‘St. Paul’ evangelizing today with blogs, apps and CDs

She is: Daughter of St. Paul Sister Majorina “Marjorie” Zanatta, manager of Pauline Books & Media Center, at 172 N. Michigan Ave., and sister superior of the convent on its third floor.

Youth: Her early home was in Sao Paolo, Brazil, the oldest of six children. “I grew up on the family farm. I had two aunts who were Daughters of St. Paul and as a youngster I wanted to be like them. I was the only one in my family with that desire. I was in my teens when I entered. The congregation had a high school and college to attend as we discerned our vocation.”

Calling: “When it came time to enter the novitiate I learned more about vows, community life, and our mission to spread God’s Word through the media. I remember asking myself, ‘Are you doing this on your own or because of your aunts?’ I realized it was my own decision and I was being called by Jesus.

“As a professed I spent my first two years in Sao Paolo. Then I was sent to California to evangelize Mexican migrant workers and Portuguese immigrants. I worked in our book store, but we often made home visits, bringing books about the lives of the saints for children, and holy cards of Our Lady of Guadalupe and faith formation books for the adults. Just our presence and encouragement made a difference. We have 13 convents in different US cities and I’ve lived in almost all of them from New York to Hawaii.”   

Who was your founder?  “Blessed Father James Alberione is called the “Apostle of the Media.” He began this work in 1915 -- this is our 100th year. At that time ‘media’ was only the printed word. He had an inspiration during adoration to promote the Gospel by using print, as well as new means of communication he felt were in the future. He founded the Pauline family of priests and sisters to be like St. Paul living today.  In 1958 when he made a worldwide visit to all our sisters and priests, along with Mother Thecla, our co-founder, they came to San Paolo. I was able to touch his hand as we greeted him. It’s a moment I won’t forget. Pope John Paul II has called him ‘the first apostle of the New Evangelization.’” [A new documentary on his life, “Media Apostle,” is available to buy, rent, or stream, at www.mediaapostle.com.] 

Today: “Publishing books for all ages in Spanish or English, is just one part of our ministry. Today our sisters also evangelize through e-books, apps, DVDs, websites (like one for Catholic gamers), blogs, digital and social media, and our sisters’ music on CDs. Our book centers also carry the best of other publishers, like works by Father Robert Barron. We have statues, and religious gifts for special occasions, and visitors call our adoration chapel ‘an oasis of peace’ on Michigan Avenue.

“When we’re invited to visit grammar schools and high schools, we also explore media analysis with students who live in a media world. Many of our sisters give workshops on media at parishes. We often take exhibits to churches and home school conferences. It’s a beautiful and challenging mission. I’ve never regretted a moment of my religious life.”

Favorite saint: “After St. Paul we pray a lot to our founder and Mother Thecla to do good as he intended we should.”