Coming Soon: A New Version of the Catholic Mirror
October 16, 2025
In 1936, a dream of Bishop Gerald Bergan came true and the Diocese of Des Moines launched its first newspaper.
As we kick off the 90th anniversary next year, you’ll see a bold new approach using contemporary communication tools to teach, inform, and inspire Catholics in central and southwest Iowa.
Next month’s edition of The Catholic Mirror, our monthly diocesan newspaper, will be its last on newsprint.
In January, we’ll kick off a new and improved look by publishing a bimonthly magazine featuring inspiring stories, columns that foster growth in our relationships with God, and tips on how to apply our faith to everyday life.
We will keep the well-known and trusted name, The Catholic Mirror, as it continues to reflect the faith of parishioners in our parishes.
The mission of our publication remains the same: to evangelize. Its purpose is to sow God’s Spirit in the hearts and minds of people. It will continue to be mailed to nearly every registered Catholic household in the Diocese. In the spring, we’ll hold our annual voluntary subscription campaign asking parishioners to support this evangelization effort by helping us offset the cost of printing and mailing.
At about the same time we kick off the new magazine, we’re launching a new digital newsletter that you can choose to have come to your inbox twice each month.
The free digital newsletter will keep you up to date on the latest news, upcoming events, legislative efforts and more. Available by subscription, you can sign up now to receive the digital newsletter by going to dmdiocese.org/newsletter.
The new and improved magazine, coupled with the twice monthly digital newsletter, expands our ability to cultivate connections among parishioners, among parishes, and between the Diocese and the faithful.
The change comes after much study and prayer. While some dioceses have dropped print publications entirely for a digital-only approach, others have opted for a hybrid. About 60 dioceses across the country produce a magazine at least quarterly.
Our new approach meets the needs of those who prefer to get their information in print and those who increasingly prefer to get their information online.
It also benefits parishioners by offering expanded opportunities for Catholic businesses to share information about their products and services.
The Catholic Mirror stands on the shoulders of devoted editors who, over the past 90 years, saw their work as more than a job but a vocation. The legacy they established of using the press to be a vehicle for God’s work will continue.
To get the word out about your business’s products or services contact Sandy Riesberg at communications@dmdiocese.org or call 515-237-5046.
To share story ideas or upcoming calendar events, email communications@dmdiocese.org.