Received: Your Journey to First Communion added “1st Place in Faith Formation” to its existing list of accolades from the Association of Catholic Publishers and the Telly Awards.
Ascension has earned 14 prizes and 8 honorable mentions at the Book Awards hosted by the Catholic Media Association, exceeding the leader in faith formation’s record of 14 wins and 3 honorable mentions in 2023.
The sacramental preparation programs Renewed: Your Journey to First Reconciliation and Received: Your Journey to First Communion received 6 accolades between them, including 1st place in “Faith Formation.” The video-based formation programs for young children have previously earned Telly awards for video excellence and book awards from the Association of Catholic Publishers for “Resources in Liturgy” and “Resources for Ministry.”
The Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz Collection also fared well, earning 1st place in “Religious Book Series.” Individual volumes of the collection additionally earned 1st place in “Morality, Ethics, Christology, Mariology, Redemption, etc.” and 2nd place in “Pastoral Ministry: Youth & Young Adult.”
Ascension’s list of winners featured a list of authors both debut and seasoned, including:
- Annie and John-Paul Deddens
- Lillian Fallon
- Melissa Kirking
- Megan Madden
- Dr. Matthew K. Minerd (translator)
- Fr. Mike Schmitz
- Suzy Senior
- Dr. Edward Sri
- Dr. Andrew and Sarah Swafford
- Fr. Mark Toups
- Dr. Andrew Whitmore
- Shannon Whitmore
Married couples Swafford and Deddens each co-wrote a book with their spouse, while the Whitmores were both recognized for individual titles.
Other highlights from this year’s results include:
- 1st place category wins in the categories of:
- Faith Formation
- Morality, Ethics, Christology, Mariology, Redemption, etc.
- Religious Book Series
- Spirituality: Contemporary
- Two winners and/or honorable mentions in the categories of:
- Collections of Prayers
- First Time Author of Theological Subject Matters
- Morality, Ethics, Christology, Mariology, Redemption, etc.
- Pastoral Ministry—Catechetical
- Sacraments
Multiple titles recognized as resources for prayer and Eucharistic devotion—particularly apt in this time of Eucharistic Revival
2024 Winning Titles (A-Z)
Are You Saved? The Catholic Understanding of Salvation (by Fr. Mike Schmitz)
- 1st Place: Morality, Ethics, Christology, Mariology, Redemption, etc.
- 2nd Place: Collections of Prayers
Children’s Parable Stories (by Suzy Senior)
- 2nd Place: Children’s Book Series
The Confessions of St. Augustine [Catholic Classics, Translated by Dr. Matthew K. Minerd]
- Honorable Mention: English Translation Edition
The Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz Collection (by Fr. Mike Schmitz)
- 1st Place: Religious Book Series
- 1st Place: Spirituality: Contemporary
Jesus + Me: Talking with My Greatest Friend (by Melissa Kirking)
- 2nd Place: Jesus—Christology
Mary, Teach Me to Be Your Daughter: Finding Yourself in the Blessed Mother (by Megan Madden)
- Honorable Mention: First Time Author of Theological Subject Matters
Pocket Guide to Novenas (by Annie and John-Paul Deddens)
- 2nd Place: Spirituality—Classical
- Honorable Mention: Collections of Prayers
Renewed: Your Path to First Reconciliation
Received: Your Path to First Communion
- 1st Place: Faith Formation (Received)
- Honorable Mention: Pastoral Ministry—Catechetical (Both titles)
- Honorable Mention: Sacraments (Both titles)
Saintly Habits: Aquinas’ 7 Simple Strategies You Can Use to Grow in Virtue (by Dr. Andrew Whitmore)
- 2nd Place: Morality, Ethics, Christology, Mariology, Redemption, etc.
- Honorable Mention: Pastoral Ministry—Parish Life
Theology of Style: Expressing the Unique and Unrepeatable You (by Lillian Fallon)
- 2nd Place: First Time Author of Theological Subject Matters
- 3rd Place: Lifestyle Books
Untroubled by the Unknown: Trusting God in Every Moment (by Fr. Mike Schmitz)
- 2nd Place: Pastoral Ministry: Youth & Young Adult
When You Pray: A Clear Path to a Deeper Relationship with God (Dr. Edward Sri)
- 2nd Place: Pastoral Ministry: Catechetical
- 2nd Place: Prayer Books
Editor’s note: The original version of this press release cited 9 honorable mentions for Ascension. The accurate number is 8. The above has been updated with this correction.
About the Catholic Media Association
The Catholic Media Association was founded over a century ago. Today, its mission is “to build and strengthen the value, effectiveness, and identity of Catholic media.”
Media Contact
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About Ascension
Ascension is a multimedia network and the leader in Catholic faith formation and digital content. Over the past 25 years, Ascension has helped to nurture the faith of more than 10 million Catholics through award-winning books, the chart-topping Bible in a Year and Catechism in a Year podcasts, more than 50 unique faith formation programs, and Ascension Presents, which hosts the largest Catholic YouTube channel in English.