DIOCESE EARNS RECOGNITION FROM THE CATHOLIC MEDIA ASSOCIATION

By Anne-Marie Welsh
06/15/2023

         The Communications Office of the Diocese of Erie has learned it received six awards from the national Catholic Media Association announced at its annual meeting in

Baltimore on June 9. In addition, Father Scott Detisch, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Girard and an adjunct professor in systematic and sacramental theology at St. Mary Seminary in Wickliffe, Ohio, received first place for his new book, Being Claimed by the Eucharist We Celebrate: A Spiritual Narrative for Priests and Deacons [Liturgical Press, 2022] in the category of Church Professional.
         “It was affirming to see different aspects of our work recognized,” said Anne-Marie Welsh, director of Communications. “We are committed to finding good stories, telling them well, developing engaging online offerings and providing thorough, timely coverage, all with the goal of drawing people closer to Christ and increasing their understanding and love of the Catholic faith.”

         In addition to the first place received by Father Detisch, awards included:

Second place

• Finding Our Way to God, Best Special Section
  Series of essays edited by Mary Solberg and written by Father Leo Gallina, Mary Solberg and six others in the Diocese of Erie.
• Feed my sheep: a memorial tribute, Best Breaking News/Social Media Coverage
  Coverage of the funeral for Bishop Emeritus Donald Trautman
  Elizabeth Butterfield, Rich Papalia, Anne-Marie Welsh and Sheila Grove

• Everything is in God’s Hands, Best Coverage of Disaster or Crisis

         Cover story and feature on people in the region impacted by the war in Ukraine. Cover story by Mary Solberg, feature by Anne-Marie Welsh

Third place

• Leave a Tree-mendous Legacy, Best Single Ad for The Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania created by Elizabeth Butterfield

Honorable mention

• Faith magazine video teaser, Best use of Video on Social Media
  Promotion of the December 2022 edition of Faith magazine
  Produced by Vince Dragone

• The smile that changed the world (is yours)
  Best Essay, Diocesan Magazines, written by John Schlimm

         This was the final time Mary Solberg will qualify to submit awards as she has retired from her work as editor of Faith magazine.

         “Mary’s work was deeply appreciated by her readers and her colleagues,” Welsh said. During the past nine years she collected 48 awards from the Catholic Media Association, the Northwest Pa. Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania.

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