Dear readers,
This week one year ago, like almost every other entity in New Jersey, the doors slammed shut on the Catholic Star Herald and the Communications Department of the Diocese of Camden, as our offices closed to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Like most of you, we didn’t think we’d still be facing pandemic life a year later, but here we are still in it, but God-willing getting out of it.
As I think back to those first few days, we had no idea what to expect, but my colleagues at the Catholic Star Herald and in the Communications Office didn’t blink an eye. Collectively, their first thought was: How do we keep the newspaper going and continue communicating about the spiritual life of Catholics in South Jersey? Our first-ever Zoom call was scheduled for the following Monday morning and we started hashing out how we would do our jobs in the middle of the first pandemic in 100 years.
There was no complaining, no gnashing of teeth, no “woe is me,” just “Let’s get the job done.”
It was, as it always has been, a team effort. The ad guys figured out how to maintain our relationships with our current advertisers while also bringing in new clients. Our business manager figured out how to keep the revenue flowing in and out — and making sure we did it all within a budget we couldn’t be certain would remain flush. Our graphic designer made sure he could lay out the paper from his home in Delaware using some vintage computer hardware. Our editorial staff expertly found the stories and art in a world that had literally stopped doing anything. We were blessed to be able to do all of this with the support of Bishop Dennis Sullivan and the Vicar General, Father Robert Hughes, who told us to keep doing what we were doing, and make it work.
It was no different in the Communications Department. We had dabbled in digital media, but we weren’t broadcasters. Now, thanks to the groundbreaking efforts our team initiated one year ago, I would put up our video content against any diocese, publication, or faith-based news channel I know. Within a few weeks of our first livestreamed Mass, one of the Big 4 news stations from across the river was simulcasting our Easter Mass from the Cathedral using our feed, because they found the quality to be appropriate for TV. Since then, we’ve created digital novenas, cooking shows, talk shows, virtual retreats, and live event reporting. All that quality content is the result of my colleagues’ earnest belief that we must ensure that the Catholic people in South Jersey and beyond have access to quality spiritual content to help them remain committed to their faith. This was an effort I was pleased to see embraced in so many of our diocesan parishes, schools, and ministries, too.
Over the course of the last year every person on the staff has had to learn how to do something differently — not just for a little while, but for quite a while. And they’ve done it with their usual dedication to quality and always in good humor.
I have had the pleasure of working with this group of people for five and half years. Their dedication to you, the reader and the South Jersey Catholic, is the reason why they come to work in the morning, work late into the evening and on weekends, and travel throughout the six southern counties of New Jersey.
To my colleagues on staff and to our many contributors, please know of my deepest affection and gratitude. You are a credit to Catholic journalism and communications, and to the faith we share.
Finally, to our readers of the Catholic Star Herald and followers of our diocesan social media channels, thank you for remaining committed to using these outlets to stay abreast of Catholic news and information. We look forward to serving you for many years to come.
God bless you,
Michael J. Walsh
Director of Communications, Diocese of Camden
Associate Publisher, Catholic Star Herald
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