The Far East magazine appoints first lay editor

In a double first for the The Society of St Columban, the congregation has appointed a woman as the first lay editor of its mission magazine, The Far East.

Journalist Sarah MacDonald, a specialist in religious affairs and former reporter for The Irish Catholic, takes over from Fr Cyril Lovett SSC. 

Welcoming MacDonald’s appointment, Fr Lovett said:  “Since Vatican II we have been trying to help people understand that every Christian is a missionary.” 

Objective

“The first objective of the magazine is to promote an awareness of the missionary dimension of the Church among readers. We are confident that Sarah, with her rich background and experience, will bring a new dimension to the magazine.” 

Towards this, MacDonald said she would now work towards developing The Far East’s presence online and across social media with a view to engaging a younger readership. 

Founded in 1918, The Far East has been in continuous publication since then, reaching an audience across Ireland and Britain.