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In an effort to provide those who visit this site with up-to-date information regarding events or stories of interest happening within the diocese, the Secretariat for Communications researches and prepares articles and news releases.

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Diocese of Gaylord Wins Proclaim Award

October 17, 2000

In his annual World Communications Day message, Pope John Paul II said that the impact of the media in today's world "can hardly be exaggerated." Through the media, people come into contact with other people and events, and form their opinions about the world in which they live – "indeed, form their understanding of the meaning of life." Each year, the Catholic Communications Campaign (CCC) brings the Gospel message to millions of people. In partnership with the dioceses of the United States, they produce electronic and print products that create meaningful information alternatives for Catholics and the community at large. As a means of recognizing outstanding contributions by those dioceses through the media of television, videos, diocesan newspapers, radio and the Internet, the CCC annually conducts the Proclaim Awards. Last October, with the support and encouragement of Bishop Patrick Cooney, the Diocese of Gaylord launched a web site. A committee comprised of four diocesan staff persons – Candace Neff, Director of the Secretariat for Communications; Diane Mundt, Secretary of the Secretariat for Communications; Linda Raden, Secretary of the Secretariat for Adult Faith Formation; and Mary Dickerson, Ecclesiastical Notary of the Tribunal – spent countless hours researching and compiling information. The main goals were to develop a site that would become an evangelization tool for the Catholic faith, provide information for and about the 81 parishes and 21 schools of the Diocese, and highlight the uniqueness of a rural diocese in northern lower Michigan. Gaslight Media of Petoskey was hired to develop the site and worked tirelessly with the committee to complete the project. Last spring, the web site -- www.dioceseofgaylord.org -- was entered in the annual Catholic Communications Campaign competition. In early July the awards jury, comprised of communications professionals, met to select winners from entries nationwide. The Diocese of Gaylord web site was selected as the winner in the Computer/Internet category and was awarded the Year 2000 Proclaim Award. The diocese received a trophy and certificates were presented to each committee member and to Gaslight Media. In presenting the award the Ramon Rodriguez, Director of the Office of Development for the CCC said, "The Proclaim Awards recognize the most creative and effective examples of diocesan communications released during the previous year. The Diocese of Gaylord has shown unique insight in the design and functionality of their website." Highlights of the website include an updateable mini-website for every parish in the diocese, photo gallery of recent events, daily trivia, news headlines, calendars, messages from the Bishop, a virtual tour of St. Mary Cathedral and much more. Expressing his joy at the announcement, Bishop Cooney stated, "The Internet is an important communications vehicle which can help us spread the ‘good news' of Jesus Christ. I am proud of those who worked so diligently on this project and heartily congratulate them for this well-deserved honor." The committee members accepted their award at a luncheon ceremony held in Orlando, Florida, on September 28 in conjunction with the annual Unda-USA General Assembly. (Unda is the National Catholic Association for Communications.)