A story seventy-five years in the making

After six issues of the newsletter, the quarterly bulletin titled the Majellan was launched in January 1949. Fr John Hogan CSsR, the first editor, could not have foreseen that the Majellan would still be around well into the twenty-first century. At the time of its launch, he said the magazine was for Catholic mothers.

‘The Majellan contains useful instruction on Marriage, on the training of the young, and on the virtues that should adorn the Catholic Home.’  Fr John Hogan CSsR

It is testament to the priests, brothers and lay people who have worked on the magazine over many decades that it is still in print.

The magazine has undergone several format changes over the years but it’s small A5 size has been a constant. Articles about the vagaries of family life and tips to improve family relationships have been the mainstay of the Majellan. As many of our subscribers have commented, “It has published articles when I’ve needed inspiration, guidance and comforting.”

St Gerard Majella, the young Redemptorist brother has been the patron of the Majellan from the start. He has shown himself a patron of mothers and families who have sought his intercession over many generations. He only lived to the age of twenty-nine but what a legacy he left.

Over the seventy-five-year journey, amazingly, there have only been six editors: Fr Hogan, Fr Bill Stinson, Fr Max Barrett, Bishop Paul Bird, Fr Michael Gilbert and David Ahern. 

As long-time editor, Bishop Paul wrote in our seventieth anniversary book, “Over the years, the Majellan has sought to address people’s joys and hopes, and their griefs and anxieties, especially in relation to family life. The commitment to be close to families continues to the present.

“As a publication of the Redemptorist Congregation, the Majellan is also linked with the congregation’s founder, St Alphonsus Liguori. The Majellan is continuing one of St Alphonsus’ main ministries, spreading the gospel of Christ through the written word.

“The Majellan also follows St Alphonsus in presenting the message of Christ in a popular style. In his preaching and his writing, St Alphonsus used simple words, and he urged others to speak and write as simply as possible so that everyone could understand,” said Bishop Paul.

Today, Majellan Media offers a number of services and resources, including a weekly newsletter, family podcasts (about prayers, parenting, and marriage and financial guidance), Dial a Prayer and many AI-inspired technologies (Faithful Toolbox) that can be accessed on our website. 

Whether we make another twenty-five years and reach a century remains to be seen but it won’t be without trying.

Thank you to all our readers for your continued loyalty. Without your support, The Majellan would not be around today.

Image: Soon after arriving at Majellan House this photo was taken of Fr Bill Stinson (L to R seated), Fr Vincent Page, Fr James Doherty and Fr Max Barrett. Br John Baker (standing back left) and Br Reginald McGuire are also featured.

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