It was with some sorrow that I recently submitted my resignation as the President and C.O.O. of EWTN News Inc. In our time, Mother Angelica, EWTN, and EWTN News have done more to faithfully advance and serve the Church than any other institution other than the Church itself. It has been an honor to serve the Church through the National Catholic Register since 2008 and EWTN since 2011.
My decision has come after a period of prayer and discernment. It is rooted in my calling to personally engage with those seeking a new, renewed, or deeper relationship with Jesus and His Church and to reveal the life and world-altering mysteries of what it means to encounter Christ and His authentic magisterium.
Many are aware that in 2009 I founded SpiritualDirection.com. Since then this effort has birthed the Avila Institute, the High Calling Seminary preparation program (both with Dr. Anthony Lilles), Divine Intimacy Radio, an in-demand public speaking ministry, and a long list of publications that all re-propose, teach, and advance the great spiritual patrimony of the Catholic Church. Our efforts reach readers in 190 countries and students in more than 70 countries and include bishops, priests, deacons, religious and laity, all seeking to draw from the unfathomable well of Catholic mystical tradition. I am most encouraged by our support of 14 dioceses in equipping men called to the priesthood to enter into seminary better prepared for the great battle and adventure of their vocation. There is no denying that the Lord has blessed all of these efforts, and continues to use them to usher in the “new springtime” Pope St. John Paul II predicted. There is so much fruit to be followed and brought to harvest that I have discerned that this is the season to shift my time and energy to focus on the spiritual work of the Avila Foundation.
In the end, my decision is based upon a combination of the deep wounds in the Church, my own mortality with respect to the years I have remaining, and my assessment of where I can have the greatest impact on healing the Church and advancing the mission Jesus has entrusted to every baptized Christian: “Go unto all the world and make disciples.”
Please pray for me as I move forward with my wife Stephanie in this mission that Christ has entrusted to us. In the face of all the darkness, we have hope because we live in and through the light and power of the Blessed Trinity and we have no doubt that we have, can, and will make a difference as long as we have the prayer and support of good people like you. The Avila Foundation team is pound for pound the most powerful, lean and impactful group of warriors in Church. As you pray for us, please include them and their work in your prayers.
Of course, this shift increases the financial burden of my salary and healthcare from EWTN to the Avila Foundation. If you have yet to commit to any size of monthly gift, can increase what you already give, or can consider a transformational gift, please be assured this investment will continue to advance and expand the impact we can and will have on the healing of the Church.
While change is hard, I really do look forward to having more time to serve you and engage with you as together we journey closer to God. Your faithfulness and generosity have always been an inspiration and consolation to me and are the reason that we can do what we do.
God bless you as you seek Him.
Dan Burke
Unum est Necessarium
PS: If you would like to connect with me more directly, I am part of a worldwide Catholic community called Apostoli Viae. Our mission is to live the contemplative life, to light the way to others, and to personally serve those seeking to deepen their relationship with Jesus and His Church. We meet twice monthly on the 2nd and 4th Saturday mornings and provide spiritual formation to priests, deacons, religious, and laity. If you are interested go to ApostoliViae.org and join in. I hope to see you there.
Image courtesy of Unsplash.
