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GUEST COMMENTARY
CATHOLIC SUN FILE PHOTO
Christopher Gunty, founding editor of The Catholic Sun, reads through the first issue of the diocesan newspaper during its inaugural press run in April 1985.
Founding editor of the ‘Sun’ reflects on 25 years
Back in 1985, we opened the offices of The Catholic Sun in January with nothing but a few desks, one old typewriter and a promise to Bishop Thomas J. O’Brien that we could publish the first edition of the newspaper by Easter.
As with many ministries in the relatively young Diocese of Phoenix, we were bold and passionate, and we didn’t have a lot of people saying, “It can’t be done that way.” If the bishop wanted a newspaper in the homes in time for Easter, we would make it happen.
In the short 10 weeks between my arrival in Phoenix and the first edition, I hired a staff, negotiated with printers and the Postal Service — and we got a few more typewriters and other necessary equipment. And we started writing stories and taking pictures.
We experienced the great excitement of watching the first copies of The Catholic Sun roll off the presses, dated April 4, 1985 — Holy Thursday — with the front-page headline “330 new Catholics here,” telling the marvelous story of the candidates and catechumens who were being welcomed into full communion in the Catholic faith at the Rite of Election.
Since then, The Catholic Sun has continued to tell the stories of the faithful in this local Church. From Williams and Kingman and Lake Havasu City to Gila Bend and Gilbert, I had a chance to travel all over the diocese during the 18 years I was editor and associate publisher of the newspaper, to meet people from all over the state and tell their stories.
Of course, the big events we covered remain ingrained in my mind: The papal visit (months of planning, 24 intense hours of coverage, resulting in a 56-page edition and a full-color book) touched so many hearts and lives; the visit of Mother Teresa, whose quiet holiness amid the whirlwind that surrounded her presence was amazing; the diocese’s 25th anniversary Mass; the eucharistic congress; the jubilee events, including confirmation at the ballpark.
But it is also the seemingly “forgotten” stories that touch my mind, too. Catechists and converts, those who minister to the poor at places such as André House and St. Vincent de Paul Society, musicians and ministers to the sick — telling the stories of Catholic sons and daughters of God living out their faith has been a hallmark of The Catholic Sun.
When I moved from my hometown of Chicago to start a newspaper in Phoenix, I don’t know that I ever gave much thought to what the future a quarter-century hence would hold. Even when we first began using Radio Shack Tandy 400 computers in the newsroom, and eventually installed specialized computers for publishing, none of us envisioned the Internet and social media that the newspaper takes advantage of today to spread its message. All we knew was that the Diocese of Phoenix, still relatively young and growing, was and still is at the forefront of technology in the Church.
And while the Church — and The Catholic Sun — embrace new technology, it is still important to deliver a newspaper to parishioners, at least for the foreseeable future. Not everyone will use a computer or electronic device to seek news about the Church, so the Church must deliver the news to its members; that requires visiting their homes, and mail delivery of The Catholic Sun in printed form is still the most effective means to do so.
The tools the staff uses to tell the stories have changed in the 25 years since the first editions rolled off the presses, but the need to tell the stories of what’s happening in the local Church and in the nation and world has not changed. That’s the mission and ministry the staff continues today. I was privileged to be there at the beginning, and I’m proud of the work the staff is doing today.
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