For Immediate Release

2010 Edition of 193-Year-Old Official Catholic Directory™ Delivers New "WOW" Factor!

Top Catholic writers including George Weigel and Chris Lowney deliver nine well-researched articles specifically chosen to be useful for clergy–that won't be found elsewhere!

The Official Catholic Directory, NEW PROVIDENCE, NEW JERSEY – July 8, 2010 – The Official Catholic Directory, the mainstay resource of every Catholic parish and diocese in the U.S. for more than 193 years, radically changed its feature articles in this year's hot-off-the-press 2010 edition. The results are nine fresh, well-researched feature articles that deliver useful and insightful-even inspiring-articles written especially for priests, bishops and religious. Non-clergy will benefit too, but this year particular attention was given to serve the primary users of The Official Catholic Directory.

"We blew out all the stops on this year's articles. It's a first for the directory," said Jeanne Goffred, CEO, The Official Catholic Directory. "We felt it was imperative that this year's articles deliver top tier information of interest to clergy, and we sought out top writers and experts in various fields of expertise to deliver this information.

"As an integral part of our unique service to dioceses, priests and religious," continues Goffred, "in providing the world's most comprehensive, detailed information about the Catholic Church in the U.S., we wanted to raise the bar on our already excellent feature articles. That's why this year we were especially attentive that our feature articles delivered the same caliber of useful information as our core directory...And so far, the response from priests has been extremely enthusiastic, so we're very pleased with the result!"

Purchasers of the 2010 directory will discover, and have at their fingertips throughout the year, a robust collection of articles that won't be found elsewhere, including information such as:

• An insider look at Pope Benedict XVI's first five years in office by noted papal biographer George Weigel.
• Proven successful Leadership Training designed and available exclusively for priests and bishops that has already impacted more than 1,200 priests, 36 bishops and 44 dioceses!
• A succinct yet vibrant and engaging recap of the newly canonized saints, written to be used as a tool for rousing parishioner curiosity and interest.
• An exclusive interview with Archbishop Broglio and rare, down-to-earth insider interviews with active, on-duty military chaplains.
• A powerful, but little recognized diocesan vocation booster.
• A top-level insider report on the Catholic response to massive earthquake disasters especially in Haiti and the on-the-ground impact of parishioners' and dioceses' generous, hard-earned dollar donations.
• A fresh, enlightening view on the life-changing impact of pilgrimage on the human spirit.
• One of the most illuminating features ever written during this Year for Priests on St. John Vianney and why Pope Benedict XVI chose him as a role model for today's contemporary priest. This compelling article was penned by a California-based parish priest who also serves as chaplain to a number of law enforcement branches.
• Invaluable resources on liturgical architecture, its core principles and contemporary applications, written by a Doctor of Theology who is also a practicing liturgical architect.
• A practical, easy to grasp framework for understanding the avalanche of "new media" technology and how it relates to the Church–from the parish, diocesan and religious level, to the less tangible (but no less critical) "eternal truth" perspective–written by the founder of online-based publication, Catholic Business Journal and producer of the weekly radio show, The Catholic Business Hour, with host Dick Lyles.

"You won't find this superb collection of articles anywhere else!" notes Goffred, with detectable pride in the new, high caliber feature articles unique to this year's edition.

About The Official Catholic Directory™: Originally published by P.J. Kenedy & Sons beginning in 1817, The Official Catholic Directory™ continues to serve as a vital research and reference tool for anyone interested in the Catholic community. It is the most authoritative and detailed resource available today on the Catholic Church. Each edition provides complete information on the Church's hierarchy, its institutions, schools, special care centers, and affiliated facilities. It offers the most comprehensive and detailed profiles on each diocese in the United States and hundreds of dioceses around the world.

Press Contact:
Robert J. Docherty, Co-Publisher
Tel: 908-673-1127
Catholicdirectory@marquiswhoswho.com