Word on Fire Publishing, Recognized 41 Times, Top Award-Getter Among Catholic Publishers
ROCHESTER, MN – Bishop Robert Barron, founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and Bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester (Minnesota), has been named the 2024 “Author of the Year” by the Catholic Media Association. Bishop Barron released three new books last year, including This Is My Body: A Call to Eucharistic Revival, which sold over 1.3 million copies and became one of the bestselling books in the entire United States.
Dr. Holly Ordway, Cardinal Francis George Professor of Faith and Culture at the Word on Fire Institute, was named runner-up in the “Author of the Year” category, receiving a Second Place honor for her groundbreaking study Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual Biography and As Kingfishers Catch Fire, an annotated collection of poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins.
The Catholic Media Association also recognized Word on Fire Publishing, granting it more accolades than any other book publisher, including 41 awards across several categories, such as Theological and Philosophical Studies, Poetry, Scripture, Pastoral Ministry, Collections of Prayers, and Children’s Books, among others. In many categories, Word on Fire earned both First and Second Place finishes, such as the Design and Production and Theological and Philosophical Studies categories.
“I was grateful to be recognized by the Catholic Media Association as their 2024 ‘Author of the Year,’” said Bishop Barron, founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and Bishop of Winona-Rochester. “This has been a marquee year for Word on Fire Publishing in our mission to creatively engage the contemporary culture with Christ’s revelation, a revelation of beauty, goodness, and truth. I congratulate all of this year’s winners, most especially all the outstanding authors and illustrators at Word on Fire, and I would like to recognize in a special way Word on Fire’s publishing team along with all the staff who work tirelessly to distribute, promote, and support their efforts,” said Bishop Barron.
Full List of Word on Fire awardees Here:
AUTHOR OF THE YEAR
First Place – Bishop Robert Barron
Second Place – Holly Ordway
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
First Place – The Word on Fire Bible, Volume III: The Pentateuch
Second Place – Socrates’ Children by Peter Kreeft
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION – CHILDREN’S BOOK
First Place – The Golden Key and Other Fairy Tales by George MacDonald
Second Place – Saintly Creatures by Alexi Sargeant
THEOLOGICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES
First Place – The Theology of Robert Barron by Matthew Levering
Second Place – Socrates’ Children by Peter Kreeft
POETRY
First Place – 100 Great Catholic Poems edited by Sally Read
Second Place – As Kingfishers Catch Fire by Holly Ordway
SCRIPTURE – SERIES
First Place – The Word on Fire Bible
Second Place – Food for the Soul by Peter Kreeft
SCRIPTURE – POPULAR STUDIES
First Place – The Word on Fire Bible, Volume III: The Pentateuch
Third Place – The Power of the Cross by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa
Honorable Mention – Food for the Soul (Cycle B) by Peter Kreeft
ANTHOLOGY
First Place – 100 Great Catholic Poems edited by Sally Read
Third Place – Popcorn with the Pope by David Paul Baird, Andrew Petiprin, and Michael Ward
Honorable Mention – No Lasting City by Frederick Bauerschmidt
JESUS – CHRISTOLOGY
First Place – Redeemer in the Womb by Fr. John Saward
Third Place – The Paschal Mystery edited by Matthew Becklo
PASTORAL MINISTRY – PARISH LIFE
First Place – The Gardens of God by Cardinal Arthur Roche
Honorable Mention – Why They Follow by Matthew Warner
FIRST TIME AUTHOR – BIOGRAPHY
First Place – A Grand Slam for God by Fr. Burke Masters
SPIRITUALITY – CLASSICAL
First Place – The Sign of the Cross by Bert Ghezzi
COLLECTIONS OF PRAYERS
First Place – The Paschal Mystery edited by Matthew Becklo
PASTORAL MINISTRY – CATECHETICAL
First Place – This Is My Body by Bishop Robert Barron
CHURCH PROFESSIONAL
First Place – Why They Follow by Matthew Warner
COFFEE TABLE ART BOOK
First Place – Popcorn with the Pope by David Paul Baird, Andrew Petiprin, and Michael Ward
SACRAMENTS
Second Place – This Is My Body by Bishop Robert Barron
RELIGION IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE
Second Place – Evangelization and Ideology by Matthew R. Petrusek
THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH
Second Place – Catholics and Contempt by John L. Allen Jr.
REFERENCE/ACADEMIC STUDIES
Second Place – The Word on Fire Vatican II Collection: Decrees and Declarations edited by Matthew Levering
CHILDREN’S BOOK – NON-READER
Second Place – Bless the Lord illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen
FAITH FORMATION
Third Place – Know Thyself by Andrew Youngblood
ALL CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Third Place – Saintly Creatures by Alexi Sargeant
CHILDREN’S BOOK – READER
Honorable Mention – Saintly Creatures by Alexi Sargeant
MEMOIR
Honorable Mention – A Grand Slam for God by Fr. Burke Masters
LITURGY
Honorable Mention – Why They Follow by Matthew Warner
MORALITY, ETHICS, CHRISTOLOGY, MARIOLOGY, REDEMPTION
Honorable Mention – Redeemer in the Womb by Fr. John Saward
RELIGIOUS BOOK SERIES
Honorable Mention – The Word on Fire Bible
HISTORY OF THEOLOGY, CHURCH FATHERS AND MOTHERS
Honorable Mention – Understanding the Hillbilly Thomist by Fr. Damian Ference
A full list of this year’s winners are available here.