L.A. Archdiocese Launches New Multimedia Platform, Angelus News, To Serve Millions Of Catholics

LOS ANGELES, June 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced today the launch of a new multimedia platform on Friday, July 1, Angelus News, following Pope Francis' example of utilizing the vast communications vehicles to authentically reach human hearts. Angelus News includes a new weekly magazine – the only weekly Catholic magazine in the West – and full daily digital edition.

The Archdiocese is launching Angelus News on July 1 in honor of the first feast day of St. Junípero Serra – the first evangelizer in California and founder of the missions. St. Junípero Serra was canonized by Pope Francis last September in Washington, D.C., making him the first saint canonized on American soil.    

"Following on the footsteps of St. Junípero Serra, a man of heroic virtue and holiness who had only one burning ambition — to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the peoples of the New World, we now need to send missionaries to proclaim the Gospel in this new digital era," said Archbishop José H. Gomez. "The message of the Gospel never changes no matter where it is preached or what media we use to deliver it. But we need to always be looking for the 'language' that best communicates our Lord's saving truths."

Angelus News will reach Catholics and non-Catholics alike about the good works in the parishes, schools and ministries not only in the Archdiocese, but around the world. Angelus News will feature:

• A weekly newsmagazine, Angelus. The name was chosen because it is the prayer between the patroness of the Archdioceses, our Blessed Mother Mary, Queen of the Angels, and St. Gabriel the Archangel - the namesake of the first mission built in the Archdiocese.
• A complete daily digital edition (AngelusNews.com) including video, audio, photo galleries and slideshows, which will be updated often throughout each day.
• Social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).
• Daily digital newsletter from Angelus called "Always Forward" after the motto of the Angelus News patron, St. Junípero Serra, beginning July 18^th.

"Angelus News came about because of the hard work of dozens of committed Catholics in the Church in Los Angeles," said John David (JD) Long-Garcia, the editor-in-chief of Angelus News. "The team came together to find a way to update our news and reporting platforms to better serve contemporary Catholics."

The new Angelus magazine will be the weekly print "home" for renowned Vatican reporter, John Allen and his colleague, Inés San Martín, one of the top writers on the Church in Latin America.

Other top nationally known Catholic journalists and essayist will also make regular contributions, including: Ruben Navarrette (USA Today, CNN, NPR); Kathryn Lopez (National Review, The Wall Street Journal), Grazie Pozo Christie (CNN, Miami Herald, The New York Times, USA Today), Mike Aquilina (national speaker and author of more than 50 books on Catholic themes). Best-selling Catholic author, Dr. Scott Hahn, will write a weekly Scripture column.  

Angelus News will retain contributors already loved by its readership, including Archbishop José H. Gomez, Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron of the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region, Father Ronald Rolheiser and Heather King.

Angelus News is committed to continuing the longstanding and award-winning tradition of The Tidings newspaper, which served as the Archdiocesan newspaper for over a century. Utilizing new media platforms, Angelus News will tell the stories of the Archdiocese's diverse faith communities from 287 parishes and 270 schools in the Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Angelus News will also provide international Catholic news coverage through a partnership with Catholic News Agency (CNA). It adds to the already growing digital media offerings of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, currently reaching three to seven million people online per week.

SOURCE Archdiocese of Los Angeles