At the Catholic Media Association’s annual conference, Maryknoll’s English and Spanish language magazines win 33 awards, while Orbis Books wins 18 awards.
Maryknoll magazine and its Spanish-language sister publication Misioneros won 33 awards from the Catholic Media Association for outstanding work in 2025, while Maryknoll’s Orbis Books publisher won 18 awards, which were announced Friday, June 19, at the Catholic Media Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Misioneros won six first-place awards, including best in-depth writing for an article by George Black on the 1980 murder of four churchwomen in El Salvador, two of whom were Maryknoll sisters. The magazine also won best reporting on the celebration of a sacrament by Giovana Soria and Andrea Moreno-Díaz for coverage of the ordination of two new Maryknoll priests in June 2025, and Lynn F. Monahan won first place for an interview that accompanied the ordination story with ordaining Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, primarily on the topic of immigration.
Senior Editor Deirdre Cornell won first place for the best parish profile, about a community served by a Maryknoll priest. Of the article, the CMA judges wrote: “The story is a touching and insightful account of the years of dedication required to build up a parish — both physically and spiritually — in a remote region of Guatemala, highlighting the challenges of poverty and migration while emphasizing that the true foundation of the Church lies in the faith and commitment of its people.”
Maryknoll magazine won four first-place awards, including three by photojournalist Paul Jeffrey, who earned accolades for photography, reporting, writing and multi-media work. Jeffrey won first place for best reporting of social justice issues related to the dignity and rights of workers, for an article on a Maryknoll ministry titled “Fishing for Justice in Taiwan.” He also won best photograph in immigration/migration for an image of a Rohingya family at a refugee camp in Bangladesh. He won first place, along with video producer Andrea Moreno-Díaz, in the all-member category for the best multimedia package on social justice issues.
In total, Jeffrey, who is based in Oregon and works around the world for various church-sponsored relief and mission organizations, contributed to 14 awards for Maryknoll and Misioneros magazines, including third place for multimedia journalist of the year.
Calling Jeffrey’s work “compelling and moving,” the CMA judges said, “His work to highlight injustice and inequity around the globe, especially through the eyes and stories of those serving at the front lines, is remarkable. His high-quality visuals help bring the story alive, even though it’s a world away.”
Maryknoll also won first place for the best regular column on political issues by Thomas Gould and Susan Gunn.
Among other highlights, Misioneros earned second place for best website for a Spanish publication; Maryknoll earned second place for mission magazine of the year and third place for best website overall in the magazine category. Associate Editor Giovana Soria took third place as Spanish-language editor of the year.
Judges lauded Maryknoll magazine’s “topical content supported by strong writing and careful editing. The inclusion of immigration coverage is particularly timely and meaningful, adding depth and relevance to the overall work.”
Maryknoll placed third for best cover, featuring a photo by Jeffrey, and Misioneros placed third for best cover in Spanish, featuring a photo by Jeffrey and design by Melissa Romano.
Cornell, Soria and Jeffrey won first place for best reporting on social justice issues related to the life and dignity of the human person in Misioneros, for which each contributed an article. Cornell also placed second for best personality profile, written about the lifelong service of a Maryknoll priest.
Marknoll Father Joseph Veneroso received an honorable mention for best regular column on spiritual life, as well as another honorable mention for best original poetry. Robert Ellsberg, the publisher of Orbis Books, received an honorable mention for “A Tribute to Gustavo Gutiérrez” in the best essay in a mission magazine category.
Orbis Books claimed five first-place awards. The publishing house won first for its Fall 2025 catalog. Also winning first-place awards were Many Paths with Mary, by Michael Rogers; Blessing of a New Dawn, by Mary Boys; African Synodal Theology, by A.E. Orobator; and The Years of Ripening, by Joyce Rupp.
