Notice anything different this week?

This week, our readers will find new columnists, a new cartoon, and a few changes in both The Evangelist and its web site. The changes, one of which has already been introduced over the past few weeks, are intended to provide readers with both new ideas and new ways of seeing the news.

One change already instituted -- the occasional use of full-color photos -- was begun early because of two significant news events in September: the death of Mother Teresa and the Sesquicentennial Liturgy at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville. In the case of Mother Teresa, we ran two large color photos of her as keepsakes for readers. After the Auriesville liturgy, we carried 11 color photos of the event. Both issues have proven so popular with readers that we have distributed hundreds of extra copies and sold out of the Auriesville issue.

We will now carry full-color photos at least once a month (more often if news events warrant). Surveys have shown that readers like such photos, and improving technology makes it easier and less expensive to publish them. (In this move, we join The New York Times, which also introduced color photos last month.)

While we have not changed the typeface for articles, we have switched to a new headline face that we believe provides a cleaner look. (For those who care, it's called Palatino.)

Columnists who begin their contributions this week include:

* MITCH FINLEY, the well-known author of a dozen books about Catholicism, spirituality and faith. Mr. Finley, who has written articles in the past for The Evangelist, now begins a stint as a columnist, writing about the Church, social issues and current events. He lives in Spokane, Washington.

* EILEEN MARX, who lives in New Jersey, has been writing award-winning columns for Catholic newspapers and magazines for several years. In her column, she says, "I want to reveal the importance that faith, family, friendship and humor have in helping to guide us as parents and in teaching us how our faith can play a deeper role in our everyday world." She is married and the mother of two. (Her column appears on page 2.)

* REV. EDGAR HOLDEN, OFM, Conv., who now lives in Winston-Salem, N.C., has connections to the Albany Diocese: He was stationed at St. Anthony-on-Hudson in Rensselaer from 1946-1970 and wrote a religion column for the Times Union. He now writes "Bits & Bites," which he defines as "reflections on the day's issues that have some relevance to readers." It appears on the "Basics of Faith" page (this week, page 14).

* KEN MAAFE is a veteran journalist who will examine political, social, cultural and religious events of the previous seven days from the perspective of a Catholic living in the modern world. Both he and Mr. Finley will appear regularly on our opinion pages.

Also being added to those pages is a new cartoon, "The Flock," by Jean Denton. She makes her points through a cast of sheep that represents Christ's flock. The cartoon joins "Pontius' Puddle" in our editorial section.

Meanwhile, The Evangelist's web site (www.global2000.net/evangelist) has been enhanced by several changes of its own:

* More color has been added to the text and graphics to improve the design;

* The highlights page features not only the headlines but also the lead paragraphs of articles to help browsers choose where to travel next;

* Daily Scripture readings cover a three-month period instead of one;

* The archives have been added and now hold feature stories from the web's debut in July 1996 to present; and

* Links have been added to take browsers to other Catholic sites.

We hope all of these changes will please readers of the newspaper and visitors to the web site. After you have had some time to experience them, let us know what you think of the changes.

(10-02-97)