Sometimes, the best opportunities are not sought out; rather, they present themselves. David Cooley wasn’t looking for a new job when he learned of the open position at The Catholic Telegraph; he is now the magazine’s new Editorial Director.

“There was something about this role in the archdiocese that seemed like the perfect fit,” Cooley said. “I am very interested in exploring new ways to share the Gospel and helping others grow in their relationship with Christ.”

While he knows he has big shoes to fill, Cooley feels like his life experiences led him to this point.

“I’m anxious to hit the ground running but I know I need to be patient,” he said. “I’m most excited about the opportunity to be involved in the life of the local church and to meet the people of the archdiocese and hear their stories.”

Cooley comes to The Catholic Telegraph after serving the Diocese of Covington for more than twelve years, first as the Associate Editor for the diocese’s weekly newspaper, The Messenger, then as co-director in the Office of Catechesis and Evangelization. He sees The Catholic Telegraph as more than a tool for keeping Catholics in the Archdiocese connected and informed. He believes its role is to evangelize.

“Our goal as Catholics is to share our joy and the truth in a loving way with as many people as possible,” Cooley said. “I think the magazine is beautiful. But there is always room for growth, and I hope we can explore ways to expand its reach.”

Raised in a large Catholic family on the west side of Cincinnati, Cooley is the youngest of six children. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes elementary school, Elder High School, and Mount St. Joseph University, where he majored in English. Two significant events occurred while he worked in the IT section of the medical records department at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital: he decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in Theology and he met Lindsay, who became his wife. They now attend Immaculate Heart of Mary in Anderson Township with their six children.

As The Catholic Telegraph’s Editorial Director, Cooley will collaborate closely with the Archdiocese’s communication and evangelization efforts. “David’s professional maturity, knowledge of both publishing and evangelization, strong theological grounding, collaborative style, and personal holiness made him the ideal candidate for this position,” said Mike Schafer, Director of Communication and Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Cooley approaches his new role with a servant’s heart. “They do such awesome work, and I’m humbled by that,” he said of the staff he’s begun working with. “I want to learn from them, listen to them, and see what their hopes are for the magazine and the Archdiocese. From there, we’ll do the best we can to grow the kingdom of God here in the Midwest and beyond.”