2006-2016: New magazine format, online presence 

mark present, future

“We launched the magazine in March 2012 during the Centennial celebration of the diocese,” Cãrdenas said. He noted that he and Bishop Michael Mulvey had the idea for a magazine format at the same time but each of them on their own. They both had seen another diocesan publication in magazine format and thought that would be a good look for the South Texas Catholic.

Cãrdenas came to the magazine after working in Austin for the State Comptroller’s Office for 10 years. Before holding that position, he founded and owned the Duval County Picture, a weekly newspaper in San Diego, Texas where he was raised. 

One of the objectives of the South Texas Catholic during Cãrdenas’ tenure has been to report on relevant social issues as they relate to the Catholic Church. “We try to reflect the initiatives of the Church, especially those of the Holy Father and Bishop Mulvey,” he said.

The magazine is funded by the diocese and readers’ contributions. Under Cãrdenas’ tenure, the magazine has reported on a variety of issues, including immigration and the challenges immigrants face when they arrive in the U.S., such as obtaining adequate health care and housing. There have also been stories written about grandparents raising grandchildren and the choice to place a child for adoption rather than have an abortion. Many other stories on many other issues have appeared in the magazine’s pages.

“It really is a continuation of the publication’s long history of reporting Church news in a way that is relevant to the faithful.” Cãrdenas said. “We try to connect the Gospel to the daily lives of our readers. We hope that our stories, like Jesus’ parables, reach into the heart of our audience.”

He said the four most newsworthy events to happen during his time as editor have been the Centennial of the Diocese of Corpus Christi in 2012; the resignation of Pope Benedict in 2013; the elevation of Pope Francis in March 2013; and the impact the national Affordable Care Act had on religious freedom.
 

A fresco of the Immaculate Conception served as a backdrop as local clergy gathered around the altar with Bishop Edmond Carmody while the first class of the new John Paul II High School filled the Immaculate Conception Chapel for the Aug. 1, 2006  Mass which opened the first day of classes for the school.  Amelia Eudy, South Texas Catholic

Prior to Cãrdenas’ arrival, the diocese also underwent other important events, including the transition between the now Bishop Emeritus Edmond Carmody and Bishop Mulvey in 2010. Still another historic event that occurred during the newspaper's most recent decade was the founding of St. John Paul II High School in 2006.

Cãrdenas said the magazine’s mission has expanded to include an online presence. A new magazine website provides more news from throughout the diocese on a more timely basis. It is hard, Cãrdenas said, to include all the school and parish news in the magazine. It is also timelier, he said, to include this news online, which is more accessible to today’s generation of readers. 

The website allows the South Texas Catholic to provide many more calendar items of parish and school activities, as well as many more photos of participants. The magazine also features an “electronic edition” online.

The South Texas Catholic also is active on social media, including Facebook and Twitter. The magazine’s staff also manages the diocese’s Facebook, Twitter, Podomatic and Vimeo accounts.