St. Anthony Messenger Press is now Franciscan Media

Those familiar with St. Anthony Messenger Press may have already noticed a name change. The group has rebranded itself as Franciscan Media, a response they say to changes in today's marketplace. The company however, remains the same and continues to offer the same wonderful array of quality Catholic publications that it has for more than a century. 

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The company formerly known as St. Anthony's Messenger Press has been working out of Cincinnati for 118 years and continues to serve the needs of the Catholic faith community as a non-profit publisher. According to their press release announcing the name change, Franciscan Media "is the largest English-language Franciscan communications company in the world."

According to Barbra Baker, the Division Director for marketing, sales and internet, the name change was a response to market changes. She explained that the name resonates better with the people they serve. These people include Catholics and other Christians who seek to deepen their faith and relationship with Jesus.

Baker explained that the changes "solidify under a strong name, all of their existing brands," including American Catholic and St. Anthony Messenger Magazine, Servant Books, and Catholic Update. The umbrella name will not affect the quality and content of those publications.

Casual followers of the organization will be pleased to know that as Franciscan Media, publications are now being offered in new ways as technology changes. Already, Franciscan Media is offering ebooks of most of their titles, which are available on Kindle. These offerings include many of the books on their backlist. Users who prefer to use Google Books or the Nook, will be pleased to see the Franciscan Media library for those platforms is also growing.
 
Audiobooks and videos are also available, in addition to a syndicated radio program. 

In addition to books, Franciscan Media is using iPhone apps to reach people. The Company's highly-rated "Saint of the Day" app is available for a small price and is a useful value for the faithful. On the iPhone apps store, Archbishop Emeritus Daniel E. Pilarczyk says of Saint of the Day, "I highly recommend this wonderful prayer tool." 

Franciscan Media also has some more apps in development, but Baker could not comment on them since they were not yet ready for public release.

In addition to books and other media, Franciscan Media also publishes Catholic news, both as a portal and as a provider via their American Catholic website. 

Concluding her remarks on the name change, Baker said, "We want to make a connection with our roots and St. Francis." 

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