(ZENIT News / Rome, 01.23.2026).- In a cultural context marked by digital immediacy and the fragmentation of thought, a new publishing initiative seeks to recover the value of deep reflection. This is The Better Part, a biannual printed journal to be launched in April 2026, which aspires to become an intellectual space for Catholic women interested in reflecting on their lives as women, their vocation, and their place in the Church and the world from a feminine perspective and in full communion with the Magisterium.
The journal arises as a response to a clear gap in the contemporary publishing landscape. Its Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Heidi Bollich-Erne, explains that the idea was born while she was searching for texts that addressed the female experience from a Catholic and intellectual perspective for her students. Finding no publications that rigorously integrated faith, culture, and academic reflection written by women, she decided to launch a project that would bring these voices together in one place.
The Better Part presents itself as one of the first intellectual journals written by and specifically for Catholic women. Its name is inspired by the Gospel passage of Mary of Bethany, who chooses «the better part» by sitting at Christ’s feet to listen to Him, thus symbolizing the primacy of contemplation, truth, and deep attention in the face of constant activism and contemporary distraction.
One of the publication’s distinctive features is its commitment to the printed format. In an era dominated by ephemeral content and rapid information consumption, the journal seeks to offer a tangible object, designed to be read calmly, kept, and reread. This editorial decision reflects a desire to foster a more thoughtful and reflective relationship with the texts, moving away from the practice of scrolling and the urgency of information.
Published twice a year, The Better Part does not aim to react to immediate current events, but rather offers in-depth essays and articles that engage with enduring issues in women’s lives. The journal defines itself as an interdisciplinary project that integrates areas such as philosophy, theology, psychology, natural sciences, education, culture, and everyday life, always from a solid Christian anthropology.
The first issue, titled Uncharted, invites readers to reflect on those territories largely overlooked in contemporary thought about women. Far from reducing the female experience to ideological categories, the magazine seeks to show the richness and complexity of women’s lives as lived in fidelity to the Catholic faith.
The President of the publishing house mentioned that «We all talk about ‘feminine genius,’ but when you ask someone to stop and give a concrete definition, most can’t.» Most Catholics define it with a quote from St. John Paul II, who coined the term in his Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem to describe the unique gifts and qualities that women possess, but she adds: «That’s a quote, not a definition.» She will seek to provide answers to this and many other questions in the journal.
Although the intellectual level of the texts is high, the publication is not aimed exclusively at academics. According to its editors, The Better Part aims to be accessible to all women in the Church: students, professionals, mothers, educators, and consecrated women, recognizing that feminine intelligence is expressed in multiple ways and spheres.
“We will discuss issues that women face, such as body image, infertility, and violence. The articles will explore the psychology of fairy tales and their effects on girls during their development, both positive and negative,” explained Bollich-Erne. We will examine what we are exposed to in the media and what effects these stories have on us.
In addition to the printed journal, the project envisions creating a community of readers through subscriptions and memberships, which will allow them to receive both annual editions and participate in cultural and educational initiatives related to the publication.
At a time when discussions about women are often polarized or dominated by narratives foreign to Christian tradition, The Better Part aims to offer a serious and rigorous alternative. Its objective is to consider women’s lives from an authentic feminine perspective, in dialogue with the faith of the Church and open to truth, beauty, and the common good.
With this launch, the journal aspires not only to occupy a novel publishing space but also to become an intellectual meeting point for Catholic women who wish to understand their vocation more deeply and contribute creatively and faithfully to the cultural life of the Church and society.
