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Catholic San Francisco won seven awards in the 2019 Catholic Press Awards contest announced June 21 in St. Petersburg, Fla., including second place for "Best Newspaper." The photo above, taken Aug. 29, 2018 at St. Anselm Parish in Ross, accompanied a Sept. 13 story on local parishioner response to the clergy sex abuse crisis. The story won a second place award for news writing in the same contest.
June 24, 2019
Christina Gray
Catholic San Francisco
Catholic San Francisco was named one of the best Catholic newspapers in North America on June 21 at the Catholic Press Association’s 2019 conference in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The paper, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, received a second place for general excellence among newspapers with a circulation of more than 25,000 in the CPA’s annual Catholic Press Awards competition. This is the second general excellence award for the paper in a row. Editor Rick DelVecchio was named editor of the year in last year’s awards competition.
“Catholic San Francisco approaches its journalism role with diligence and without fear to explain to its readers the serious stories facing the archdiocese and the church today,” judges wrote. “Incorporating a mix of news about the church and its people from the corners of the world, the paper completes a well-rounded presentation of news the faithful need to know.”
The annual CPA competition celebrates excellence in Catholic journalism and communication including digital content, social media, photography and video, advertising, graphic design, books, movies and diocesan communication. The work of Catholic communicators from member organizations representing dioceses throughout the U.S. and Canada is judged by a committee of member-peers.
Catholic San Francisco also received six other awards in the competition: a first place, a second place, two third places and two honorable mentions.
Father Charles Puthota, pastor of St. Veronica Church in South San Francisco, won a first place award for best regular column for his regular Scripture reflection column in Catholic San Francisco.
“Father Puthota is a storyteller that amplifies the greatest story ever told with his commentary on the Word of God,” wrote judges of his entries.
Mercy Sister Eloise Rosenblatt received a third place award in the same category.
“It is her insight into the implications of the Scripture that offer us guidance on what to reflect on and how Scripture can change our thinking and our lives,” the judges said.
Catholic San Francisco reporter Christina Gray won second place for best news writing on a local event with her Sept. 13, 2018 cover story headlined, “Marin pastors gather reeling parishioners to talk about church crisis.”
“A well-balanced, non-sensational report of a parish dealing with the clergy sex abuse crisis in the church,” wrote judges. Gray received an honorable mention in the same category for her April 26, 2018 story, “Good Shepherd pastoral assembly pivotal event in parish renewal.”
Contributing writer Araceli Martinez and editor Rick DelVecchio were recognized with a third place award for feature writing for the Feb. 22, 2018 story, “Slow Medicine,” the story of a non-Catholic local doctor inspired by Catholic ideals to write a book about the healing “magic” of an unhurried doctor-patient relationship.
“What a character and what a story,” wrote judges. “God bless SF. The writing is very good throughout.”
Finally, Catholic San Francisco received an honorable mention for the layout and design of a four-page promotional house ad section called, “Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal.” The section presented the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ June 2018 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in a compelling, easy-to-read format.
The Catholic Press Association has been uniting and serving Catholic communicators in the United States and Canada since 1911. It has nearly 225 publication members and 600 individual members. Its vision affirms that effective communications lie at the heart of the church’s mission to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to all.
Catholic San Francisco’s winning stories and columns can be found online in the newspaper’s 2018 archive at catholic-sf.org.