2026 Book Winners Announced

Ave Maria Press Earns 28 Catholic Media Awards and 4 Honors from the Association of Catholic Publishers

NOTRE DAME, Ind.—Ave Maria Press received 28 honors in the 2026 Catholic Media Awards, recognizing excellence in Catholic publishing across books, ministry resources, design, and digital media. The publisher also received four awards in the 2026 Association of Catholic Publishers Excellence in Publishing Awards.

Seven titles earned multiple awards, with The Transformative Power of Small Groups and First Reconciliation and Beyond receiving the most recognition, each garnering three honors.

Catholic Media Award Winners:

First Place Awards

Catholic Social Teaching—Praying with the Popes: Words of Hope and Peace form Leo XIII to Leo XIV
(Editor: Eileen Ponder; Designer: Brianna Dombo Nicholson)

Backlist Beauty—Abide: A Pathway to Transformative Healing and Intimacy with Jesus by Heather Khym
(Editor: Kristi McDonald; Katherine Robinson)

Catholic Morality Finding Truth in God's Law cover image

Morality and Ethics—Catholic Morality: Finding Truth in God’s Law
(Editor: Michael Amodei; Designer: Christopher D. Tobin)

Second Place Awards

Pastoral Ministry—Parish Life: First Reconciliation and Beyond: A Family’s Guide for Learning and Living Forgiveness by Katie Prejean McGrady and Tommy McGrady
(Editor: Eileen Ponder; Designer: Brianna Dombo Nicholson and Christopher D. Tobin)

Church Professional—The Transformative Power of Small Groups by Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran
(Editor: Eileen Ponder; Designer: Andy Wagoner)

The cover of 'The Frassati Field Guide' featuring the title and subtitle 'An 8-Day Ascent to Heroic Virtue', the author's name, Bobby Angel, and a portrait of Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Newly Canonized Saints or Those in the Process—The Frassati Field Guide: An 8-Day Ascent to Heroic Virtue by Bobby Angel
(Editor: Josh Noem; Designer: Andy Wagoner)

Cover image of book " Fierce and Tender Love"

Front Cover Artwork—A Fierce and Tender Love: 7 Meditations on Mary, Mother of God by Timothy P. O'Malley
(Editor: Eileen Ponder; Designer: Andy Wagoner)

The cover of 'The Essential Cardinal Newman Collection' featuring a black and white portrait of John Henry Newman

Anthology—The Essential Cardinal Newman Collection: Prayers, Meditations, and Other Spiritual Writings by John Henry Newman
(Editor: Robert Harig; Designer: Brianna Dombo Nicholson)

Backlist Beauty—Set the World on Fire: A 4-Week Personal Retreat with the Female Doctors of the Church by Vinita Hampton Wright
(Editor: Kristi McDonald; Designer: Samantha Watson)

Scripture: Series—Bible Basics for Catholics (Expanded Edition) by John Bergsma
(Editor: Kristi McDonald; Designer: Samantha Watson)

Third Place Awards

Adult Devotions and Prayer—The Frassati Field Guide: An 8-Day Ascent to Heroic Virtue by Bobby Angel
(Editor: Josh Noem; Designer: Andy Wagoner)

Book cover of 'First Communion and Beyond' with a blue background and chalice illustration.

Pastoral Ministry: Parish Life—First Communion and Beyond: A Family's Guide to Eucharistic Joy by Katie and Tommy McGrady
(Editor: Eileen Ponder; Designer: Brianna Dombo Nicholson and Christopher D. Tobin)

The cover of the book 'Is Belief Believable?' by Christopher Kaczor features an image of a group of people in historical clothing, with a focus on a text-based design.

