CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte’s official news outlet, the Catholic News Herald, has been named “Best Newspaper” among non-weeklies for the second consecutive year by the Catholic Media Association.
The diocese’s website, www.charlottediocese.org, which was overhauled and relaunched last fall, also won “Best Website” among all (arch)diocesan members of the Catholic Media Association.
With members spanning the United States and Canada, the association’s top honors recognize Catholic print and digital publications that showed consistent excellence in 2023. Judges evaluated the quality and originality of content, writing and headlines, editorials, art and graphics, overall design, and usability.
Awards were announced June 21 during the Catholic Media Association’s annual conference in Atlanta.
“Communications is fundamental to our mission of spreading the Good News of the Gospel, and we are humbled by the support and collaboration we receive from our parishes, schools and ministries every day to help tell the stories of our diocese,” said Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese. “It’s gratifying for our diocese to be recognized at a national level.”
The Catholic News Herald has previously been recognized as the nation’s best non-weekly diocesan newspaper for its work published in 2012, 2018, 2019 and 2022.
The diocese’s website, designed by Leo Fierro and Patricia Guilfoyle in collaboration with departments across the diocese, serves as a concierge to help people grow in their faith and quickly find what they’re looking for, Monsignor Winslow said. Since the site was relaunched in October 2023, it has averaged nearly 13,000 unique visitors per month who have viewed over 350,000 pages.
The Catholic News Herald also won:
- First place, Best Special Supplement or Special Issue with an Advertising Emphasis: “A Man for the Times: Tribute to Bishop Peter Jugis,” by Kevin Eagan, David Puckett and the Catholic News Herald staff
- First place, Best Story and Photo Package by an Individual: “Keep a Torch Burning,” by César Hurtado
- First place, Best News Multimedia Package: “OLA opens SmartLab, where ‘it’s all on you’: Problem-solving With Robots, Drones and 3D Printers,” by Troy Hull and Liz Chandler
- First place, Best Use of Graphics: “Explore Some of Our Churches Across Western North Carolina,” by David Puckett (online and print)
- Second place, Best Layout of Article or Column by a Diocesan Newspaper: “Happy Hallowtide!” by Spencer K.M. Brown and David Puckett
- Second place, Best In-Depth News/Special Reporting by a Diocesan Non-Weekly Newspaper: “Building New Lives: Catholic Charities Resettles More Refugees Fleeing Conflict,” by Christina Lee Knauss and Troy Hull
- Third place, Best Annual Report of Diocesan Finances: “I Am With You Always,” by David Puckett and the Diocese of Charlotte Finance Office, led by CFO Matt Ferrante
- Third place, Best Portrait Photograph: The cover of “Vocations: The Lord has Chosen You to Make a Difference,” by Troy Hull
— Catholic News Herald
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., has reestablished the Diocese of Charlotte’s Presbyteral Council, effective June 3.
The council, which advises the bishop in governing the diocese, had been automatically dissolved upon Pope Francis’ acceptance of Bishop Peter Jugis’ resignation on April 9, according to Church law.
Bishop Martin reinstated the membership of the council that had been serving up until Bishop Jugis’ retirement.
Council officers resuming their positions are:
- Chairman Father Benjamin Roberts, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe
- Vice Chairman Father Christian Cook, pastor of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Swannanoa
- Secretary Father Matthew Codd, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte
- Treasurer Father John Putnam, pastor of St. Mark Parish in Huntersville and judicial vicar for the diocese
Other members of the Presbyteral Council are listed on the diocese’s website, www.charlottediocese.org.
Required by Church law, the Presbyteral Council represents all priests in the diocese and is “like a senate of the bishop” (Code of Canon Law 495 §1), with about half the members elected by priests and others appointed by the bishop.
— Catholic News Herald