Editor's Note We have the best news   By Darcy L. Fargo

Sept. 20, 2023

When I described it to a friend, I said, “it was like Jesus had a press conference.”

It happened at least a couple years ago during Lent. While it was common for me to sign up for a time spot at adoration at St. Peter’s Parish in Massena, I don’t think I was originally scheduled to be there. I was either filling in for someone else or just stopped in to spend time with Jesus.

I noticed it almost immediately after genuflecting and finding a seat: While there were only a handful of us there, three of us were credentialed members of the media. I was there spending time with Jesus along with Bob Beckstead, a longtime reporter for the Courier-Observer in Massena/Watertown Daily Times/NNY360, and Keith Benman, then a reporter for WWNY TV in Watertown and now a contributor to this newspaper.

I immediately thought of Jesus having a press conference, and it took effort not to laugh out loud during adoration.

While it was a great reminder that God has an awesome sense of humor, it was also one of the most memorable adoration experiences I’ve ever had.

I experienced a profound feeling of oneness. While we have plenty of differences, Bob, Keith and I shared a lot in common. We shared a love of telling stories. We shared a love of the news industry (even though we can point to many flaws within it). We shared our love of the written word. I shared experiences, now fond memories, with both of them at various times in my career.

And there we were, people who love the written word, sharing time with the Word made Flesh, sharing our love of Jesus.

The time “Jesus had a press conference” oddly came up twice in conversations in the last few weeks, so it’s been on my mind and on my heart.

It dawned on me recently that we’re all called to be the media at Jesus’ press conference. If you reduce it to the basics, the media is responsible for telling the who, what, where, when, why and how of an event or happening.
Isn’t that what we’re called to do as Christians?

We’re called to share the what, where, when, why, how and, most importantly, the who of our faith. We’re called to share the story of Jesus and the story of our relationships with him. And why wouldn’t we want to share those stories? We have the best news!

Welcome to the press conference.