The arrival each February of Catholic Press Month gives us the opportunity to focus on the ministry of the diocesan newspaper and all that goes with it.
For those who may not be regular readers of The Monitor, we are happy to welcome you to this news ministry, which, as you can see, brings you a comprehensive collection of stories and features to form, inform and inspire you in your faith.
We’re particularly proud to report that 2019 marks 65 years since The Monitor first began to serve as the newspaper of the Diocese of Trenton. We celebrate this milestone by extending our deepest appreciation for our loyal readers, many who have been with us more years than they can count.
Much has changed since The Monitor was established by Bishop George W. Ahr in 1954, and today’s readers may not have known, or may not remember, some of the history of The Monitor.
For instance, did you know:
• While today’s diocesan format of The Monitor was established 65 years ago, an earlier version of The Monitor dates back more than 100 years. This discovery came out of the research recently conducted by Franciscan Father Gabriel Zeis, diocesan vicar for Catholic education, as he prepared an exhibit on the history of the Diocese. The artifact that Father Zeis surfaced was dated from 1917, described itself as the “Official Catholic Weekly of New Jersey,” and reported on the death of Bishop James A. McFaul, second Bishop of Trenton. (see photo)
• In 1981, when the Diocese of Trenton was split in half to form the Diocese of Metuchen, The Monitor covered both dioceses, earlier on within the same edition, and later with two separate editions – one for Trenton and one for Metuchen. That ended in 1995 when the Diocese of Metuchen started its own newspaper, The Catholic Spirit.
• Over the years, The Monitor went from a weekly, black and white newspaper, to a bi-weekly, mostly color newspaper that includes numerous special sections and several keepsake magazines each year to cover such milestones as graduations, ordinations, religious anniversary and Anniversary Blessings of lay couples. The Monitor’s most recent magazine reports on the Diocesan Youth Conference, another annual event that is captured in reporting, reflections and beautiful photos. The magazine inside this issue reports on the Diocesan Youth Conference, another annual publication.
• The Monitor now is a full-spectrum Catholic news operation, publishing and producing a print edition, a digital edition, a website (TrentonMonitor.com), which is mobile friendly, and a social media presence on Facebook and Twitter. The Monitor remains the primary content generator for the Diocese, supplying news reporting, professional photos and graphics for our publishing work, and for the publicity needs of other diocesan offices and ministries.
On behalf of our talented and hard-working staff and freelance partners, and all those who carried this mission forward in past decades, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve in this ministry, and we are committed to bringing you quality Catholic news many years to come.
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