By Mark Reidy
THE Director of Choicez Media, one of Australia’s best known Catholic media and training businesses, is driven by the mantra, “The Catholic Church has the best product in the world with the worst marketing department”. But Jonathan Doyle, who founded Choicez with his wife Karen, is determined to correct this travesty and has now added an e-journal for Catholic educators to their already impressive array of teaching initiatives.
Jonathan explained to The Record that “beingCatholic”, which was launched in March this year, is an on-line service that aims to address the needs of three diverse groups.
The first of these, he said, was the growing number of non-Catholic teachers entering the Catholic system – those who had never received any Catholic formation but were open to learning.
“We want to provide these staff … with a simple and accessible resource for learning a little more each month about the great adventure they have embarked on”, Doyle enthused.
The second group he wanted to reach was the large number of Catholic teachers who had only received a minimal depth of formation in their faith and other related matters.
Doyle explained that less than eight percent of Australian Catholic teachers had received formal theological formation and he hoped that the “beingCatholic” website would provide and encourage these people to further their understanding.
The site is also intended for Bishops, Catholic Edeucation staff and other Catholic leaders whom Doyle believes will be provided with, “ongoing and deeper insight, inspiration and motivation into the great panorama of Catholic thought”.
Doyle, who hopes that the site will become Australia’s largest e-journal for Catholic educators within two years, said that “beingCatholic” has been growing at a rate of 200-300 subscribers per fortnight and is currently being received by over 8,000 readers, both in Australia and overseas.
“We have been receiving amazing feedback”, he shared, “including messages of support and encouragement from Catholic Education Office Directors and even as far afield as Uganda”.
The e-journal draws from a wide array of writers, including well-known Catholic identities and academics, as well as classroom teachers and parents, and covers an extensive range of topics and issues.
“The great vision of reaching young people wherever they are is ancient and ever new”, said Doyle, “It is that long tradition to which we are heirs and authors … let’s continue the journey.”
To access this free service go to www.beingcatholic.com.au