Maryknoll and Misioneros magazines together win 40 media awards for excellence in English and Spanish coverage of Maryknoll missions.
The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, their magazines Maryknoll and Misioneros and publishing division, Orbis Books, received a combined 62 awards at the Catholic Media Association‘s conference held in Baltimore, Maryland, June 5 to 9. Of these, 17 were first-place awards.
Two staff members of the combined Maryknoll and Misioneros team won top honors at the annual conference of Catholic media professionals from the United States and Canada. Managing Editor Deirdre Cornell was recognized as Editor of the Year in English, and Associate Editor Giovana Soria was named Writer of the Year in Spanish.
Misioneros won first place for Best Website for a Spanish publication. The magazines also received recognition for the work of Editor-in-Chief Lynn F. Monahan, Maria-Pia Negro Chin and Maryknoll Father Joseph Veneroso, as well as for the work of various freelance journalists and contributors. Regina Gelfer and Michael Calvente, graphic designers of Maryknoll’s Art Unit, were also acknowledged for their contributions for two Best Layout of an Article or Column awards. Selections were based on submissions published in 2022.
Deirdre Cornell
Giovana Soria
“We are very honored by the recognition that the Maryknoll and Misioneros magazine team — along with Maryknoll’s graphic design team — received this year,” Editor-in-Chief Lynn F. Monahan said. “We are particularly proud of the showing of Deirdre Cornell, our managing editor, who received the Editor of the Year award for English, and of Giovana Soria, our Spanish language associate editor, who was recognized as Writer of the Year in Spanish, the second year in a row that she has received this award. We also proudly note the first-place award to our Michael Calvente for the Best Layout of an article or column in a magazine in Spanish.”
“The 40 awards across both the English and Spanish magazines once again reflect the tremendous talent and teamwork of our editorial and design staffs, as well as that of our digital media team, whose work is reflected in our website awards, including Best Website for a Spanish publication.”
Orbis Books was honored with 21 Book Awards. The total included three first-place awards, including Best Catalog for the Orbis Books Fall 2022 catalog.
Orbis Publisher Robert Ellsberg, who himself received three book awards, said, “These prize-winning books are a good reflection of the Orbis program itself: a concern for the global dimensions of Christian faith, and alignment with Pope Francis’s support for dialogue, solidarity, and a welcoming Church.”
In the Communications division, the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers won second place for Best Annual Report – Catholic Nonprofit Organization.
In congratulating the award winners, Ana Rodriguez-Soto, chair of the CMA Awards Committee, said in the association newspaper, The Catholic Journalist, “I consider all of you winners because the list of award recipients is but a small sample of the work done day-to- day by those engaged in Catholic journalism, communications and social media.”
She added, “The entries honored each year reflect the wide variety of topics covered by our publications. That certainly refutes the stereotype that Catholic journalists spend their time covering Masses or following the bishop around the diocese.” (For a complete list of this year’s winners by category, see here.)
2023 Catholic Media Awards
Individual Excellence
Editor of the Year (English):
First Place
Deirdre Cornell, Maryknoll
Graphic Artist/Designer of the Year:
Second Runner Up
Michael Calvente
Writer of the Year (Spanish):
First Place
Giovana Soria, Misioneros
All Member Division
Best Website – Magazine or Newsletter:
Third Place
Maryknoll, “maryknollmagazine.org” — Maryknoll Magazine Staff
Best Website – Spanish Publication:
First Place
Misioneros, “misionerosmaryknoll.org” — Misioneros Staff
MARYKNOLL Magazine (Magazine Division)
“Maryknoll-Impact Report 2021” — Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
Best Layout of Article or Column – Mission Magazine (Overseas and Home):
Second Place
“Helping Survivors Survive” — Michael Calvente
Honorable Mention
“Restoring Trafficked Victims to Life” — Regina Gelfer
Best Cover for Color – Small:
“All God’s Children” — Regina Gelfer, Gregg Brekke
Best Coverage – Immigration:
Second Place
“Extending a Hand of Hospitality” by Lynn F. Monahan, “One Step Further” and “A Family Builds a Home” by Deirdre Cornell, “Witnessing the Trauma of War” by Janet Alberti and “Strangers Become Guests” by Genie C. Natividad, M.M.
Best Essay – Mission Magazines: (Overseas and Home):
Third Place
“In Search of Lakota Spirit” — Scott Giblin
Best Original Poetry:
Second Place
“Sacred and Wounded” — Joseph R. Veneroso, M.M.
Best Reporting on a Special Age Group:
Second Place
“Young Adult Faith Leads to Action” — Maria-Pia Negro Chin
Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Care for God’s Creation:
First Place
“Listening to the Voice of Creation” — Margaret Vámosy
Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Life and Dignity of the Human Person:
Honorable Mention
“These Are God’s Children” — Gregg Brekke
Best Story and Photo Package – By an individual:
Second Place
“Helping Survivors Survive Climate Change” — Gregg Brekke
Third Place
“Hope Shines through in South Sudan” — Paul Jeffrey
Best Photograph – Feature Photo:
Second Place
“Hope Shines through in South Sudan” — Paul Jeffrey
Best Photograph – Sacramental:
First Place
“Finding God in Mission” — Nile Sprague
MISIONEROS (Spanish Language Division)
First Place
“Ayudando a sobrevivientes a sobrevivir el cambio climático”— Michael Calvente
Honorable Mention
“Devolviendo la vida a las víctimas de tráfico de personas”— Regina Gelfer
Best Cover – Magazine:
Second Place
Misioneros, “Todos Somos Hijos de Dios” — Michael Calvente, Nile Sprague
Spiritual Life:
Honorable Mention
“Espiritualidad Misionera” — Joseph F. Veneroso, M.M.
