Recent headlines
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AUGUST 19, 2020
Saint Mary’s Press Pioneers Brand New Distance-Learning Options for Flexible Learning During COVID-19 Pandemic
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APRIL 11, 2019
Saint Mary’s Press and the California Catholic Conference launch new eLearning program celebrating California Native Peoples and Missions
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MARCH 20, 2019
Mission: Building Solidarity Across Differences
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JANUARY 29, 2019
Singer-Towns Takes On New Role After Storied Career at Saint Mary’s Press
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JANUARY 9, 2019
OPEN WIDE OUR HEARTS
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JULY 12, 2018
ACTA Publications and Saint Mary’s Press Conclude Historic Sale
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JUNE 29, 2018
Janet Zafft: A celebration of 40 years of faithful, joyful service
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JANUARY 17, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SAINT MARY’S PRESS & GEORGETOWN RESEARCHERS RELEASE TWO-YEAR NATIONAL STUDY ON DISAFFILIATION IN YOUNG CATHOLICS
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JANUARY 15, 2018
RELEASE: SAINT MARY’S PRESS RELEASES NEW CATHOLIC YOUTH BIBLE DESIGNED TO INSPIRE AND ENGAGE
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JANUARY 5, 2018
RELEASE: SAINT MARY’S PRESS HOSTS A PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON WHY YOUTH ARE LEAVING RELIGION
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SEPTEMBER 19, 2017
"A better children's bible" from Aleteia: a review of The Catholic Children's Bible
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JULY 3, 2017
Making a difference in Ethiopia
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AUGUST 10, 2015
Ready-To-Go Game Shows
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JULY 8, 2015
Coming Soon! A New Translation of The Catholic Youth Bible
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MAY 8, 2015
New type of Bible with African-American history
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MAY 3, 2015
World Religions: A Voyage of Discovery
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APRIL 21, 2015
Religion teacher wants students to open Bible, be surprised
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APRIL 14, 2015
The Catholic Children's Prayer Book
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MARCH 26, 2015
New Edition of Bible Considers African-American Catholic Faith, Youth and Community
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JANUARY 9, 2015
New Bible is Designed Specifically for Young Black Catholics
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DECEMBER 29, 2014
One of Us
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DECEMBER 19, 2014
Cotter student receives free prayer book from Saint Mary's Press
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NOVEMBER 24, 2014
Bible aims to make God's word more accessible to African-American youth
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OCTOBER 7, 2014
Bible for African-American youth to be released
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MAY 28, 2014
Saint Mary's Press Named Gold Winner for Benjamin Franklin Award
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APRIL 26, 2014
Essential Guide to Biblical Life and Times
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APRIL 21, 2014
Anselm Academic Study Bible
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APRIL 12, 2014
The Catholic Youth Bible
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APRIL 8, 2014
Break Through!
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MARCH 31, 2014
Moses and the Ten Commandments Big Book
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MARCH 30, 2014
The Catholic Children’s Bible
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MARCH 24, 2014
Vocations: Answering God's Call
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FEBRUARY 5, 2014
Excellent Textbook on Morality For Kids
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JANUARY 30, 2014
Church History: Apostolic Times to Today
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DECEMBER 13, 2013
The Catholic Children’s Bible
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NOVEMBER 24, 2013
Catholic TV interviews John Vitek on The Catholic Children's Bible
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AUGUST 25, 2013
Back-to-School Time Is Good Reading Time-Review by National Catholic Register
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AUGUST 21, 2013
The Catholic Children's Bible by Saint Mary's Press-Review by Equipping Catholic Families
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JULY 27, 2013
"Great Addition to The Catholic Children's Bible" by Stuart Dunn
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JULY 12, 2013
The Catholic Children’s Bible by Saint Mary's Press -Review by Gidget Bookworms
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JUNE 18, 2013
The Catholic Youth Bible® New Revised Standard Version: Catholic Edition, Not just for Roman Catholics!
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MAY 26, 2013
The Catholic Children’s Bible
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MAY 26, 2013
The Catholic Children's Bible Review
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MAY 19, 2013
Liturgical Press, Loyola Press, Saint Mary's Press Dominate 2013 "Excellence in Publishing Awards"
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MAY 19, 2013
Saint Mary's Press: The Catholic Children's Bible
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MAY 5, 2013
Saint Mary's Press partners with Kno to Offer the World's Best-Selling Catholic Youth Bibles as Interactive E-Books
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APRIL 1, 2013
First Dog, Midwest Book Review
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OCTOBER 24, 2012
Made in Winona: Saint Mary's Press
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OCTOBER 1, 2012
Reviews of Who Is Jesus Christ?
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SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
The Catholic Youth Bible® Dancing at LARE!
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AUGUST 22, 2012
Breakthrough! The Bible for Young Catholics
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AUGUST 16, 2012
Who is Jesus Christ?
