The Catholic Spirit

What The Catholic Spirit does

The Catholic Spirit is the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, operated by The Catholic Spirit Publishing Co. from 777 Forest St. N., St. Paul, Minnesota. It publishes a biweekly print edition (24 issues per year), a digital edition, and a content website at thecatholicspirit.com covering local, national, and world Catholic news, faith formation, Sunday scripture reflections, obituaries, parish events, and archdiocesan announcements. Editorial leadership includes Most Rev. Bernard A. Hebda (Archbishop, Publisher), Tom Halden (Associate Publisher), and Joe Ruff (Editor-in-chief), supported by a small staff of roughly 10 members. The publication also maintains a continuous historical archive spanning nearly 160 years of regional Catholic journalism across The Northwestern Chronicle (1866–1902), The Catholic Bulletin (1911–1995), and The Catholic Spirit (1996–present).

The core technology stack is a standard CMS-based publishing website, a digital edition portal, and an email newsletter delivered through Flocknote, with social distribution across Facebook, X, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube. No proprietary AI features, APIs, SDKs, or third-party integrations are disclosed. The publication is currently digitizing its full historical archive in partnership with The Catholic News Archive, with a stated target of full online availability by fall 2026.

The business model combines recurring subscription revenue, advertising sales, and parish-based free distribution. Print subscriptions are priced at $29.95/year standard and $24.95/year for seniors and gift recipients, available only to U.S. addresses; free copies are routed through Catholic parishes where administrators coordinate delivery. Display and classified advertising are sold to local businesses and Catholic organizations via dedicated sales contacts. The publication does not have external investors or disclosed funding rounds; it operates as an entity within the Archdiocese's communications office under ecclesiastical rather than corporate governance.

Name

The Catholic Spirit

Legal name

The Catholic Spirit Publishing Co.

Website

https://thecatholicspirit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Catholic Spirit is the official biweekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, providing print, digital, and online Catholic news, faith content, and parish information to Catholics in the Twin Cities region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Publishing / Catholic Newspaper

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Community Periodicals (Church Magazines, Diocesan/Temple Newsletters) (MPAJAHAI)

Keywords

• Catholic newspaper
• Religious publishing
• Faith journalism
• Parish communications
• Archdiocesan media

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription Revenue: Paid subscriptions for print edition delivered by mail: $29.95/year standard, $24.95/year for seniors and gift subscriptions. Free distribution available through parish subscription programs.
2. Advertising Revenue: Display and classified advertising sold to local businesses and Catholic organizations. Advertising department contacts provided for display ads (651-251-7714), classified ads, and website advertising (651-291-4444).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Catholic Spirit is a Catholic news publication that produces a biweekly print newspaper (24 issues per year), a digital edition available online, and a website offering news, columns, commentary, faith formation resources, and multimedia content for the Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. It serves as the official publication of the Archdiocese, distributing through paid subscriptions, free parish-based networks, digital channels, and advertising-supported content.

Product overview

The Catholic Spirit is a Catholic news publication consisting of three main offerings: a print newspaper published 24 times annually, a digital edition available online, and a comprehensive website providing news, columns, commentary, faith resources, and multimedia content. The publication serves as the official news source for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, covering local news, U.S. and world Catholic news, faith content, and community information.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital Edition Online digital version of The Catholic Spirit newspaper providing access to current and archived issues, including local news, U.S. and world Catholic news, columns, and commentary in a digital format for Catholic readers in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
• Print Edition Physical newspaper published 24 times per year (biweekly) by the Office of Communications, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, covering Catholic news, faith content, commentary, and community information for the Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese.
• The Catholic Spirit Website

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EWTN News: Global Catholic media network producing news, television, and digital content for Catholic audiences. Comparable as Catholic content producer and broadcaster serving the same demographic, though operating at much larger scale across multiple media formats rather than periodicals alone.
• Relevant Radio: Catholic radio network broadcasting talk, news, and catechesis across the U.S. with strong Midwest presence. Comparable as a Catholic media outlet serving practicing Catholics in the same regional geography, though via broadcast rather than print/digital publishing.
• Catholic News Service (CNS): National Catholic news wire operated under USCCB that provides syndicated news content to diocesan publications including The Catholic Spirit. Directly comparable business activity as Catholic news production/distribution, but operates as an upstream content supplier rather than a consumer-facing periodical.

Emerging players

• Word on Fire Catholic Ministries: Digital Catholic media ministry featuring Bishop Robert Barron producing video, podcast, and written content. Comparable as modern Catholic content platform with overlapping audience and even a syndicated column in The Catholic Spirit itself; represents an emerging digital-first model that could reshape diocesan publishing.

Direct peers

• Catholic Answers: Catholic apologetics and evangelization publisher producing periodicals, books, and digital content for Catholic and inquiring audiences. Comparable as subscription Catholic publishing operation targeting practicing and seeker Catholics, though with national scope and apologetics focus.
• National Catholic Register: National Catholic news publication covering Church news, commentary, and faith formation. Comparable as a Catholic news periodical serving practicing Catholics with editorial content aligned to Church teaching, though with national rather than diocesan geographic scope.
• National Catholic Reporter: Independent Catholic news publication covering Church affairs, social justice, and commentary. Comparable as a Catholic periodical serving Catholic readership with subscription and digital revenue model, though with progressive editorial positioning distinct from an official diocesan voice.
• America Magazine: Jesuit-published Catholic magazine with news, commentary, and faith content. Comparable as a subscription Catholic periodical with editorial positioning and denominational (Catholic) focus, though with a more intellectual/theological orientation.
• Commonweal Magazine: Independent Catholic lay-edited magazine covering politics, culture, and faith. Comparable as a subscription Catholic periodical addressing contemporary issues from a Catholic perspective, though with national intellectual readership rather than parish distribution.
• OSV (Our Sunday Visitor): National Catholic publisher producing periodicals, books, and digital content for Catholic audiences. Directly comparable to The Catholic Spirit as a subscription-based Catholic publishing operation, though at significantly larger national scale.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/catholicspirit
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/thecatholicspirit
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheCatholicSpirit
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecatholicspirit
• Pinterestpinterest.com/catholicspirit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catholic-spirit-newspaper

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Catholic Spirit