Best Coverage – Treatment of Vocations to Priesthood, Religious Life or Diaconate:
First Place
“Ser un Hermano” and “Un Paso Más Allá” by Deirdre Cornell, “Encontrando a Dios en la Misión” by John Siyumbu, M.M.
Best Feature Writing:
First Place
“Aprendiendo a Perdonar” — Giovana Soria
Best Interview:
Second Place
“El Don de la Misión” — Giovana Soria
Best Personality Profile:
Second Place
“Confiando en el Plan de Dios” — María-Pía Negro Chin
Best Reporting – On Cultural Heritage:
Second Place
“Una Familia Construye su Hogar” — Deirdre Cornell
Best Reporting – On Immigration:
Second Place
Misioneros, “Extendiendo una Mano de Hospitalidad” by Lynn F. Monahan, “Un Paso Más Allá” by Deirdre Cornell and “Extranjeros Se Convierten en Huéspedes” by Genie C. Natividad, M.M.
Best Reporting on a Special Age Group:
First Place
“La Fe de Jóvenes Adultos Lleva a la Acción” — María-Pía Negro Chin
Second Place
“Jóvenes Misioneros” — Ray Almanza, Luna Stephanie, Walter Hidalgo
Best Reporting on Social Justice Issues – Call to Family, Community and Participation:
First Place
“Una Familia Construye su Hogar” by Deirdre Cornell, “Aprendiendo a Perdonar” by Giovana Soria and “Solidaridad Silenciosa” by Maria-Pia Negro Chin
Best Reporting on Social Justice Issues – Care for God’s Creation:
Second Place
“Escuchando la Voz de la Creación” by Margaret Vámosy, “Conociendo Nuevas Tierras” by Deirdre Cornell and “Ayudando a sobrevivientes a sobrevivir el cambio climático” by Gregg Brekke
Best Reporting on Social Justice Issues – Life and Dignity of the Human Person:
Second Place
“Ellos son los Hijos de Dios” by Gregg Brekke, “Devolviendo la vida a las víctimas de tráfico de personas” by Mary Ellen Manz, M.M. and “Extranjeros se convierten en huéspedes” by Genie Natividad, M.M.
Best Reporting on Social Justice Issues – Option for the Poor and Vulnerable:
First Place
“Solidaridad Silenciosa” by María-Pía Negro Chin, “Dar la oportunidad de aprender” by Giovana Soria and “Extranjeros se Convierten en Huéspedes” by Genie C. Natividad, M.M.
Best Reporting on Social Justice Issues – Solidarity:
Third Place
“Brilla la Esperanza en Sudán del Sur” by Paul Jeffrey, “Siendo Testigos del Trauma de la Guerra” by Janet Alberti and “Extendiendo una Mano de Hospitalidad” by Lynn F. Monahan
Best Reporting on Vocations to Priesthood, Religious Life or Diaconate:
First Place
“Desde Kenya para el Mundo” by Giovana Soria, “Ser un Hermano” and “Un Paso Más Allá” by Deirdre Cornell
Best Story and Photo Package – By an Individual:
First Place
“Brilla la Esperanza en Sudán del Sur” — Paul Jeffrey
Third Place
“Ayudando a sobrevivientes a sobrevivir el cambio climático” — Gregg Brekke
Best Photograph – Feature Photo:
First Place
“Brilla la Esperanza en Sudán del Sur” — Paul Jeffrey
Best Photograph – General News Photo:
Second Place
“Brilla la Esperanza en Sudán del Sur” — Paul Jeffrey
ORBIS BOOKS
First Place
Theology: Dan Groody, A Theology of Migration
Saints (canonized or in process): Dorothy Day (Robert Ellsberg, ed.), On Pilgrimage: The Seventies
Catalog: Fall 2022
Second Place
Liturgy Books: Donnelly/Petrus, eds: Catholic Women Preach
First Time Author: Christopher Kellerman, SJ, All Oppression Shall Cease: Slavery and Abolitionism in the Catholic Church
History: Christopher Kellerman, SJ, All Oppression Shall Cease
Reference/Academic Studies: Stan Chu Ilo, ed., Handbook of African Catholicism
Catholic Social Teaching: Clemens Sedmak, Enacting Catholic Social Tradition
Religion in the Public Square: Dorothy Day (Robert Ellsberg, ed.), On Pilgrimage: The Seventies
Pope Francis: Pope Francis, Against War
Mysticism: Carmel Bendon, The Mystics who Came to Dinner
Third Place
Theology: Harvey Cox, A New Heaven: Death, Human Destiny, and the Kingdom of God
Inclusion in the Church: Ansel Augustine, Leveling the Praying Field
Catholic Social Teaching: Cardinal Michael Czerny, Fr. Christian Barone, Siblings All, Sign of the Times: Social Teachings of Pope Francis
Ecumenism or Interfaith: Peter Feldmeier, Wisdom from the World’s Religions
Pope Francis: Cardinal Michael Czerny, Fr. Christian Barone: Siblings All, Sign of the Times
Saints: Victor Edwin, SJ, ed., Brother to All (Charles de Foucauld)
Best Memoir: Sister Wendy Beckett/Robert Ellsberg, Dearest Sister Wendy
Honorable Mention
Theology: Roger Haight, The Nature of Theology
Future Church: Carolyn Woo, Rising: Women’s Leadership in the Catholic Church
Future Church: Donnelly/Petrus, ed., Catholic Women Preach