Philosophical Studies—Is Belief Believable? Reasoning About God from Plato and Aquinas to C. S. Lewis and Jordan Peterson by Christopher Kaczor
(Editor: Robert Harig; Designer: Andy Wagoner)

Mariology—A Fierce and Tender Love: 7 Meditations on Mary, Mother of God by Timothy P. O'Malley
(Editor: Eileen Ponder; Designer: Andy Wagoner)

Cover of Friendship Resent with a group of young people around a fire on the beach

Book for Young Adults (Ages 12-18)—Friendship Reset: Ditch the Drama and Find Your Crew by Maggie Craig
(Editor: Kristi McDonald; Designer:

Cover image of the Homefront Devotional with a home and window displaying the American Flag

First-Time Author of Theological Subject Matters—The Homefront Devotional: Navigate Military Life with Courage, Hope, and Faith by Tara McMullen
(Editor: Josh Noem; Designer: Andy Wagoner)

Best Website—General Publisher: Ave Maria Press

Religious Book Series—Illuminate: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation Fr. John Nepil
(Editor: Kristi McDonald; Designer: Brianna Dombo Nicholson)

Catalog—Ave Maria Press Spring 2025

Honorable Mention Awards

Book cover of 'The Reed of God' with decorative gold design on a green background

Spirituality Classical—The Reed of God Deluxe Hardcover Edition by Caryll Houselander
(Designer: Brianna Dombo Nicholson)

Pastoral Ministry: Parish Life—The Transformative Power of Small Groups by Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran
(Editor: Eileen Ponder; Designer: Andy Wagoner)

Theological Studies—Is Belief Believable? Reasoning About God from Plato and Aquinas to C. S. Lewis and Jordan Peterson by Christopher Kaczor
(Editor: Robert Harig; Designer: Andy Wagoner)

Sacraments—First Reconciliation and Beyond: A Family’s Guide for Learning and Living Forgiveness by Katie Prejean McGrady and Tommy McGrady
(Editor: Eileen Ponder; Designer: Brianna Dombo Nicholson and Christopher D. Tobin)

Sacraments—First Communion and Beyond: A Family's Guide to Eucharistic Joy by Katie and Tommy McGrady
(Editor: Eileen Ponder; Designer: Brianna Dombo Nicholson and Christopher D. Tobin)

Family Life—Lovemaking: How to Talk about Sex with Your Spouse by Renzo and Monica Ortega
(Editor: John Noem; Designer: Christopher D. Tobin)

Book cover of 'Pray Like a Champion Today' with a football player and coach on a blue background

First-Time Author of Theological Subject Matters—Pray Like a Champion Today by Fr. Nate Wills, CSC
(Editor: Josh Noem; Designer: Christopher D. Tobin)

Book cover for 'First Reconciliation and Beyond' featuring an illustration of a confessional booth with a green background, along with the text 'Tommy and Katie McGrady, hosts of Family Mass Prep on Hallow.'.

Religious Book Series—First Reconciliation and Beyond: A Family’s Guide for Learning and Living Forgiveness by Katie Prejean McGrady and Tommy McGrady
(Editor: Eileen Ponder; Designer: Brianna Dombo Nicholson and Christopher D. Tobin)

Book for Young Adults (Ages 12-18)—Advent and Christmas: One Day at a Time for Catholic Teens by Katie and Tommy McGrady
(Editor: Eileen Ponder; Designer: Samantha Watson)

Association of Catholic Publishers 2026 Excellence in Publishing Award Winners:

First Place Awards

Prayer: Seasonal Resources—Witness: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation by Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP
(Designer: Kristi McDonald; Designer: Brianna Dombo Nicholson)

Second Place Awards

Prayer: General—The Homefront Devotional: Navigate Military Life with Courage, Hope, and Faith by Tara McMullen
(Editor: Josh Noem; Designer: Andy Wagoner)

Cover of the book 'Behold the Wonder' featuring a close-up image of a baby's face, with the title and author names, Catherine Cavadini and Anastassia Cassady, prominently displayed.

Prayer: Seasonal Resources—Behold the Wonder: The Coming of Christ Through Mary’s Eyes by Catherine Cavadini and Anastassia Cassady
(Editor: Eileen Ponder and Robert Harig; Designer: Brianna Dombo Nicholson)

Resources for Ministry—The Transformative Power of Small Groups by Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran
(Editor: Eileen Ponder; Designer: Andy Wagoner)