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Idaho Catholic Register Earns National Recognition at 2025 Catholic Media Conference
- Philip A. Janquart
- Jun 28
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 8
Four honored among top contributors to Catholic communications
The Idaho Catholic Register won Honorable Mention for Best Newspaper (non-weekly) and second place for Best Seasonal Issue (April 12, 2024 Easter issue, shown above) during the 2025 Catholic Media Conference. Marcy Pearhill, Vero Gutierrez, Joe Egbert and Lori Hadacek-Chaplin were also recognized for their outstanding contributions to Catholic communication.
By Philip A. Janquart
ICR Editor
The Idaho Catholic Register and its staff were honored for excellence in journalism and communication among the nation’s top catholic media professionals during the 2025 National Catholic Media Conference held June 24-27 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Hosted by the Catholic Media Association (CMA), the annual event drew over 350 registered participants from across the country. Through its annual event, the association recognizes and celebrates the best in Catholic newswriting, photography, graphic design, editing, video, television production and many other professional categories related to Catholic communication.
The ICR received an honorable mention in the Best Newspaper category for diocesan publications and second place for Best Seasonal Issue, a notable distinction among hundreds of entries submitted nationwide. It came as the collective effort of the entire staff under the direction of former Editor Deacon Scott Pearhill who recently accepted a teaching position at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon.
Individual winners include Marcy Pearhill, former graphic arts manager; Vero Gutierrez, assistant editor (Spanish); Joe Egbert, digital media coordinator; and Lori Hadacek-Chaplin, contributing writer. (Not pictured below: Lori Hadacek-Chaplin.)
Marcy Pearhill
Joe Egbert
Vero Gutierrez
Major Catholic organizations represented at the event included EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network), American Magazine, Our Sunday Visitor, National Catholic Register, Vatican Observatory and the USCCB (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops).
Founded in 1911, the CMA provides professional development, networking, inspiration, peer recognition, and faith formation to community members, positively impacting Catholic communicators nationwide.
The following were recognized among hundreds of entries across the nation:
Best Newspaper — Non-Weekly:
First Place
Catholic News Herald
Diocese of Charlotte
Catholic News Herald Staff
Second Place
Milwaukee Catholic Herald
Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Milwaukee Catholic Herald Staff
Third Place
The Catholic Spirit
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
The Catholic Spirit Staff
Best Use of Graphics — Art or Graphics:
First Place
Forgotten Mourners: Bon Secours Program Helps Kids Cope with Grief
Catholic Health World
Norma Klingsick
Third Place
Pray and Then Pass the Cranberry Sauce
The Tablet
Fabiola Rodriguez, Tablet Staff
Honorable Mention
Saints for the School Year
St. Louis Review
Abigail Buettner
Honorable Mention
Festival de Matachines
Sooner Catholic, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Rosalinda Rivera
Best Layout of Article or Column — Diocesan:
First Place
Lent: Don’t Just Survive — Thrive!
Catholic News Herald
David Puckett
Second Place
Congress in Session
Tennessee Register
Chai Buhain
Honorable Mention
Seven Last Words of Christ
Catholic News Herald
David Puckett
Honorable Mention
Embracing Life’s Journey through Love, Sacrifice and God’s Grace
The Catholic Spirit NJ
Mary Morrell and Peter Nguyen
Best Feature Writing — Non-Weekly:
First Place
Building Futures with Kitchen Cura
The Georgia Bulletin
Andrew Nelson
Second Place
Parishioners Dancing to Better Health
The Southern Cross Newspaper — San Diego
The Southern Cross Staff
Third Place
Documentary Captures Life Behind a Grille for Quebec Benedictine Nuns
Global Sisters Report
Joanna Kozakiewicz
Best Seasonal Issue — Print Only:
First Place
Christmas 2024
The B.C. Catholic Newspaper
The B.C. Catholic Staff
Third Place
Rhode Island Catholic Christmas Gift Guide
Rhode Island Catholic
Laura Kilgus, Jennifer Barton, Sue Richard, Marie Zagorsky, and Rick Snizek
Honorable Mention
Christmas Issue
The Tablet
Paula Katinas, Bill Miller, Alexandra Moyen, John Alexander, Rita Piro, Mike Gray, and Fabiola Rodriguez
Best Photograph — Sacramental
Second Place
Woman’s ‘Amen!’ to Being Baptized at Easter Vigil
Catholic Standard
Mihoko Owada
Third Place
Sooner Catholic Best Photograph Sacramental Native American Mass
Sooner Catholic, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Chris Porter
Honorable Mention
Taking His Eucharistic Presence Out Into the World
The Catholic Missourian
Annie Williams
Honorable Mention
The Ordination of Bishop Cristiano Barbosa
The Boston Pilot
Gregory L. Tracy
Hot Topic — The Eucharistic Revival
Best News Writing — National/International Event:
First Place
Religiosas en Nicaragua, entre las más afectadas tras reciente represión del Gobierno
National Catholic Reporter
Rhina Guidos
Third Place
Tirando la Semilla
El Pregonero
Rafael Roncal
Honorable Mention
Nuncio en EE.UU.
OSV News
Marietha Góngora V.
Best Personality Profile:
First Place
Beato Miguel Agustín Pro: Fe inquebrantable en tiempos de persecución
Archdiocese of Denver, Office of Communications
Laura Becerra
Honorable Mention
Muere el P. Mario Vizcaíno, inspiración de la Pastoral Hispana
Florida Catholic — La Voz Católica
Rocío Granados
Best Reporting on Vocations to Priesthood, Religious Life or Diaconate:
First Place
Una hermana samaritana de los sacerdotes ancianos, enfermos y jubilados
Global Sisters Report
Joanna Kozakiewicz and Magda Bennásar
Prueba de fuego en la Amazonía, Corazones fervientes, Llevando bandera de la misión
Maryknoll Magazine
Deirdre Cornell, Leonard Kabaka, Andrea Moreno-Díaz, and Giovana Soria
Third Place
Muere el P. Mario Vizcaíno, inspiración de la Pastoral Hispana, Tras las huellas del “Padre Amando”, “Seguir el llamado de Dios: El mejor de los consejos”
Florida Catholic — La Voz Católica
Rocío Granados, Tom Tracy, and Emily Chaffins
Best Story and Photo Package — By an Individual:
First Place
¡Vive Tu Mejor Año AHORA!
Cross Roads
M. Yvette Millán Torres, LL.M.
Third Place
La Luz de la Esperanza
Diocese of Charlotte
César Hurtado
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