Lisa M. Hendey is stepping away from the day-to-day operation of CatholicMom.com—the award-winning website she founded in 2000—and passing the reins to Holy Cross Family Ministries. The change will be effective July 1.
Hendey and Rev. Willy Raymond, CSC, president of HCFM, made the official announcement live on CatholicTV’s This Is the Day on June 20, 2017.
Hendey’s mission with CatholicMom.com has been to provide practical information and activities to deepen the faith lives of individuals and families through the Domestic Church. HCFM, which has mission offices in sixteen countries, plans to enhance and grow CatholicMom.com to its worldwide audience.
“CatholicMom is a relevant and engaging site. It’s imperative that we maintain that rich essence,” Raymond said. “We’ll work closely with Lisa and the contributors as we get to know their followers and identify future opportunities to serve these young families.”
CatholicMom.com has more than a hundred regular contributors who provide fresh perspectives on a variety of topics important to Catholic families. HCFM’s outreach includes a variety of faith-based media, including social media and apps.
Hendey, who will remain an author and editor-at-large at Ave Maria Press, plans to spend more time on writing projects. She’ll continue to be an advisor for CatholicMom.com. “As my sons have grown and my maternal vocation develops in new ways, I have prayed diligently about how God is calling me to serve our Church and her families in this next part of my life,” Hendey said. “I feel comfortable turning the site over to HCFM’s leadership, as we’ve had so many connections over the years and I’ve witnessed their heart for families and the effective way in which they lead on topics related to Domestic Church.
“I look forward to having the support of Holy Cross Family Ministries to continue to expand the mission of CatholicMom around the world,” Hendey said. “Fr. Raymond and the talented team at HCFM have the experience needed to grow our community and to explore new directions to serve today’s young families worldwide.”
Ave Maria Press launched the CatholicMom.com Books series in 2012, building on the popularity of Hendey’s award-winning website, as well as her books The Handbook for Catholic Moms and a Book of Saints for Catholic Moms. Today there are ten books in the series—written by trusted CatholicMom.com contributors and other Catholic authors—that address a variety of family and parenting issues from a thoroughly faith-filled perspective. CatholicMom.com books will continue as a partnership between Ave and HCFM.
“The CatholicMom.com series will continue,” said Tom Grady, Ave publisher. “We’re thrilled for Lisa and we’re excited to explore new ways to work with Holy Cross Family Ministries.”
These books are included in the CatholicMom.com line:
- A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms
- The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion
- A Catholic Mother’s Companion to Pregnancy
- Divine Mercy for Moms
- The Handbook for Catholic Moms
- Imitating Mary
- Mary’s Way
- Small Steps for Catholic Moms
Ave and HCFM, which is based in the Boston, Massachusetts, area, are both apostolates of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers. HCFM, which also includes Family Rosary and Family Theater Productions, was founded by Servant of God Patrick Peyton, CSC, with the vision of “the family that prays together stays together.”
You can learn more on CatholicMom.com.
