When I was a full-time Catholic publisher, one of my favorite times was when I took a pile of Catholic magazines to the diner at lunchtime and devoured them as I munched on a turkey club sandwich and fries and slurped two tall glasses of iced tea. I could have stayed all day. Today as editor-at-large for my beloved Orbis Books, I read the same magazines and will continue to do so even if I someday retire. I’m happy to share with you the periodicals I still consume, only at home and on my dime. That’s how much I value them.
- The National Catholic Reporter. When it comes to news about the Church, nobody does it better. The paper has won the “General Excellence” award from the Catholic Press Association for the past 12 years. Editor and publisher Tom Fox knows what matters. I’ve been reading the NCR since it began in 1964.
- America. A weekly journal of opinion from the Jesuits. Fr. Jim Martin works there. That should be reason enough to read it. An essential for thinking Catholics since 1909. No, I haven’t been reading it since then.
- Commonweal. A biweekly journal of opinion from lay Catholics, since 1924. Great movie criticism from Richard Alleva.
- U.S. Catholic. A monthly with good cutting-edge stuff in a glossy format. Insightful interviews with interesting Catholics. Alice Camille’s columns on the Bible are first-rate.
- St. Anthony Messenger. The best Catholic magazine for families. A monthly since 1893 and always up to date. Think Family Circle for Catholics.
- Maryknoll (and Revista for Spanish-speaking Catholics). Since 1907, inspiring mission tales from the Maryknoll fathers, brothers, sisters, and lay missioners. Fr. Joe Veneroso’s photo meditations never fail to inspire.
I read other Catholic periodicals but these are the ones that are my best friends. Which ones did I miss? What would you add to the list?
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Good choices, Mike, but I’d add “Catholic Digest” to the list. Like your routine at lunchtime, that was my companion when having dinner on a business trip.
Right on, Bob. They reprint the best of the best.
I follow pretty much the same magazines. I don’t know Maryknoll or Catholic Digest. The one magazine I was going to suggest turns out not to be Catholic, I think: Sojourners.
Can you think of a Catholic magazine with that sort of angle toward the news? I don’t know whether Catholic Worker would correspond to this.
Good one, Claire. I used to read Sojourners monthly at work and still get some of it on the web. I think peace and justice Catholics would love it. Can’t think of any Catholic equivalents.
Couldn’t agree more! (though technically NCR is a newspaper, right?)
These publications need more “dimes” so they will be still be around in 10 years!
Yup. And Heidi Schlumpf is one of the best writers ever on NCR and US Catholic.
First Things and National Catholic Register are two of my favorites. I also love the website: Catholic Educator’s Resource, that collects good writing from all over.
I like First Things, too, Sherry, used to read it all the time. Thanks for making me laugh with your comment on the interview post!