Calling The Catholic Post “a vital part of Catholic unity in our diocese” that “belongs in every household,” Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, this week opened the diocesan newspaper’s 2010 subscription drive by announcing new, convenient ways to sign up.

In addition to the traditional method of dropping payment into the parish collection basket — this week’s print issue includes an envelope to do just that — subscriptions can now also be renewed or started instantly online at www.thecatholicpost.com or by telephone using credit card. The Post’s phone number is (309) 671-1550.

Noting the redesign of the newspaper introduced last week, Bishop Jenky especially encouraged those not currently receiving The Catholic Post to “take a fresh look at this important connection to your extended Catholic family.”

“I’m confident you will find its new page size easier to handle, its layout more appealing, and its content as inspiring and informative as ever,” the bishop wrote in a letter read to be read at all Masses last weekend. (The letter is printed in full on page 2.)

The annual subscription price of $25 has not changed in three years.

CHANGE TO BI-WEEKLY
Bishop Jenky also announced that, beginning in March, the newsprint edition of The Catholic Post will be published every other week. While the newspaper’s “outstanding coverage of Catholic life in central Illinois and around the world” will continue, the production change will allow the staff to travel more throughout the diocese for stories and offer more frequent updates through various electronic means, including the Web site and social networking.

Tom Dermody, editor of The Catholic Post, said the biweekly newspaper will include several additional pages of news and feature coverage. It will also introduce new pages on specific topics and areas of interest, such as books or travel. In addition, each issue will feature a focus on a different region of the diocese.

The Catholic Post has a circulation of 13,000.