AmericanCatholic.org, home of the online editions of St. Anthony Messenger, Catholic Update and other Catholic features, is a service of Franciscan Media (formerly known as St. Anthony Messenger Press), Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.

The first issue of St. Anthony Messenger magazine was published by the Franciscan friars of Cincinnati on June 1, 1893. Over the decades it grew into one of the principal Catholic family magazines in the United States. In 1970, in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, the magazine expanded into Franciscan Media, which has become one of America's largest publishers of popular, inspirational and educational Roman Catholic spirituality resources. These include the popular parish handout series Catholic Update, Every Day Catholic, and Bringing Home the Word, as well as books, audiobooks, and DVDs.

In 1994, still under the operation of the Franciscan friars, St. Anthony Messenger Press acquired Franciscan Communications, the well-known Franciscan media enterprise located up to that time in Los Angeles.

AmericanCatholic.org took its place on the Internet in June 1996. On this site you will find reliable information on the Catholic and Christian faith. Much of this comes through the online edition of our family magazine, St. Anthony Messenger, and through our catalog of books, videos, audiocassettes and subscription products. Our sister site, CatholicSAMPler.com, offers free samples of Franciscan Media products. A variety of features, like Saint of the Day and Minute Meditations, appear exclusively on AmericanCatholic.org. CatholicGreetings.org, offers attractive Catholic e-cards for all occasions.

In September of 2003 St. Anthony Messenger Press continued its efforts to reach a broader audience when it acquired Servant Publications, which had published books for many years in the Catholic market under the Charis Books imprint. Franciscan Media continues to publish a broad variety of popular, Catholic books under both the Servant Books and the St. Anthony Messenger Press Book imprints.

Franciscan Media conducts its publishing ministry with the official ecclesiastical approval of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cincinnati. Our postal address is 28 W. Liberty St., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202. Phone: (513) 241-5615. We hope you find the information on this site enriching, inspiring and informative. Enjoy!