Catholic Media Association awards for Maryknoll
Magazine of the Year — Mission Magazines (Overseas and Home)
Second Place
Maryknoll magazine
Maryknoll magazine Staff
Best Website
Third Place
Maryknoll magazine
Maryknoll magazine Staff
Multimedia Journalist of the Year
Third Place
Paul Jeffrey
Maryknoll magazine
Best Video — Social Justice Issues
Honorable Mention
“Dignity and Rights of Workers” — Paul Jeffrey, Andrea Moreno-Díaz
Best Multimedia Package — Feature
Honorable Mention
“A Maryknoll Heart Beats in Kowloon” — Paul Jeffrey, Andrea Moreno-Díaz
Best Multimedia Package — Social Justice Issues
First Place
“Fishing for Justice in Taiwan” — Paul Jeffrey, Andrea Moreno-Díaz
Best Cover — Small
Third Place
Maryknoll magazine
“Spirit of Hope” — Paul Jeffrey
Best Regular Column — Spiritual Life
Honorable Mention
“Spirit of Mission” — Joseph R. Veneroso, M.M.
Best Regular Column — Political Issues
First Place
“World Watch” — Thomas Gould, Susan Gunn
Best Essay — Mission Magazines (Overseas and Home)
Honorable Mention
“A Tribute to Gustavo Gutiérrez” — Robert Ellsberg
Best Feature Article — Mission Magazines (Overseas and Home)
Third Place
“Fishing for Justice in Taiwan” — Paul Jeffrey
Best Original Poetry
Honorable Mention
“Open Wide the Doors” — Joseph R. Veneroso, M.M.
Best Reporting on Catholic Education
Second Place
“A Maryknoll Heart Beats in Kowloon” — Andrea Moreno-Díaz
Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues — Care for God’s Creation
Second Place
“Planting Climate Justice in the Philippines” — Paul Jeffrey
Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues — Dignity and Rights of Workers
First Place
“Fishing for Justice in Taiwan” — Paul Jeffrey
Best Photograph — Feature
Honorable Mention
“Fishing for Justice in Taiwan” — Paul Jeffrey
Best Photograph — Catholic Education
Second Place
“A Maryknoll Heart Beats in Kowloon” — Paul Jeffrey
Best Photograph — Immigration/Migration
First Place
“Rohingya Family at Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Bangladesh” — Paul Jeffrey
Catholic Media Association awards for Misioneros
Best Website: Spanish Publication
Second Place
Misioneros Maryknoll
Misioneros Staff
Editor of the Year: Spanish Language
Third Place
Giovana Soria
Misioneros Maryknoll
Spanish Publication of the Year
Honorable Mention
Misioneros Maryknoll
Misioneros Staff
Best Cover — Magazine
Third Place
Misioneros Maryknoll
“Foros de esperanza” — Paul Jeffrey, Melissa Romano
Immigration
Second Place
“Dios, presente en mi camino”, “Actos de humanidad en Guatemala” — Leonel Yoque, Giovana Soria
Best Interview
First Place
“Narrativas falsas sobre la inmigración” — Lynn F. Monahan
Best Personality Profile
Second Place
“‘Guarden este tesoro’” — Deirdre Cornell
Best Parish Profile
First Place
“La Esperanza triunfa en Guatemala” — Deirdre Cornell
Best Reporting — On Immigration
Second Place
“Actos de humanidad en Guatemala”, “Narrativas falsas sobre la inmigración”, “La oscuridad de estos tiempos” — Giovana Soria, Lynn F. Monahan, Catherine DeVito, M.M.
Best Reporting — Celebration of a Sacrament
First Place
“Enviados a hacer ‘cosas maravillosas’” — Giovana Soria, Andrea Moreno-Díaz
Best Reporting on Social Justice Issues — Call to Family, Community and Participation
First Place
“Misiones en Latinoamérica”
Misioneros Maryknoll
Best Reporting on Social Justice Issues — Dignity and Rights of Workers
Second Place
“Dios camina con los campesinos migrantes”, “Buscando justicia en alta mar”, “La oscuridad de estos tiempos” — Leonel Yoque, Paul Jeffrey, Catherine DeVito, M.M.
Best Reporting on Social Justice Issues — Life and Dignity of the Human Person
First Place
“Actos de humanidad en Guatemala”, “Cucharas y un trompo”, “Buscando justicia en alta mar” — Giovana Soria, Deirdre Cornell, Paul Jeffrey
Best Reporting on Social Justice Issues — Solidarity
Third Place
“Dando la bienvenida a héroes migrantes”, “Dios camina con los campesinos migrantes”, “Catedrales de árboles de mango” — Giovana Soria, Leonel Yoque, Marj Humphrey
Best Writing — In-Depth
First Place
“Recordando a las mártires” — George Black
