Tough economic times — and a discernible drop in readership — is forcing one of America’s oldest and most familiar Catholic publishing houses to make some significant changes:

The St. Anthony Messenger Press, the Cincinnati-based national provider of inspirational and educational Roman Catholic spirituality resources, announced Monday it is redefining its strategy and reducing staffing.

Father Dan Kroger said the 116-year-old communications company, based in Over-the-Rhine and sponsored by the Franciscan Friars of St. John the Baptist Province, is offering voluntary early retirement to eligible employees, closed its Cincinnati Call Center and will stop using its independent field sales force.

Father Kroger, the CEO and publisher, said in a statement that three factors are driving the changes:

• Changes in religious affiliation and commitment among American Catholics.

• Changes in the way Catholic Church professionals use the print and electronic resources St. Anthony Messenger Press produces.

• The economic crisis that has resulted not only in increased costs but in significant changes in the buying habits of Catholic individuals and institutions.

The Press produces St. Anthony Messenger, a monthly magazine with a circulation of 250,000; Catholic Update, a parish resource used in about half of U.S. parishes; as well as St. Anthony Messenger Press and Servant Books, newsletters, homily services, audio books, DVDs and the flagship Web site.

“St. Anthony Messenger Press, like many communications organizations,” Father Kroger said in a statement, “is examining its corporate mission and goals, the audiences we reach currently and those new audiences we want to develop, and the formats and technology we want to employ to communicate successfully.”

The Press worked for six months with the Xavier Leadership Center of Xavier University to come up with a new business plan and marketing strategy.

The new corporate strategy will include:

• Becoming a more sharply focused, market-driven provider of inspirational products and services.

• Moving into new markets and expanding reach to existing markets.

• Strengthening the already strong online evangelization and e-commerce efforts.

• Closing the Cincinnati telemarketing center.

• Implementing company-wide cost efficiencies for purchasing, inventory, utilities, salaries and bonuses.

“Across the country, we have witnessed the decline of secular and religious newspapers and the diversification of traditional publishers,” Father Kroger said in a statement. “Reading habits are shifting, gradually but noticeably for everyone and rapidly among younger people, from print to electronic sources.”

He also said the traditional Catholic audience is shrinking and the subscriber base is declining.