He added publisher and author to list of accomplishments

Published: June 24, 2006

By Malea Hargett
Editor

Arkansas Catholic file

"Writing a column for the paper each week has helped me in a couple of ways. It always helps me to clarify my own thinking, to put it in writing. So personally it helps. But in the pastoral sense, given the broad geographical nature of our diocese, I can talk to those who subscribe and teach those things that are important parts of my ministry."
-- Bishop J. Peter Sartain

Arkansas Catholic file

Over the past six years, Bishop Sartain has used the written word to reach out to thousands of Catholics who he wouldn't normally see in a week.

His columns in Arkansas Catholic were read by more than 15,000 people each week. They inspired him to publish a booklet on marriage and love in 2004 and a 385-page collection of his best columns in 2005.

"I always liked to write since high school," he said. "I even considered a career as a writer for a while. I had no idea when I was in high school what I would ultimately be using it for, but I had an early sense that writing was something I could do and enjoyed doing."

During his first encounter with the Arkansas Catholic staff in January 2000, he committed himself to writing a column for each issue.

"Writing a column for the (Arkansas Catholic) paper each week has helped me in a couple of ways. It always helps me to clarify my own thinking, to put it in writing. So personally it helps. But in the pastoral sense, given the broad geographical nature of our diocese, I can talk to those who subscribe and teach those things that are important parts of my ministry."

The columns have proven to be a teaching tool and influential in parishioners' faith lives.

"Although most of the diocese doesn't come into contact with him on a regular basis, he reaches out to all of us through his weekly column in the Arkansas Catholic," Laurie Eckart, a member of Holy Redeemer Church in El Dorado, said. "Reading this column every week has helped me realize how much he cares about the entire state. I always find something in the column that relates to my life and helps me spiritually."

Patricia Davenport, a parishioner at St Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers, said she enjoyed reading the bishop's column. She was most impressed with how he cared for other priests. In a 2003 column called "New Insights into the Communion of Saints," Bishop Sartain spoke of a priest friend, the late Msgr. Patrick Lynch.

"He thought so highly of this priest. It made me think of how much Bishop Sartain loved all the priests -- that they made a big difference in his life," she said.

On his fifth anniversary as bishop in March 2005, he published his first book, "Of You My Heart Has Spoken." While the Arkansas Catholic staff provided the expertise in editing, design and printing, the bishop selected the 90 columns himself and organized them into chapters.

The book was a popular publication in Little Rock and Memphis. A second printing was ordered three months later.

When the announcement of his appointment to Joliet was made May 16, Illinois families, parishes and Catholic bookstores started ordering the book, and a third printing was ordered.

Obviously, many people want to get some insight into their new bishop.

"Perhaps it can give a little introduction to me before I come," he said.

In 2004 the bishop published a 31-page booklet called "Everything I Have is Yours." The booklet was based on a series of columns he wrote for Arkansas Catholic in 2001 that focused on marriage, love and Natural Family Planning. Each chapter is followed by a reflection question and prayer.

The booklets were distributed to parishes and missions for engaged couples and any interested Catholics.

Bishop Sartain then requested the booklet be placed in each pre-nupitial questionnaire packet that engaged couples receive, diocesan family life director Elizabeth Reha said. Beginning in May, the packets were stuffed with the pamphlet, which was dedicated to Bishop Sartain's parents, the late Pete and Catherine Sartain.

A Spanish version is expected to be printed soon, Reha said.

Members of the Couple to Couple League, which teaches Natural Family Planning, were fans of the columns when they were originally published in 2001.

"We have used it ourselves and it was handed out to our students," said Kathy Nauman, an NFP instructor in North Little Rock with her husband Tom. "We saved them (the columns from 2001) and we Xeroxed the columns and passed them out. ... They were very well written."

Keli Jacobi and Marilyn Lanford contributed to this article.

Click here for the index of stories about Bishop J. Peter Sartain's six years in Arkansas. For the complete report, see the June 24, 2006 print edition of Arkansas Catholic.