April 19, 2008
New staff writer joins The Herald
By Herald staff
Denise McLachlan, staff writer
Denise MacLachlan, a former correspondent for The Catholic Herald, joined the diocesan newspaper as a full-time staff writer on April 1.
MacLachlan, who holds a bachelor’s degree in English from California State University, Sacramento, and a master’s degree in English from UC Davis, previously taught for several years in the English departments at both universities.
From 1999 to 2003, she was development director at Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Seattle, Wash., where she launched the development program at the Catholic school.
She also volunteered at the Jubilee Women’s Center on Capitol Hill in Seattle, a transitional housing program for homeless women. MacLachlan taught creative writing and facilitated an ongoing workshop in autobiography called, “The Hero’s Journey.”
“I have an abiding interest in and respect for people’s stories,” she said.
About her new position at The Herald, MacLachlan said, “It’s a privilege to listen to so many different people on such a range of topics. I enjoy it tremendously. I look forward to meeting parishioners throughout the diocese and bringing their stories to the community.”
She also looks forward to writing about local issues of interest to Catholics. “It’s important to consider the ideas that underlie a news story. I think the Catholic press does a necessary job of bringing the implications of the news into the public discussion.”
MacLachlan and her husband, Scott Olling, are members of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Sacramento. They have two sons.
