GREEN BAY — Over 67 years, the diocese has been served by three newspapers and a magazine/newspaper hybrid. The bimonthly On Mission magazine began in November of this year.
The Green Bay Register was founded in 1956, followed by The Spirit newspaper in 1970 and, for one year (1977-78), The Spirit magazine. The Green Bay Catholic Compass followed in 1978.
Many people have served these papers, including several editors — from Fr. Orville Janssen (founding editor) to Sam Lucero (news and information manager until 2022).
Some of these editors have died. Others were not able to respond to our request to share some reflections as The Compass draws to a close this year. But others did have reflections to share with faithful readers.
Below are thoughts from three editors.
JIM ALT, EDITOR, THE SPIRIT
It was 1971 in Washington, D.C., and, on June 26, Audrey Runde and I were married and living in Silver Spring, Md. Two years before that, I was hired by National Catholic News Service, which served the United States and Canada (and some foreign papers as well). I owe much to Richard Guilderson who hired me to be feature editor, which led to my involvement and the “birth” of the nationally syndicated “Know Your Faith” religious education carried in diocesan newspapers.
One of the subscribing papers was the Green Bay diocesan newspaper, with Reinhard (Reiny) Wessing as editor. He was about to become one of the first two men ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Green Bay Diocese. I got to know Reiny well and, in 1973, it was Reiny who offered me the job to be editor of the Green Bay paper (then The Spirit). It was to be a tremendous offer as it meant Audrey and I and our 4-month-old daughter, Maureen, were “back home” in Wisconsin.
My first day on the job as editor was in August 1973. To be blunt, I was greener than the Wisconsin grass as far as experience in editing was concerned. But I was welcomed by Reiny and the newspaper staff, and the next few years were busy, but happy ones.
Rather than go into detail, let me say I learned much in my time as editor. Busy times with a small but dedicated staff and many “stringers” from throughout the 16-county diocese who made it possible to publish a paper weekly. My “reflections” from those years are many, and those years will never be forgotten.
In the years that followed, the diocesan paper has been produced by the dedicated editors who followed me and by equally dedicated staff. The Green Bay diocesan newspaper has served diocesan communications well. For those of you who have been fortunate to have profited from the hard work of many, The Compass will be missed. But you won’t forget the work and dedication of Pat Kasten and Jeff Kurowski and the entire staff these past years.
Many thanks to all those who have served the Green Bay diocesan paper over these 67 years!
DOUG LANDWEHR, FORMER EDITOR, THE COMPASS
When Fr. Orv Janssen started The Register (in 1956), the goal was to open a regular weekly communication channel between individual households and the church. When I was at The Compass, we did our best to continue that tradition. I fondly remember the dedicated staff and leadership that I worked with and the many good people of the diocese that I met and reported on.
I wish you and your colleagues in the Catholic press all the best. You do a difficult job in a professional, creative way. The people of Northeast Wisconsin are the better for it.
TONY STALEY, FORMER EDITOR, THE COMPASS
I first saw The Compass in the late 1970s — not long after the paper was born in 1978 — when I was news editor of the Catholic Sentinel in Portland, Ore. — another excellent diocesan newspaper that has been shuttered.
Our two papers had a mutual subscription exchange. I found The Compass to be an enjoyable and informative publication that served its readers well, but never imagined working there.
A decade later, The Compass was searching for an editor. I applied and flew the “red eye” to Chicago, then a small prop plane to Green Bay for an interview. As we skimmed barns, silos and farms, it became apparent why it’s “the dairy state.”
The interview committee included journalists Louie Janda, Harry Maier and Frank Wood. I also met Pat Kasten and Kathy Berken from the paper’s editorial staff, Franciscan Sr. Ann Kennedy to whom the editor would report, and Bishop Adam Maida. I was pleased that the editor’s office had a view of Lambeau Field.
My return flight wasn’t until Sunday, so I had Saturday to acquaint myself with Green Bay. I took advantage of the beautiful summer weather to walk around the city, stopping for frozen custard and chatting with many people.
I decided that, if offered, I would accept the job. I returned to Green Bay on Aug. 9 with several days to prepare to become the editor of The Compass, a position I held for 18 years and several days.
Never have I regretted that decision and, 34 years later, my wife Jackie, also an Oregon native, and I continue to make Green Bay our home.
We have met many wonderful people, including all those who served in various positions on The Compass staff , as well as in various diocesan offices (including Bishop Robert Banks and Auxiliary Bishop Robert Morneau).
Concerning Bishop Banks, we didn’t always agree — he tended to express his disagreements in occasional terse notes that arrived in interoffice mail — but he gave me and other diocesan employees the freedom to do our jobs. He got over his displeasure quickly and did not hold grudges. Plus, he wrote a delightful column.
As editor, I endeavored to offer our readers the broad spectrum of ideas embraced within Catholicism, inviting them to examine the burning bush, as Moses did, and to “come and see,” as the disciples did, to discover what good can come from the carpenter from Nazareth. I happily continued the tradition of being the first paper in the U.S. —and second in the world —to run Fr. Ronald Rolheiser’s weekly column. I’m also pleased that The Compass carried Fr. Richard McBrien’s weekly columns throughout my tenure, along with columns by writers such as George Weigel and James Hitchcock, who provided balance.
One thing I found both wonderful and amazing was the friendliness of priests, women religious and laity and how well they got along and respected each other, even when they disagreed.
Thank you all. You are the reason for what we do.
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