CO_Mar17_WEB

DIOCESAN NEWS
Final edition of Catholic Outlook goes to press
By Jane Favotto, Editor
IN FEBRUARY 1998, Bishop Kevin
Manning launched Catholic Outlook, a
monthly newspaper for Catholics in the
Diocese of Parramatta. Writing in the first
issue, Bishop Manning said: “It gives me
great joy to write my first letter to you in
Catholic Outlook, an initiative which is close
to my heart, for it gives me the opportunity
to correspond regularly with you.”
The newspaper was designed as a channel
of communication for Catholics in Western
Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Since it
was launched, the publication has had two
editors and 212 issues have been printed.
Bishop Manning appointed the diocesan
communications manager, Eileen Prehn,
as the paper’s first editor. With almost 40
years’ experience in publishing and media,
Eileen relished the task of getting the new
publication off the ground.
She was greatly assisted by designer Jacqui
Callcut. Brian Parker was later engaged as
advertising manager.
The original format was a 24-page tabloid
newspaper. Most pages were printed in black
and white, with only four pages in colour.
The content included communications
from Bishop Manning on topics of interest,
especially relating to the teachings of the
Catholic Church, reports from diocesan
ministries and agencies, and news from
parishes and schools.
Eileen was the editor for the first 49 issues.
Sadly, she died in May 2002 after a long
battle with cancer.
In September 2002, Bishop Manning
appointed me the editor and diocesan
communications manager. Previously, I had
been editor of the Broken Bay News and had
25 years’ experience in secular publishing
and communications.
Over the decades, Catholic Outlook
underwent a number of changes.
Circulation increased to 40,500 copies
distributed each month through 47 parishes
and 86 Catholic schools.
With the 100 th issue in February 2007,
the publication’s format changed from a
newspaper to a magazine. It was published
in full colour with the cover featuring an
eye-catching photo.
Bishop Anthony Fisher OP was a strong
supporter of the publication. In addition
to contributing the Bishop’s Letter in each
edition, he had a keen interest in the breadth
of editorial coverage.
Catholic Outlook has received a number
of awards including: Best Feature Story for
Eileen’s profile of Cardinal van Thuan, Most
Improved Publication, Best Layout & Design
– Magazines, Best Ecumenical/Interfaith
Story, Best Original Photograph, and Best
Social Justice Coverage.
In 2009, Catholic Outlook received
the Bishop Philip Kennedy Memorial
Award for Excellence – Magazines. This
is the highest accolade awarded by the
Australasian Catholic Press Association for
magazine publishing.
It has been a privilege to have been the
editor for 159 issues. I would like to extend
my sincere thanks to all those who support
Catholic Outlook – both in readership and
submission of stories and photos.
Production of the publication is a strong
collaborative effort and would not have been
possible without the support of the clergy,
diocesan and parish staff, Catholic schools
and those involved in many areas of ministry.
‘Quality control’ has been supervised
by eagle-eyed proofreaders Bishop
CatholicOutlook
Volume 12,
December 2009/
January 2010
Wishing all
readers a
joyous
Christmas
Jay Borthwick (Joseph)
and Jordan Loughlin-
Smith (Mary) from
Corpus Christ Primary,
Cranebrook.
Photograph: David Tang
Manning, Mons Robert McGuckin
until he was appointed Bishop of
Toowoomba, Fr Chris de Souza VG and
Fr Wim Hoekstra .
Over the years, the experienced and
talented production team has included
designers Chris Murray and Aphrodite
Delaguiado and journalists Dan McAloon,
Virginia Knight, Elizabeth McFarlane and
Jordan Grantham. Each issue includes
school news, which is co-ordinated by the
Communications Unit at Catholic Education
Diocese of Parramatta.
Award-winning photographers include
Hamilton Lund and Alphonsus Fok.
It would not have been possible to produce
a large circulation publication (40,500
copies monthly) with high production
values without the support of our loyal
advertisers, many of whom have been with
us since the first issue.
Since its launch in 1998, the publication
has been printed by Rural Press, now part
of Fairfax Media, and distributed by Kevin
Stein at Greenjinx.
The March 2017 edition is the final
issue to be produced in the printed format
as Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv
launches into the digital age. For the
latest news and events across the Diocese
of Parramatta and beyond join us at
www.catholicoutlook.org
Diocese of Parramatta Silver Jubilee
The 25 th anniversary celebrations brought together Parramatta’s three bishops: Bishop
Emeritus Kevin Manning, Bishop Anthony Fisher op and Bishop Emeritus Bede Heather.
Photo: Hamilton Lund.
Photo: Alphonsus Fok.
CO
CatholicOutlook
Volume 18, July 2015
COVolume 14
June 2011
CatholicOutlook
Photo: Alphonsus Fok
NEW ENCYCLICAL FROM POPE FRANCIS
Laudato Si’ – ‘Praise be to you’
A call to ecological conversion
Volume 12, December 2009/January 2010 Volume 14, June 2011 Volume 18, July 2015
Photo: Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains
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happening in the Catholic Church in Western
Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
Go to www.parracatholic.org/app
or scan the QR code.
8 CatholicOutlook MARCH 2017 www.catholicoutlook.org