No stranger to the world of journalism, Australasian Catholic Press Association (ACPA) Life Member and Editor of the Salesian Bulletin, Father Frank Freeman SDB, made it his business to dedicate 10 years of his life to re-visit and re-tell the rich history of ACPA, The Catholic Record reports.

This came after a disappointing discovery in the 1990s revealed that an extensive amount of the Association’s archives went missing, thereafter, much of its information was not recorded.

*Fr Frank Freeman SDB, Life Member of ACPA and Editor of the Salesian Bulletin, with Fr John Pickering, editor of the Fiji Catholic Times.*

The result – What’s the Story? Volume 1, Policies and Personalities, capturing the highs-and-lows of the association’s 65-year journey, in an interactive, narrative form.

Readers can expect interviews, as Fr Freeman seeks input from well-known personalities, tracking down secondary sources from member publications, Archdiocese records, public libraries, universities, and so forth.

The book made its debut at the 2019 ACPA conference held in Bathurst.

In an exclusive interview with The Record, the 88-year-old priest explained why he took on this particular project and talks about the group of people who further encouraged his decision to do so.

“Multiple issues coincided to affect the association at the same time, meaning that the newer members – many who were young journalists, had no knowledge of the association; its mission and role within the Church,” Fr Freeman said.

“The early records of the association were lost in the 1980s. Very few records were kept after that date, and the older two generations of members had passed on so there became a vacuum of knowledge.

“It soon became essential that the history of the association, its origin and past policies and personalities should be made known to these new members as in doing so, would empower them to become active and appreciative as members of the association.”

*Fr Freeman’s book, capturing the history and characters of the Catholic press in Australasia.*

Describing the book as a story of dedicated men and women spanning generations, who were fully engaged in the ministry of information as a part of the Church’s mission of evangelisation, Fr Freeman suggested that perhaps the newer and younger association members could appreciate “flesh and blood” treatment, featuring the photos of the many personalities and problems of the past.

“I was especially pleased with the comment of one reader who stated: ‘It is not all history. In parts it resembles a family album’, Fr Freeman said.

“A family album! I like that, for a family album records with warm and appreciation all of its valuable members and their works and as such, bears greater appeal to the reader.”

Fr Freeman said that as much as he provided the facts, it was the role of student that he equally embraced, admitting that he was able to learn some new things and deepen his knowledge through this project.

“A spotlight highlights a small area while a flood light lightens up the whole,” Fr Freeman added.

“Each decade, the story told of difficulties and problems yet from them, came new insights and a more sensitive understanding and co-operation towards one another in a shared ministry.

“An example of this was the conflict between the rights and duties of a Bishop in opposition to their editors demanding journalistic freedom. With a growth of, and appreciation of, each other’s true pastoral role, responsibility and yes, even the growth of friendship, such conflicts overall seem to have evaporated.

“Another insight gained from the research was the ever-growing appreciation of the outstanding personalities that have graced the years of the association’s life, all of which have been celebrated in the book.”

With a 36-year ACPA membership and 40 years in the governance of schools under his belt, the priest-editor spoke candidly about some of his highlights of his journey with the association.

“I found being a member of ACPA a very refreshing experience. I saw my role as a ministry of encouragement for my colleagues and fellow editors as well as offering them priestly ministry,” Fr Freeman said.

He said he hopes ACPA it will continue to be a ministry of encouragement for all its members and for their Church communities.

This is an abridged version of an article published in The Catholic Record. Read the full story here.