The Catholic Spirit wins seven media awards, Office of Communications wins four

By The Catholic Spirit

The Catholic Spirit won seven awards and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ Office of Communications won four awards at the 2023 Catholic Media Conference’s awards ceremony, which celebrated the 2022 work of Catholic Media Association members.

Participants can submit work for the awards in a variety of categories that highlight writing, design, photography, production and editing. Awards honor “the outstanding work of members in their efforts to further the mission of the Church,” said the CMA, which serves professional Catholic communicators in the United States and Canada, on its website.

The June 9 awards banquet was held in Baltimore at the conclusion of the CMA conference held June 6-9. Below are the awards The Catholic Spirit and the Office of Communications won this year.

The stories can be found in print editions and online at TheCaTholiCSpiriT Com The Office of Communications videos can be found on the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ website arChSpm org and social media.

First Place (4)

Best in-depth news/special reporting – non-weekly, first place: “Troubling past: The Church’s role in America’s Indian boarding school era” April 28 print edition — Maria Wiering

Best story and photo package – by an individual, first place: “Pray Ball: Catholic Softball Group puts Jesus at the center of weekly gatherings on the diamond” June 30 print edition — Dave Hrbacek

Best personality profile – non-weekly, first place: “On the cusp of 80, Mary Jo Copeland is unwavering” Sept. 15 print edition — Christina Capecchi, for The Catholic Spirit

Best story and photo package – by two individuals or more, first place: “On the cusp of 80, Mary Jo Copeland is unwavering” Sept. 15 print edition — Christina Capecchi and Dave Hrbacek

Second Place (3)

Best analysis/background/round-up news writing

– The Gerard E. Sherry Award – non-weekly, second place: “MCC urges people to consider the dangers of recreational marijuana” Oct. 14, 2021 print edition (start of a series that ran through 2022) — Joe Ruff Best print special supplement – on a bishop’s transition, second place: “‘Follow Christ’ — At Jan. 25 ordination, Bishop Williams encourages faithful to share Gospel” Jan. 27 print edition— The Catholic Spirit staff Individual excellence – photographer of the year, second place: Dave Hrbacek

First Place (1)

Hot topic – the Dobbs decision, first place: “We Need More Love, More Life!” — Archbishop Bernard Hebda, Zach Jansen, Tom Halden

A parishioner of St. Matthew in St. Paul won honorable mentions for best book cover artwork and best Catholic novel in the 2023 Catholic Media Association’s Book Awards. Margaret A. Blenkush was recognized for her work, “The Doctor of Bellechester.”

Blenkush, who worked in religious education in parishes and at the chancery of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis beginning in the 1980s until her retirement in 2005, said “receiving this book honor confirms my belief that the deepest desires of our heart were put there by a loving God. If we listen, trust and pray, those desires will be fulfilled in the most amazing way.”

The cover artist, Lisa Kosmo of Two Harbors, drew in oil the image of a tree limb encircling like a picture frame two people at a bustling city’s park bench.

Written during the COVID-19 pandemic to take readers away from difficulties and violence of the moment, Blenkush’s book follows the challenges and triumphs, and the value of mentorship and friendship, in the life of a young female doctor in a central London hospital in 1959. The book is available at St. Patrick’s Guild gift and religious supply store in St. Paul and the author’s website, margaretblenkush com

Third Place (2)

Best diocesan pastoral message – audio or video, third place: “Archbishop Hebda’s Invitation to Read the Pastoral Letter” — Office of Communications staff Best use of live video in social media, third place: “PLAM Dobbs Decision Rally” — Zach Jansen

Honorable Mention (1)

Best video – hot topic – the Dobbs decision, honorable mention: “Archbishop Bernard Hebda’s Statement Regarding Dobbs Ruling by U.S. Supreme Court” — Tom Halden, Zach Jansen

Complete awards details can be found online at CaTholiCmediaConferenCe org/liSTS