December 3, 2007
Bishop Carl F. Mengeling Announces the Merger of the Diocese’s Two Nationally Renowned Publishing Companies
The Diocese of Lansing has distinguished itself as a Catholic publishing leader in the United States. Both FAITH Publishing Service (FPS) and Liturgical Commission Publishings (LCP) are successful non-profit corporations that serve the Catholic Church across the country. Each company enjoys a
proven track record offering products and services that complement, not compete with, one another.
Together they will combine resources to offer new and existing products and services that will further
expand their business and further serve the mission of the church.
Background:
1) FPS started out in 2000 as FAITH Magazine for the Catholic Diocese of Lansing. It is now America’s fastest
growing Catholic publishing company, providing custom publishing, online and marketing services for Catholic dioceses,
universities and charities across the nation:
Annual revenue: $2.2 million
Total full-time staff: 8
Total publications: 15 magazines
Total issues per year: 131 issues
Total combined circulation: 737,000
2) LCP was setup by the Catholic Diocese of Lansing to meet the needs of parishes shortly after the Second
Vatican Council permitted Mass to be celebrated in English. LCP began providing liturgy resources such as homilies and
commentaries for Mass. That was in the mid 1960s. Now, LCP serves about one third of the nation’s 19,000 parishes.
LCP also has a division, Lasting Comfort Press that provides Catholic service folders for funeral homes.
Annual revenues: $1 million
Total full-time staff: 11
Total distribution of homilies: 2892
Total distribution of commentaries: 7751
Objectives of merging FPS with LCP:
1) To better serve the Catholic Church and the people of God
2) To build upon the successes of both companies
3) To provide cohesive leadership
4) To improve existing partnerships and increase joint ventures
5) To streamline and consolidate overhead, operations and facilities
6) To financially strengthen both companies for future growth and sustainability
7) To share costs for new initiatives
8) To create more purchasing power
Leadership:
During a joint special session, the boards of each company appointed Patrick M. O’Brien to serve as President/C.E.O. He
will be responsible for both companies, which will remain distinct for the time being. Over time, the two companies may
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become one. Regardless of the future corporate make-up, both brand identities will continue to be used. O’Brien replaces
Mary Jo Gillilland, who served for more than twenty years as LCP’s Director and later as President/C.E.O. Michael
Marshall has been promoted from Interim Director to Director of Liturgical Commission Publishings. He will be
responsible for the day-to-day management of LCP.
FPS and LCP employees:
Both companies are a success because of the hard work, talent and dedication of each employee. The leadership of both
companies is grateful to all employees and will make every effort to make this transition as smooth as possible. There
will be a commitment to planning for the future, communicating with all employees and caring for each company’s
culture and strengths. The goal of this merger is to build on each company’s successes so that together FPS and LCP can
become more successful.
www.FAITHpublishingservice.com
www.liturgicalcommission.org