platform now includes community features and ongoing formation. It’s marriage preparation that doesn’t leave couples at the altar. Developed with both engaged and married couples in mind, the new course platform is Marriage Every Day. It’s the most flexible way for couples to build relationship skills, explore their faith, learn about sacramental marriage, and have fun doing it. For more info, go to themarriagegroup.com.
Southern
Compiled by James Ramos, Southern Region Representative
In Dallas, José Manuel De Urquidi at Juan Diego & Co launched three new projects. First, a Spanish Prayers for Young Believers podcast features a bilingual lesson in each episode that explores prayers in Spanish then translates them line-by-line into English (play.jdn.app/prayinspanish). A Juan Diego Network documentary, “La Vida Pende de un Hilo,” for CELAM profiled Catholics recently killed because they defended life (play.jdn.app/lavidapod). A new video podcast, “Descifrando a León,” with Javier Martínez Brocal, Inés San Martín and José Manuel De Urquidi explores the Vatican and Pope Leo XIV’s papacy.
At the Diocese of Austin, the communications office led efforts to execute, cover and share the installation of the new bishop, Bishop Daniel Garcia, Sept. 18.
“You know that when the director of communications leads anything — the entire team is on the ground — and in this case they shouldered responsibilities that extended well beyond communications,” said Austin Communications Director Camille Garcia.
The installation Mass saw two cardinals, four archbishops and 24 bishops, with 1,500 in attendance and another 700 attending vespers, 250 at a luncheon and another 1,000 at a reception.
The team coordinated volunteers, hotel accommodations, dinners, receptions, security, and worked closely with the worship office to coordinate hardwired video/simulcast, flower placement, produce directional signage, coordinate vesting rooms, provide clergy hospitality and more.
A July news conference was covered by nine outlets, and the Sept. 9 special edition of The Catholic Spirit Magazine was distributed to 85,000 registered parishioners, with ads paying for the entire distribution. Garcia also reports that year-over-year and month-over-month social media analytics saw significant increases.
Local and Catholic media also covered the Mass, resulting in 32 media placements from 10 media outlets in Austin and North Central Texas stations. She also said their mass email open rates reached 70% and the website “saw unique visitors in numbers we dared to dream.”