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JULY 16, 2012
Sister Michaela Hedican Elected 16th Prioress of Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, MN
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JUNE 6, 2012
Breakthrough! The Bible for Young Catholics
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APRIL 16, 2012
Great People of the Bible
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JULY 1, 2011
Great People of the Bible Student Book
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FEBRUARY 1, 2011
Sister Michaela Hedican Elected 16th Prioress of Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, MN
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JANUARY 26, 2011
Saint Mary's Press Releases High School Textbooks Found in Conformity with the Catechism
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JANUARY 26, 2011
Saint Mary's Press Releases High School Textbooks Found in Conformity with the Catechism
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JANUARY 1, 2011
Saint Mary's Press Releases Framework High School Textbooks Declared in Conformity with the Catechism
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DECEMBER 17, 2010
Jesus in the Gospels and Acts: Introducing the New Testament
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DECEMBER 17, 2010
The Catholic Church: A Brief Popular History
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DECEMBER 17, 2010
Using the Remote to Channel Jesus: 50 Movie Clips for Ministry
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NOVEMBER 1, 2010
Brian Singer-Towns Receives Youth Ministry Award
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NOVEMBER 1, 2010
Saint Mary's Press Announces Partnership with Catholicquiz.com
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OCTOBER 31, 2010
Interview with John Vitek
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JUNE 1, 2010
The Catholic Family Connections Bible
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JUNE 1, 2010
Reviews of Saint Mary's Press® Essential Guide to Biblical Life and Times
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MARCH 1, 2010
Using the Remote to Channel Jesus: 50 Movie clips for Ministry
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DECEMBER 1, 2009
World Religions: A Voyage of Discovery, Third Edition
Press Room
March 20, 2019
Mission: Building Solidarity Across Differences
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
(2 Timothy 1:7)
Our hearts are broken for our brothers and sisters in Christchurch, and all the places where sorrow and suffering exists. This is a crucial time for people of faith and all people of goodwill throughout the world. We are witnesses of a disturbing worldwide rise in attitudes, expressions, and violence motivated by hate.
Our world is suffering from fear of neighbor. The Gospel demands our response! Our founder, Saint John Baptist de La Salle, shared with his teachers so long ago a prayer that today still resonates–“God of love, set me aflame with love for you and for my neighbor.”
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must stand up for the truth that every person is lovingly created by God with human dignity. Doing so includes rejecting xenophobia, Islamophobia, and all other dehumanizing mindsets. We must find creative ways to respond to fear and hate with love. As Catholic educators, we can use our many gifts and resources to build solidarity where there are differences, fostering a Gospel response among the generation of young people entrusted to our care.
On behalf of all my colleagues at Saint Mary’s Press, I wish to share with you impactful ideas for building solidarity that you can implement with the young people in your school or parish.
Gather to Pray
As people of faith, we believe no one should be afraid to gather with others to pray. Praying for and with those who experience persecution for their beliefs is a bold act of solidarity.
- Gather to pray In Memory and Hope, a prayer service that can be adapted to fit your community’s unique needs.
- Organize a Peace Creed activity and prayer service. This engaging prayer experience can be adapted for various age groups to deepen understandings of peacemaking.
- Engage your students in building an interfaith prayer coalition in your community with the help of resources from the Canadian Roman Catholic Mission Society, Scarboro Missions.
Gather to Learn
No one is born hating another person. Since negative stereotypes and prejudices are learned, they can be unlearned.
- Read and discuss the U.S. Catholic bishops’ pastoral letter against racism, Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love.
- Visit the USCCB’s website for parish and school activities and discussion tools that correlate with the pastoral letter.
Create Interfaith Connections
Interfaith dialogue is a powerful way to build mutual respect and become more informed about the similarities and differences between faith traditions.
- Invite small groups to read and discuss Finding Jesus among Muslims: How Loving Islam Makes Me a Better Catholic, a relational and accessible starting place for interfaith dialogue and prayer.
- Build online interfaith partnerships and dialogue through social media. Follow people and organizations promoting respect and understanding. Share ideas and images that strengthen interfaith solidarity.
- Consider possibilities for interfaith hospitality by reading The Interfaith Classroom, an article about welcoming people from different faith traditions in Catholic schools.
- Explore a variety of resources for youth and adults offered by Scarboro Missions, a society of Canadian Catholic priests supporting interfaith respect and understanding. Try their Golden Rule Art Exercise and Lesson Plan
Finally, in solidarity, we are offering FREE access to our popular Understanding Racism eLearning course, an effective interactive 10-day online program for groups of youth or adults.
Essential concepts from the USCCB’s Open Wide Our Hearts (2018) are woven through this learning experience. Understanding Racism offers many opportunities for participants to learn and practice real-life strategies that resist fear and hate by building solidarity. To get access to this course for you and your students contact Jenelle at 800-533-8095.
Thank you for your dedication to the young, for your support of their innate longing for justice and understanding in this world, for your zeal and work for building solidarity across differences with faith, hope, and love. We must act in the face of hatred with the compassion of Christ!
Live, Jesus, in our hearts. Forever!
John M. Vitek
President and CEO