For the fifth year in a row, U.S. Catholic was named Magazine of the Year in the National General Interest Magazine category at the Catholic Media Association’s annual awards ceremony. The judges wrote that: “The magazine’s colorful presentation and strong art direction make for an engaging and visually appealing experience. It offers a robust collection of insightful articles and commentary, with well-executed Expert Witness features that connect effectively with readers. The reviews section also stands out, contributing to an overall polished and compelling package.”
U.S. Catholic also received the following awards.
- First place, Best Social Justice podcast: The Glad You Asked podcast, hosted by U.S. Catholic editors Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss. “Glad you Asked provides in-depth discussions on social justice topics in a format that allows for honest relatable dialogue as well as expert analysis,” the judges wrote.
- First place, Best Regular Column, Scripture/Theology: Testaments, by Alice Camille and Emily Sanna. The judges say: “This column is thoughtful, heartfelt, and well-designed. The articles explain essential concepts in a way that readers can understand and connect with by using personal and relatable stories.”
- First Place, Best Illustration with Graphic Design or Art: “Champions of the people,” by Jory Mertens. “Beautiful, vibrantly colorful illustration contextualizes the saintly subjects of the article in new ways, either elevating or grounding the subjects in unexpected ways,” the judges wrote.
- Third Place, Best Coverage of Immigration: For “The Catholics bringing back the tradition of sanctuary,” by Heidi Schlumpf; “Haitian parish in Springfield, Ohio maintains faith amid crisis,” by Peter Feuerherd; and “The immigrant’s journey is also a pilgrimage,” by Cecilia Gonzalez-Andrieu. The judges called this a “strong, cohesive package that approaches immigration through multiple lenses: reported feature writing, lived community impact, and reflective commentary.”
- Honorable Mention, Best coverage of the Jubilee Year: For “What does the Jubilee have to do with debt justice?” by Cassidy Klein; a Glad You Asked episode on “What is a Jubilee year?” with Dean Detloff; and “This Jubilee year, be open to the gift of hope,” by Alice Camille.
- Honorable Mention, Best special issue: U.S. Catholic‘s October 2025 immigration issue
Executive editor Emily Sanna also received an honorable mention in the English-language Editor of the Year category.
“To be named Magazine of the Year for a fifth consecutive year is both an honor and an affirmation of our mission,” said Sanna. “U.S. Catholic aims to help readers navigate the complexities of faith, justice, and everyday life with courage and hope. These awards recognize the extraordinary work of our staff and contributors, who continue to challenge readers and invite them into deeper engagement with the world and the issues affecting their faith. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the church with journalism that is both intellectually rigorous and deeply rooted in Catholic spirituality and teaching.”
Editor-in-chief Claretian Father Ferdinand Okorie echoed this sentiment: “I hope you’re proud of the work you do at U.S. Catholic, as year in and year out our peers in Catholic media take notice and recognize our work and commitment to Roman Catholic journalism,” Okorie wrote to the editorial staff.
