Brother Mickey McGrath, an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales and an artist who works in Camden, was honored with several awards at the 2014 Catholic Media Conference, held in Charlotte, N.C., June 18-20.
Brother Mickey’s book “Go to Joseph” captured three awards: first place for Best Popular Presentation of the Catholic Faith, second place for Spirituality – Hard Cover, and third place for Design and Production.
On its first place win, the judges commented on the book’s “striking color art and accessible text, all focused on St. Joseph.”
“Its prime attractions are the superb reproductions of wonderful paintings by the artist Brother McGrath and a fine selection of supporting, pertinent texts by a cadre of excellent writers,” they said.
Brother Mickey also shared in a fourth award, having done the cover and other art for “Naked and You Clothed Me.” The volume, edited by Jim Knipper, won third place in the category Best Book from a Small Publisher.
In the newspaper competition, judges honored a Star Herald column on the intertwined stories of Father Rene Canales’ immigration status and vocation to the priesthood. Written by Mike Jordan Laskey, director of Life and Justice Ministries, Diocese of Camden, it received honorable mention in the category Best Coverage of Vocations to Priesthood, Religious Life or Diaconate.
In addition to contributing to the Catholic Star Herald, Laskey writes a blog, camdenlifejustice.wordpress.com, and contributes to National Catholic Reporter.
His column on Father Canales was headlined “From undocumented immigrant to beloved priest” and was printed in the Aug. 26, 2013 Catholic Star Herald.
Born in El Salvador, Father Canales, who is in residence at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, Carneys Point, was 16 when he was smuggled into the United States. He was in the country nearly 20 years before obtaining a green card, which grants him permanent resident status.
The judges commented: “The journey, the struggle, the love and the motivation to continue the journey comes through. Well done.”
The Catholic Star Herald took first place in a new category in the competition this year, Most Effective Use of Small Space, with the judges commenting on the “good use of photos and good balance throughout the page.” Credit goes to Tom O’Shea, production coordinator for the paper, who also took second place in the category Best Single Ad Originating with the Publication (Color). It was for an ad designed for Dr. Richard and Mary Vassallo to wish their good friend Bishop Joseph Galante the best on his retirement.
The paper won an honorable mention in the Best Headline category for “White smoke on the silver screen” over a March 15, 2013, article about the way papal conclaves have been portrayed in films. It was written by managing editor Carl Peters.
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