BALTIMORE, MD — The Association of Catholic Publishers (ACP) is pleased to announce the finalists for the Excellence in Publishing Awards. The goal of these awards is to recognize the best in Catholic publishing.

Awards will be given for books falling into eight categories: Biography, Children’s Books, General Interest, Inspirational, Prayer and Spirituality, Resources for Ministry, Scripture, and Theology. A “Book of the Year” will be named from among the first-place finishers of the eight categories.

“Music and mercy have found their way to the top of the lists this year, followed by an assortment of ancient and contemporary models of discipleship,” noted Therese Brown, ACP’s executive director. “Like last year, Pope Francis’ presence is visible across multiple categories, inspiring titles on mercy and those for specific audiences like children.”

Almost a quarter of the publisher members are represented by these titles. Liturgical Press and Paulist Press have six finalists each in four and five different categories, respectively.

Each category was judged by a three-person panel, which reviewed and evaluated the entries down to up to eight titles, all of which will move on to the final round of judging. First, second, and third place winners will be announced in June.

The finalists by category are:

Biography

A Still and Quiet Conscience (Orbis Books); Elizabeth Ann Seton (Pauline Books and Media); Flannery O'Connor (Liturgical Press); Fly While You Still Have Wings (Ave Maria Press); Joan Chittister: Her Journey from Certainty to Faith (Orbis Books); Oscar Romero: Prophet of Hope (Pauline Books and Media); Pure Act: The Uncommon Life of Robert Lax (Fordham University Press)

 

Children’s Books

Before I Sleep: I Say Thank You (Pauline Books and Media); Catholic Corner Volume 5: Prayers and Practices (World Library Publications); Drop By Drop (Loyola Press); Everybody Has a Body (Pauline Books and Media); Francis, the Pope for Kids (Liguori Publications); Green Street Park (Loyola Press); Michael the Archangel: Protector of God's People (Liguori Publications); Our Father Is . . . (Paulist Press)

 

General Interest

Catholic Economics (Liturgical Press); Habits of Resilience: A Grief Workbook with Practices and Reflections for Healing and Growth (Twenty-Third Publications); Morning Homilies: Pope Francis (Orbis Books); Pope Francis' Revolution of Tenderness and Love (Paulist Press); Stripped: At the Intersection of Cancer, Culture, and Christ (Loyola Press); The Gaze of Mercy (Word Among Us); Vatican II (Paulist Press)

 

Inspirational

Dear Young People: Inspiration from Pope Francis for Everyone (World Library Publications); Family, the Church, and the Real World (Liguori Publications); Monastic Practices (Liturgical Press); My Badass Book of Saints (Ave Maria Press); Our Lady, Undoer of Knots (Ave Maria Press); Saint Peter: Flawed, Forgiven, and Faithful (Loyola Press); The Beatitudes (Paulist Press); The Catholic Drinkie's Guide to Homebrewed Evangelism (Liguori Publications); When the Saints Came Marching In (Liturgical Press)

 

Prayer & Spirituality

Crossing the Threshhold of Mercy (Paulist Press); Just Prayer (Liturgical Press); Living in the Sacred (RENEW International); Sanctuary: Creating a Space for Grace in Your Life (Loyola Press); The Between Time: Savoring the Sacred Moments of Everyday Life (Twenty-Third Publications); Walk With Christ: Celebrating the Way of the Nativity, the Cross and the Resurrection (Clear Faith Publishing); Welcome, Faithful Presence: A Week of Praying the Hours with Henri Nouwen (Clear Faith Publishing)

 

Resources for Ministry

Living Your Discipleship: A Practical Guide to Following Christ in Daily Life (Twenty-Third Publications); Mystagogy of the Eucharist (Liturgical Press); Proclaim the Gospel in Song: More Warm-Ups for the Musicians's Spirit (World Library Publications); Reimagining the Ignatian Examen: Fresh Ways to Pray from Your Day (Loyola Press); The Spirituality of the Psalms: Prayers for All Times (Twenty-Third Publications); To Be One in Christ (Liturgical Press); When We Sing: Simple Techniques for Conducting Children's Choirs (World Library Publications)

 

Scripture

Divine Mercy (part of the Threshold Bible Study series) (Twenty-Third Publications); Luke: My Spirit Rejoices (RENEW International); Sagas, Scholars & Searchers: Why the Bible Is the Atheist's Best Friend (Clear Faith Publishing); The Holy Year of Mercy (Word Among Us)

 

Theology

A Holy Yet Sinful Church (Liturgical Press); Abounding in Kindness (Orbis Books); Jesus and Salvation (Liturgical Press); The Sacraments (Paulist Press)

 

A brief explanation of each category follows.  Books in the “Biography” category must be about Catholics whose work has made a valuable contribution to the Church and the world on a local level or a universal level. “Children’s Books” are for ages up 18. These titles may provide instruction on specific aspects or general information about the Catholic faith, the Church, or Catholicism.

Books in the “General Interest” category include Church history, collections of essays by theologians or important Catholic thinkers. The “Inspirational” book category focuses on devotional, spiritual, and meditation books and books on saints, holy people, and stories related to people living their faith. “Prayer and Spirituality” are books centered on prayer or spiritual reflection, and include any theme for organizing and presenting such content.

“Resources for Ministry” includes any book that serves as a faith formation tool in parish ministry for sacrament preparation, catechesis (other than basal programs), adult faith formation, and for use in enrichment programs.

The category of “Scripture” includes books about Scripture, whether scholarly treatments of particular books or collections of books of the Bible. Bibles are excluded from this category. “Theology” includes books on the topic of Catholic theology, whether scholarly monographs or more popular treatments of theological aspects of Catholic teaching on, for example, the sacraments, the nature of the Church.

The Association of Catholic Publishers (ACP) is a membership organization of Catholic publishers, those who provide services to Catholic publishers, and individuals who work with Catholic publishers. The ACP provides opportunities for members to further the Catholic publishing industry, promote Catholic publishing and reading, and engage those they interact with, including retailers, pastoral leaders, individual customers, and staff.

To schedule interviews, contact Therese Brown at 410-988-2926 or at [email protected].