CINCINNATI — A venerable 118-year-old Franciscan publishing company changed its name as part of a larger corporate rebranding and marketing campaign to better reflect its mission and to clarify its scope of services. St. Anthony Messenger Press has become Franciscan Media.
Producing more than just books, the non-profit publisher has a national magazine, two book imprints (St. Anthony Messenger Press Books and Servant Books), a top Catholic website, a syndicated radio program, a parish resource division, e-cards, audiobooks, videos, apps and other digital resources.
The publisher embraced a rebranding as an opportunity to clarify its niche in the world as the largest English-language Franciscan communications company. The rebranding also better reflects the changing media needs of the Catholic faith community today.
“Franciscan Media will continue to bring the world the best the Catholic faith has to offer, in ways that are inspiring, innovative and personally relevant,” said Lisa Biedenbach, product development director and director of foreign rights. Biedenbach is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University in Western New York.
The rebranding includes a new logo, with a tagline that reads: “Live in love. Grow in faith,” according to the Nov. 16 announcement.
The blue and green logo depicts an abstract “F,” for Franciscan, and a dove or a symbol that can be interpreted as a crossroad. “The image is intended to mean all of those things, depending on the viewer’s mindset,” said Barbara Baker, director of marketing, sales and Internet.
CEO and publisher Fr. Daniel Kroger, OFM, further explained: “‘Franciscan’ means something characterized by the life, teachings and values of St. Francis of Assisi. Our independent research showed that St. Francis not only is remarkably well known, but that those who know of the saint respect and relate well to him — perhaps more than any other figure in the Catholic Church today.”
Rebecca Doel, communications coordinator for Holy Name Province, interned at St. Anthony Messenger Press in 2005 while studying at St. Bonaventure. “As an intern, I saw just how much SAMP contributes to the Catholic community beyond printed publications. This rebranding really encompasses the breadth of all the organization does.”
The publisher assures its customers that the same quality service will be maintained. “Be assured that Franciscan Media wants to maintain its collaborative relationship with you and looks forward to new opportunities in the future,” said Biedenbach.
Those with questions are invited to contact Biedenbach by email (lisab@americancatholic.org) or phone (513-241-5615, ext. 123).
— Wendy Healy, author of Life is Too Short: Stories of Transformation and Renewal After 9/11, is a freelance writer based in Connecticut.