The Criterion again honored as nation’s best weekly Catholic newspaper

The front page of the July 19, 2024, issue of The Criterion, which covered the eucharistic pilgrimages that—from four edges of the United States—were converging in Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress.

Criterion staff report

For the third time in four years, The Criterion won the highest award presented by the Catholic Media Association of the United States and Canada (CMA) for its work in 2024. It also won the award in 2021 and 2023.

Judges honored the archdiocesan publication with the first-place award for the “Best Weekly Newspaper” at the annual CMA conference on June 27 in Phoenix.

“This publication touches many topics, and for all ages of the community it serves,” judges wrote. “This reads and feels like a well-connected, solid publication that knows and converses with its audience.”

Staff members cited for their work by the CMA include Mike Krokos, John Shaughnessy, Sean Gallagher, Natalie Hoefer, Brandon A. Evans, Ann Lewis, and editorial writer Daniel Conway.

Sally Krause, archdiocesan executive director of communications, congratulated the staff for being honored as the best weekly newspaper in 2024, saying the recognition is well deserved.

“This honor exemplifies the ongoing commitment that The Criterion staff brings to each issue as Archbishop Charles C. Thompson’s primary evangelization tool by sharing powerful and transforming stories about the faith,” said Krause, who also serves as associate publisher of the newspaper. “More than ever, our culture needs the voice provided by our staff and other Catholic journalists.”

All told, The Criterion won 19 press awards from the CMA, Woman’s Press Club of Indiana (WPCI) and National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) for the 2024 calendar year.

CMA awards

Criterion assistant editor John Shaughnessy was awarded first place in the “Best Personality Profile—weekly newspaper” category for his article “CYO legend Bernie Price ‘keeps going’ with joy and faith in her fight against cancer.”

“This story portrays such an inspiring human being,” judges said. “It’s well-written and makes the reader feel as though they truly know her and are right there with her during the interview. Her ‘sparkling eyes’ and positive attitude shine through beautifully. Wow!”

Shaughnessy also won first place in the “Best Sports Journalism—Sports feature or column” category for “The story of a coach, a team, brothers, a family—and the love that grew in 8 days.” It focused on the eight days after Bishop Chatard girls’ basketball coach Dan Wagner unexpectedly lost his older brother, the impact of his brother’s life and death on him, and the love and the strength that the girls on his team gave him during a time he needed those gifts the most.

“Grab your Kleenex for this one!” judges wrote. “It was tremendously told and captures so many people and moments so well in what can be a very difficult story to tell. So happy I got the chance to read it!”

Reporter Sean Gallagher was awarded first place in the “Best Reporting on Priesthood, Religious Life and Diaconate—Series” category. The package included five articles, including: “Love for Christ calls father and son to ordained ministry in the archdiocese,” and “Joy of the Gospel flows forth from father, son in ordination Mass,” which highlighted the unique relationship of permanent deacon Thomas Hosty and his son, Liam Hosty, who was ordained a transitional deacon in 2024 as part of his journey to being ordained a priest in the archdiocese in June of this year.

The other stories in the package included “At 96, priest continues to show youthful vitality after 70 years of ministry,” a feature about retired Father Paul Landwerlen, who died earlier this year on May 25; “Congress shows off the Church’s broad variety of ordained, religious vocations,” a story from the National Eucharistic Congress held in Indianapolis in 2024, and “Father Thomas Kovatch finds happiness in leading others to Christ and the Church in Bloomington and around the world,” an article about Father Kovatch’s vocation and living out his ministry in the local Church and beyond.

“Every story in this package was compelling; one brought me to tears,” a judge wrote. “One way to know when the writing is great: I had to go back a second time because I was so captivated by the stories during the first read-through.”

Gallagher also won second place in the “Best Regular Column—Family Life” category for his monthly “Faith and Family” column.

“This relatable column offers actionable insight on everyday living,” judges wrote. “It provides a perspective that both elevates and grounds the reader.”

Reporter Natalie Hoefer earned a second place award in “Best News Writing Series—National Event” category for stories highlighting events leading up to and coverage of the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress.

The package included: “Eucharistic pilgrimage routes meet in Indy with Christ leading the way”; “Encountering Christ in the Eucharist leads to encountering him in others, says papal nuncio”; “Newlyweds volunteer at National Eucharistic Congress as ‘co-workers in the vineyard’ ”; “Ministry helps congress attendees ‘encounter the face of the poor’ in Indy”; and “Eucharistic Congress sessions advise on building faith-filled families.”

Commenting on the article “Eucharistic pilgrimage routes meet in Indy with Christ leading the way,” judges wrote, “With plenty of angles and profiles, this piece provides an excellent overview of why the Eucharistic Congress was important and how it resonated locally—an impressive entry in a very competitive category.”

Shaughnessy won an honorable mention award in the “Best Reporting on Priesthood, Religious Life or Diaconate—One Shot” category for his story “Woman’s remarkable journey in life leads to living ‘a dream that God has for me.’ ” The article was a feature on the life of Carmelite Sister Marie Nguyen and her family’s ongoing challenge to get from communist Vietnam to the United States, where they eventually settled and she pursued a religious vocation later in life as a Carmelite nun at St. Joseph Monastery in Terre Haute.

Editorial writer Daniel Conway received an honorable mention award in the “Best Editorial on a National or International Issue—weekly newspaper” category for “Finding beauty, goodness and truth through the Church,” which focused on synodality and how we are called to journey together, “sharing with our sisters and brothers the beauty, goodness and truth that we discover as we walk together following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.”

Editor Mike Krokos also earned an honorable mention award in the “Best Editorial on a National or International Issue—weekly newspaper” category for “We are called to bring love to a world where it often seems missing.” The editorial highlighted the chaos that is constantly prevalent around the world and how “we are called to be ministers of love, seeing Jesus in others and being Jesus to others, [and] meant to go out in the world as agents of peace and reconciliation.”

WPCI awards

The recognition for work completed during the 2024 calendar year began in May when Hoefer was honored by WPCI. She garnered four first-place awards in the state competition, one second-place award and an honorable mention. The first-place winners were:

—Specialty-Social Issues: “Program gives those released from jail ‘that support to move forward.’ ”

—Specialty-Religion: “Ministry helps congress attendees ‘encounter the face of the poor’ in Indy.”

—Photographer-writer: “Sisters of Life tell record Indiana March for Life crowd ‘you are a hope to this nation.’ ”

—Single Poem: “This Advent-tide.”

In the Specialty-Art category, Hoefer received a second-place award for “Sculptures at congress ‘crystallize a moment,’ touching hearts and souls.”

Her honorable mention award was in the Specialty-Expanded Obituary category for the article “Father Mark Weaver ‘died like he lived,’ setting ‘his sights on Jesus.’ ”

All of Hoefer’s WPCI first-place entries advanced to the NFPW national competition.

NFPW awards

Hoefer’s recognition from this national organization included:

—First Place—Specialty Articles—Religion, for “Ministry helps congress attendees ‘encounter the face of the poor’ in Indy.”

—Second Place—Creative Verse—Single poem for “This Advent-tide.”

—Honorable Mention—Specialty Articles—Social issues, for “Program gives those released from jail ‘that support to move forward.’ ”

—Honorable Mention—Photography—Photographer-writer, for “Sisters of Life tell record Indiana March for Life crowd ‘you are a hope to this nation.’ ”

“We’re grateful to be able to serve the people of central and southern Indiana by reporting on the local Church,” Krause noted, “as well as bringing them news of the Catholic faith from around the world.” †

 

Related story: Father Daniel Mahan honored by publishers for 2024 book on catechism