User:Pgthornton/Lighthouse Catholic Media

Lighthouse Catholic Media is a not for profit company that distributes CD's and digital downloads of Catholic-themed content. Lighthouse has provided CD programs to over 3,000 Roman Catholic parishes throughout the United States and Canada and has distributed over 3 million audio CD's on Catholic topics.

History
Lighthouse Catholic Media was founded in 2005, by Mark Middendorf, Terry Barber and Dave Durand. Middendorf was inspired to start Lighthouse Catholic Media after listening to cassette tapes by Scott Hahn and other Catholic speakers. Using his business knowledge garnered from a successful career in corporate sales, Middendorf began distributing tapes to family and friends. He then met Terry Barber, founder of St. Joseph Communications (one of Middendorf's early tape suppliers), and Dave Durand and started Lighthouse Catholic Media as a full-time pursuit. Middendorf notes, "'The Lord puts the people He wants us to meet along our path - we simply need to be open ourselves to recognize these beacons of light along the road and orient ourselves to His inspirations.

Lighthouse produces audio CD's at a very low cost (average price: $3) in order to ensure that they are affordable for as many people as possible. In the last few years, Lighthouse has developed a comprehensive Parish Kiosk program. The Parish Kiosk program distributes CD display cases to Catholic parishes throughout the United States and Canada. The Kiosk's are stocked with a variety of Lighthouse CD's available for free, although goodwill donations are accepted to help to cover the cost.

Lighthouse Catholic Media has recently announced plans to distribute audio CD's in India where more than 17 million Catholics reside. Additionally, they are planning to distribute in Australia and Ireland in the near future.

Mission
According to the Lighthouse Catholic Media training manual distributed to their nationwide network of over 350 account managers, the Lighthouse Catholic Media mission is "to answer the call for a New Evangelization by serving the Church in providing inspirational CDs and brochures that will enrich and strengthen people’s relationship with Jesus Christ and understanding of their Catholic Faith."

The Lighthouse Vision reads: "Our vision is to support all parishes worldwide by providing the very best presentations and media resources to help people find answers to all aspects of life that they deal with on a daily basis. We are committed to serving the Church with integrity and guarantee that all presentations are faithful to the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church."

Military Download Program
Lighthouse Catholic Media also distributes their audio downloads through a partnership with the Archdiocese of the United States, Military headed by Archbishop Timothy Broglio. Donors are able to make donations to Lighthouse which in turn makes downloads available to U.S. men and women serving in the Armed Forces.

Recommendations
"The CDs and brochures are a welcome addition to the faith life and continuing education of our people. I heartily recommend this program to all the pastors in the Archdiocese as a way to rekindle the faith of Chicago's Catholics and help fulfill Pope John Paul II's call for a New Evangelization." -Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago

"It is my hope that all the parishes in the Archdiocese will take advantage of this efficacious means of evangelization and adult catechesis. The tools made available are vital to the growth and development of the Catholic Faith." -Raymond Cardinal Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, Archbishop Emeritus of St. Louis.