TAN Books Named Exclusive Publisher for Confraternity of the Precious Blood

My Daily Bread, My Way of Life among iconic pocket devotionals to be released by North Carolina Catholic publisher

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Apr 30, 2014, 08:00 ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- TAN Books, the Publisher You Can Trust with Your Faith, announced today it has been named exclusive publisher for the Confraternity of the Precious Blood.

My Daily Bread, over 1 million copies sold (PRNewsFoto/TAN Books)

Conor Gallagher and Monsignor Bennett” to “Conor Gallagher, VP of TAN, with Confraternity Executive Director Msgr. Austin P. Bennett (PRNewsFoto/TAN Books)

Founded in 1890, the Confraternity is an association dedicated to the support of the historic Monastery of the Precious Blood in Brooklyn, New York, and the nuns and religious sisters who call it home. Over the course of its history, hundreds of thousands of individuals have enrolled in the Confraternity to support its good works, and millions more have discovered its line of beloved pocket devotionals. These include My Way of Life, My Imitation of Christ, and especially My Daily Bread – a title that has sold more than 1 million copies since its release in 1954, and has become a staple in many Catholic parishes and homes.

The Confraternity's publishing operations were pioneered by Father Joseph F. Stedman, appointed director of the Confraternity in 1925, and expanded upon by successors Monsignor Joseph K. Parks and Monsignor Austin P. Bennett, who remains Executive Director today. As newly-named Confraternity Publisher, TAN continues the historic legacy of these directors and their staffs, who created dozens of devotional classics and distributed them to millions of homes in the US and abroad.

TAN will bring its Confraternity titles to new audiences, making them available at generous discounts to its wide reseller network and featuring them prominently in its consumer marketing, which includes more than 500,000 direct mail pieces and 2 million email promotions per year.

The publisher plans additional marketing and editorial investments in the Confraternity line over the next 12 months, including e-book editions, Spanish editions, and merchandising displays for resellers.

Conor Gallagher, Vice President of Publishing for TAN Books, was thrilled by the opportunity to work with the Confraternity. "Throughout my childhood I saw these little books everywhere," said Gallagher. "In church pews, in parish offices, on the coffee tables of Catholic relatives – the colorful covers and signature titles of the Confraternity were constant friends. What an honor it is now to distribute the Confraternity's spiritual classics around the country and around the world, into the lives of the next generation of Catholics."

Confraternity officials and the sisters of the Monastery of the Precious Blood expressed excitement over the new venture.

"This is a renewed opportunity for wider circulation of these classic books," said Sr. Maryann Seton Lopiccolo, SC, Delegate for Religious for the Diocese of Brooklyn. "They will continue to be a support for the sisters at the Precious Blood Monastery and hopefully will invite greater devotion to their mission."

Confraternity staff were also enthused.

"We are glad to be working with TAN to bring our classic devotionals to a new audience," said Dale M. Swenson, Confraternity Manager. "Partnering with TAN will make these titles more accessible and will ensure support for our sisters, while maintaining the tradition and zeal that makes the Confraternity so special."

"It is exciting to have TAN continue in this wonderful ministry," added Angela McNair, Confraternity Assistant Manager. "These books have been a great spiritual encouragement to me personally and to our faithful customers, reaching out to many in need all over the world."

TAN's agreement with the Confraternity follows its acquisition of children's publisher Neumann Press in October of last year. TAN, a publisher of classic Catholic titles founded in 1967, was acquired by Saint Benedict Press, LLC in 2008.

About TAN Books
TAN Books (www.TANBooks.com), the Publisher You Can Trust with Your Faith, is a division of Saint Benedict Press, LLC and part of the Good Will Publishers group of companies. Founded in 1967, TAN publishes more than 500 titles in the areas of Catholic theology, doctrine, prayer, devotions, history, and lives of the saints. TAN was acquired by Saint Benedict Press of Charlotte, NC in 2008. In addition to its TAN titles, including the Neumann Press and Confraternity of the Precious Blood imprints, Saint Benedict Press publishes Catholic literature, Bibles and prayer books, and produces audio and video lectures under its Catholic Courses imprint.