COMMUNICATIONS
the Southern Cross, August 31 to September 6, 2011
9
Many ways to spread the Word South Africa’s oldest Catholic printing press still produces evangelising media, but now also incorporates the new means of communications offered by the Internet, as thANDi BoSMAN discovers.
Grace & Truth
a journal of Catholic reflection for Southern Africa
Private Bag 6004, Hilton 3245, South Africa Tel: 033 343 5932 or 033 5920, Fax 033 343 1232 E-mail: Managing editor, wency@sjti.ac.za Subs: gracetruth@sjti.ac.za
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OUNDED 129 years ago, the Mariannhill Mission Press is the largest and longest-running Catholic printing press in South Africa. Abbot Francis Pfanner, founder of the Congregation of Mariannhill Missionaries, brought a hand press to Africa and used it to inform the people in Europe about mission work in Africa and to produce faithbuilding media for the local people. In this way, the Mariannhill Press has played a key role in the evangelising mission of the Church in South Africa. The Congregation of Mariannhill Missionaries still owns Mariannhill Press. “The Press was to become a production powerhouse, printing literally millions of books that would set souls on fire for the love of God,” said Rob Riedlinger, the managing member at Mariannhill Mission Press. As a means for evangelisation, many Catholic books were translated into Zulu and distributed to people. “Abbot Francis was a man who instinctively understood the power of the media. Despite the silence of the Trappists [the order to which he belonged when he came to South Africa], he was a natural and prolific communicator,” said Mr Riedlinger. Today Mariannhill Mission Press sees itself as a “tool to reflect the light of Christ” to those who need it most, Mr Riedlinger said. Mariannhill Mission Press prints a range of Catholic materials, from catechetical work to liturgical books. Mariannhill Press is not only a printing press; its staff assists in conceptualisation, design, implementation and distribution. The Press, according to Mr Riedlinger, blends traditional print with new media technology and technique which in the end presents effective and professional publications to their
the staff of Marianhill Mission Press. Rob Riedlinger, managing member, is pictured centre front. clients. “We are creative, energetic and passionate,” he added. One of the ongoing projects by Mariannhill Media, a subdivision of Mariannhill Mission Press, is the design of websites. A few of the places they have designed websites for are Emaus Heritage Centre, Wood Artist, Catholic Youth SA, Catholic Bible Foundation, Mariannhill Monastery and Religious Life KZN. “Mariannhill Media is our first step, as a printing press, to remain relevant in the modern world. Here we ensure that the content we print moves out into other forms of media, particularly new media,” Mr Riedlinger explains. A new member of the Mariannhill Press staff, Sheree Conway, used her design skills to start Mariannhill Media. Along with creating websites they set up Facebook pages, Twitter accounts and Flickr accounts to help their customers. “Our main aim of Mariannhill Media is to help the customers spread their content across all media platforms and help them engage in conversation about their work,” Mr Riedlinger said. One of the Mariannhill Press’ great success stories was its publication of the catechetical book Our Joy in Being Catholic by Bishop Oswald Hirmer, who died earlier this year. The book became a South African bestseller, outselling many popular secular novels. The book has now been translated into seven languages. In August, Mariannhill Press launched a set of 12 Hope&Joy cards on themes covering the teachings of the Second Vatican
Council and recent popes. The A4 cards are available at R50 per set. Mariannhill Mission Press constantly keeps up to date with emerging technologies and marketing trends in order “to express our creativity”, Mr Riedlinger said. Earlier this year, he oversaw the launch of a weekly advertising campaign in The Southern Cross. The ads, featuring such unusual images as air-guitar playing men and kids in gokarts, have produced positive feedback, Mr Riedlinger said. “Our hope here is that we remind people of who we are and what we can do for them. We feel advertising should engage, and yes, even entertain people. We hope to start a relationship with our prospective customer,” he explained. People remember the good work the Mariannhill Mission Press has done in the past, but the advertisements spread a new energy about the Press, he said. “Print still has a massive role to play, but social media is the next big thing one needs to be involved in. One of the most important reasons for this is that it allows for instant two-way communication,” Mr Riedlinger explained. Mariannhill Media is currently working on the redesign of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference’s website. Mr Riedlinger said the final product will be content-loaded and easy to use. “The Catholic Church just does so much good, and here is a way others from around the world can see the hopes, dreams and hard work it is doing,” Mr Riedlinger said.
Grace and Truth is a theological journal of St Joseph’s Theological Institute (Cedara) published three times a year, in April, August and November. Increase your knowledge and deepen your faith through theological reflections on themes like; Leadership, Spirituality and Justice, Church without Eucharist? and many more.
CATHEDRAL BOOKSHOP IYIKO BOEKWINKEL 10 Park Lane, Port Elizabeth 6001
The Cathedral Bookshop is now in its 23rd year of existance and has relocated to ST LUKE’S Tel: 041 373 1686 Fax: 086 743 0015 Email: norahb@isat.co.za
CENTRE. It is a quaint little shop, with lots of character and a sense of old. If you haven’t been to the bookshop in a while, now would be the time to pay us a visit. We have a good selection of books and repository of goods.
Born deaf & Jewish yet became a Catholic Priest
Couldn’t walk till he was 3 yet his work has spanned 5 continents
Lost his sight but not his vision
Is now both deaf & blind but that is no barrier to his faith or his work.
To order call Innocent on 033-3302527
R170.00
Email: orders@rpp.org.za Office hours Mon - Fri 8.30am to 4pm Website: www.rpp.org.za