FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Paul Snatchko
(412) 722-2907 (cell / text)
[email protected]

NEW YORK – The Paulist Fathers are pleased to announce the appointment of Paul McMahon as the next president and publisher of Paulist Press. He will be the first lay person to serve in this role in the 160-year history of the Catholic publishing company.

McMahon currently serves as Editorial Director of Paulist Press. He will succeed Paulist Fr. Mark-David Janus, President and Publisher since 2010, who now assumes the role of Publisher Emeritus.

“It is with immense trust in the movement of the Holy Spirit that we make this historic appointment of the first lay person to lead our publishing arm,” said Paulist Fr. René Constanza, president of the Paulist Fathers. “We are grateful to Paul McMahon for accepting this important role. His deep understanding of our Catholic faith and his keen eye for inspiring and thought-provoking books will serve us well.”

“While a Paulist priest will not be serving as President and Publisher, our commitment to Paulist Press and our belief in the importance of Catholic publishing remain unchanged,” Fr. Constanza added.

McMahon, a New York City resident, is a native of Australia. He earned degrees from the University of Melbourne and the University of Divinity in Melbourne. In addition to serving in multiple roles at Paulist Press, he also has worked as an editor for Orbis Books.

“This appointment follows an amazing 160-year history of Paulist Fathers who have continued the vision of their founder, Servant of God Isaac Hecker, in sharing the gospel of Jesus and the rich traditions of American Catholicism,” said McMahon. “It is with a sense of pride that I build on the mantle of the Press’ most recent publishers: Fr. Kevin Lynch, Fr. Lawrence Boadt, and Fr. Mark-David Janus. They each embraced the teachings of the Second Vatican Council by publishing books that resonate with the intersection of faith and contemporary culture.”

McMahon added, “In appointing a lay person to this role, the Paulist Fathers demonstrate their strong commitment to lay involvement in their mission and ministry, and to listening to the signs of the times as reflected in the Council and the teaching of Pope Francis. It is my hope and vision to collaborate with the Paulist Fathers, the board of directors, and the entire lay staff of the Press in building upon this impressive tradition and advancing the mission to meet the needs of our church and society.”

Fr. Janus believes that McMahon has the necessary experience to lead Paulist Press during a time of change in the industry.

“Paul McMahon has devoted a significant portion of his life to the ministry of Catholic publishing, including the Paulist Press. He has a keen appreciation of the Paulist mission. As our Editorial Director, he repeatedly identifies manuscripts worthy of becoming a ‘Paulist’ book,” said Fr. Janus. “Catholic publishing faces new challenges in putting before the public the best of Catholic thought at the crossroads of faith and culture, and I have every confidence Paul will lead the Paulist Press to a future brighter than any past.”

About Paulist Press

Paulist Press publishes a variety of books for adults and children on topics related to faith, spirituality, theology, philosophy, the Bible, the Sacraments, liturgy, culture, history, ethics, social issues, world religions, pastoral ministry, the visual arts, and more.

“The Classics of Western Spirituality” series and the “Paulist Biblical Commentary” are both from Paulist Press.

Paulist Press has offices in Mahwah, NJ, and in Manhattan.

About the Paulist Fathers

Established in 1858, the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle (“the Paulist Fathers”) was the first society of Catholic priests founded in the United States.

The society seeks to introduce the Good News of Jesus Christ to people beyond the Church walls, and to accompany Catholics who feel apart from the Church, through missions, media, campus ministries, parishes, downtown centers, the arts, and more.

In addition to Paulist Press, the society’s media ministries include: Paulist Productions, an Emmy Award-winning creator of films and television programs; and Busted Halo, an innovative website and radio program on SiriusXM’s The Catholic Channel

The society leads parishes and centers in Austin, TX; Boston; Chicago; Grand Rapids, MI; Horseshoe Bay, TX; Knoxville, TN; Los Angeles; New York City; Rome, Italy; and San Francisco.

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