As previously reported in this column the Catholic News Service, formerly supported by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, is no more. The offices of the more-than-a-century old news service officially ceased operations on Dec. 31, 2022. Our Sunday Visitor News has taken over the service along with the archives and publishing activities of 

the USCCB. 

 

I can report that the transition has been pretty smooth. There are a few of your favorite features that may look a little different here in The Observer. One such difference will be in the reflection on the scriptures included on the “Our Catholic View” pages. What was previously called Speak to me Lord, will now be printed under the heading of “The Word in Season.” It will include authors some old, some new and the the look will be just a bit different. Also, there will be some new general commentary columnists from OSV that will join our very local ones. 

 

The Observer will continue to include movie reviews so you and your family can make discerning choices about your entertainment. We believe it is important for our readers to know what movie titles are worth seeing and which ones deserve to be skipped especially since so many trailers and advertisements may lead you to believe the content is acceptable.

 

You will also notice the datelines of our stories now say OSV rather than CNS. There will also be news from the Vatican labeled VNS. The Observer also, from time to time, will use news and commentary from Catholic News Agency. All these sources provide solid Catholic news written by professional Catholic journalists. 

 

However, The Observer is most proud to continue providing what it does best and that is giving you, the reader, accurate reporting about local news from your local churches and the people and clergy that make the Church a home to all. While we know the news of the Universal Church is important and impactful on all our lives of faith, it is the activity and decision making in our own diocesan Catholic family that The Observer is compelled to share and deliver to you week after week.

 

Soon in your mailbox and/or email inbox you will receive an invitation to begin or renew your subscription to The Observer. When you receive that information, it is my hope and prayer that you remember that The Observer, since 1935, is committed to bring you the local news and stories we write about our faith, and that our pages become the very history of all things Catholic that take place in Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, JoDaviess, Kane, Lee, Ogle, McHenry, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties. It is a privilege to do this work for you. Your subscription dollars will purchase a year’s worth of good, inspiring and informative Catholic content that you can choose to receive in print or digital form so you can stay informed wherever you are and wherever you go.

 

During the pandemic, The Observer continued to bring you the news and we offered it online at no cost to help all those who may have been financially challenged by closures, etc. However, that free service will no longer be offered after Feb. 1. As result of the challenges of the pandemic, The Observer weathered the financial storms of paper shortages, print and postage increases and absorbed them to help the readers. Unfortunately, we can no longer afford this. We have made adjustments in resources and staff to help face these financial hurdles and still find it necessary to ask that everyone who reads our paper, pays for it. We appreciate your continued readership and thank you for supporting good Catholic content by subscribing to The Observer for yourself or as a gift of evangelization to a friend or family member.