The Catholic Spirit was honored with 13 awards for writing and photography at the Catholic Media Convention June 20 to 22 in Indianapolis.
The awards, for work completed in 2011, are given by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada.
1st place awards
- Best coverage of a routine sacramental event, The Catholic Spirit staff for “2011 Priest Ordinations,” a special section that profiled five men ordained priests.
- Best regular special supplement, the staff for “Leading With Faith,” an annual section honoring men and women business leaders who live their faith in the workplace.
- Best feature writing, Dave Hrbacek for “Tragedy Transformed,” a story about a local Catholic couple working to educate other families about teen suicide following the suicide of their daughter.
- Best sports journalism feature, Dave Hrbacek for “Former NFL QB hands off skills, faith to Pioneer team,” about Hill-Murray football coach and former professional quarterback Brooks Bollinger.
2nd place awards
- Best editorial section, for “This Catholic Life” by the staff.
- Best editorial on a national or international issue, Joe Towalski for “John Paul II’s words offer guidance for budget debates.”
- Best news writing, Pat Norby for “Job market: Good news, bad news,” about how some local parishes offer practical and spiritual help to the unemployed.
- Best reporting on children, the staff for “Catholic Schools Week” section
- Best reporting on teenagers, Pat Norby for “Cristo Rey students step out and up,” about the Minneapolis Jesuit high school’s first graduates.
3rd place awards
- Best editorial on a local issue, Joe Towalski for “Extreme sports, good times and the new evangelization,” about last winter’s Crashed Ice skating competition at the Cathedral and how it was an opportunity for evangelization.
- Best personality profile, Julie Carroll for “To hell and back,” for a profile on military chaplain Father Jerome Fehn, whose tours of duty have included Bosnia and Iraq.
Honorable mentions
- Best photo story originating with a newspaper, Dave Hrbacek for “Journey through the Easter Triduum.”
- Best freestanding online/multimedia presentation of photo slideshow, Jim Bovin, Dianne Towalski and Dave Hrbacek for “WWII Vet,” about the remains of a World War II soldier coming home after more than 60 years for a funeral at St. John the Baptist in Dayton.