In 2014, I relaunched The Southern Cross for the Diocese of Southwest Florida. It began in 1970 as a simple newsletter, then evolving into a newspaper. At the end of its life as a bimonthly, it was being drop-shipped to parishes, where it was offered for pickup in parish halls and offices. Previous versions carried news about the national affairs of The Episcopal Church, as well as local features.
We decided as a Diocese to re-launch the publication as a colorful magazine, and mail it out to the households of the Diocese. After collecting over 10,000 names (circulation is now over 15,000), we completely redesigned the magazine with a slick, full bleed glossy cover and four-color newsprint inside.
Because so much news about the church comes electronically, we decided to use The Southern Cross as a window into the best of the Diocese. Upbeat stories on outreach, arts, garden, music, food, culture and finance help parishioners in our churches better understand their lives and mission.
The full lineup of the magazines is HERE.