The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference daily e-newsletter CathNews has received the top award at the 2025 Australasian Catholic Press Association (ACPA) Annual Awards Night held at the Pavilion on Northbourne in Canberra, Thursday 4 September.
Delivered to some 13,000 subscribers, CathNews is a aggregated news service with a website drawing more than 100,000 visitors every 90 days.
The judges’ comments were glowing for the highly popular national publication, highlighting that it is more than just news—it’s a comprehensive service.
‘It provides not only aggregation of Catholic and Church‑related stories, but also access to Mass online, prayer reflections, commentary, pastoral letters, and a dedicated jobs section,’ the judges said.
Importantly, CathNews is also connected to the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference Media Blog which delievers national Catholic news updates as it happens.
More than 50 Catholic media and communications professionals gathered for the annual awards night, recognising excellence in Catholic media across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Delegates had gathered for the two days prior for their annual conference, focused on the theme, Messengers of Hope: Communicating the truth, goodness and beauty of our faith.
De La Salle Brothers Provincial Br Peter Bray featured as guest speaker for the dinner, highlighting his experience as Vice-Chancellor for the University of Bethlehem.
Our task is not only to report facts, but to interpret the world through the lens of the Gospel ...
Other award winners included Melbourne Catholic for Best Editorial Column or Blog and Best Content: Education, and Adelaide’s The Southern Cross for Best Content Faith & Life.
Outgoing ACPA President Jamie O’Brien from the Archdiocese of Perth congratulated ACBC Communications Director Paul Osborne and CathNews Editor Rebecca Comini for their dedication to the daily news service.
Mr O’Brien said in an age marked by noise, misinformation, and division, hope is not a luxury—it is a necessity.
‘As Catholic communicators, our task is not only to report facts, but to interpret the world through the lens of the Gospel and CathNews sets a positive example of how this important task can be carried out,’ Mr O’Brien said.
‘I congratulate all the winners and runners-up and thank all ACPA members who came together for this special occasion, to learn and grow with each other in faith.’
The ACPA also has a new Executive, with editor of The Majellan David Ahern taking on the role as president, outgoing president Jamie O’Brien stepping into the role of vice-president, and communications manager for the Archdiocese of Melbourne Tiffany Davis stepping into the role of secretary. Tony Bivano will continue as treasurer and Annette Scullion as vice-president, New Zealand.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Category 1 – Best News Content
- Winner: WelCom – recognised for a powerful six-page feature on the homecoming to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, capturing history, fundraising, interviews, and striking images.
- Runner-Up: Melbourne Catholic – commended for its outstanding coverage of the Corpus Christi procession, uniting over 1,500 faithful in the streets of Melbourne.
Category 2 – Best Feature Content
- Winner: Common Home TV – Learning to Serve in the Face of Terror, a documentary on Archbishop Bashar Warda’s courageous witness during the rise of ISIS.
- Runner-Up: Fiona Basile – for her inspiring feature on Fr Greg Trythall, who swam every Sunday for 1,500 consecutive weeks, uniting body, spirit, and priestly ministry.
Category 3 – Best Editorial Column or Blog
- Winner: Madonna Magazine – Letters to Charlotte & Ella, personal reflections from a mother to her daughters, full of faith and clarity.
- Highly Commended: Aurora News – Bishop Michael Kennedy’s My Word, offering concise and thoughtful faith reflections.
Category 4 – Best Headline
- Winner: The Catholic Weekly – Jesus, You Take the Wheel, an engaging headline blending faith and culture.
- Highly Commended: Tui Motu InterIslands – When the Lid is Lifted, introducing New Zealand’s Royal Commission findings with sensitivity and depth.
Category 5 – Climate and Environment
- Winner: Tui Motu InterIslands – Seasons of Creation, a creative collection of reflections rooted in First Peoples’ wisdom.
- Runner-Up: Madonna Magazine – for making the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals clear, relevant, and accessible.
Category 6 – Social Justice
- Winner: Common Home TV – for a moving interview with a Palestinian Christian, giving voice to trauma and resilience.
- Highly Commended: Broken Bay News – with a heartfelt story of CatholicCare’s support for a man overcoming homelessness.
Category 7 – Best Content: Education
- Winner: Melbourne Catholic – for its story of James Harris, a theology student whose life was transformed through the ACU Clemente program.
- Runner-Up: The Southern Cross – Mia defies the odds, telling of a student’s determination to study medicine despite personal loss and illness.
Category 8 – Best Content: Faith Formation
- Winner: Aurora – No one is beyond redemption, a beautifully crafted reflection on the ministry of prison chaplains.
- Runner-Up: The Southern Cross – for celebrating the faith and service of Catholics working with seafarers.
Category 9 – Best Content: Faith & Life
- Winner: The Southern Cross – A gentle soul, a moving life story told with simplicity and grace.
- Runner-Up: Fiona Basile – for her feature on Gabrielle Mahony, revisiting Rwanda decades after genocide, bringing faith into suffering and hope.
Category 10 – Best Content: Ecumenical & Interfaith
- Winner: Catholic Outlook – Cardinal Fitzgerald’s reflections on interfaith dialogue, both theologically rich and pastorally urgent.
- Highly Commended: The eRecord – Path to Christian Unity, capturing ecumenical prayer with clarity and depth.
Category 11 – Best Content: Celebrating Cultural Expressions
- Winner: Divine Word Missionaries – for a profound story on Tiwi culture and Catholic liturgy at the installation of Fr Niran Veigas SVD.
- Highly Commended: The Catholic Leader – celebrating the Vietnamese community’s new parish church, a monument to faith and resilience.
Category 12 – Best Original Photograph
- Winner: Horizons – Paschal Candle Being Lit, a breathtaking image of Easter light, symbolising Christ’s triumph over darkness.
- Highly Commended: WelCom – Pukekara Leads World Rosary, capturing prayer, community, and devotion in a striking composition.
Category 13 – Best Original Artwork
- Winner: Aurora – No one is beyond redemption, artwork transforming prison bars into a cross of light and hope.
- Highly Commended: Eureka Street – a bold cartoon critiquing gambling with humour and prophetic punch.
Category 14 – Best Front Page (Print)
- Winner: Australian Catholics Magazine – with its Science in the Service of God cover, bold, creative, and modern.
- Highly Commended: Tui Motu – Welcome Every Child, a tender, bilingual cover with warmth and dignity.
Category 15 – Best Layout and Design (Online)
- Winner: The eRecord – praised for its clean design, multimedia integration, and easy navigation.
- Highly Commended: Melbourne Catholic – for its elegant, contemporary website design, optimised for today’s readers.
Category 16 – Best Layout and Design (Print)
- Winner: The Record Magazine – recognised for its exceptional balance of images, stories, and contemplative design.
- Highly Commended: Tui Motu InterIslands – with a calm, prayerful design that reflects its contemplative spirit.
Category 17 – Most Improved Publication
- Winner: Kete Korero – honoured for its remarkable transformation, with vibrant new design, fresh editorial tone, and greater inclusivity.
- No Highly Commended awarded.
Category 18 – Best Use of Digital Media
- Winner: Mass for You at Home (Diocese of Wollongong) – one of the Church’s longest-running programs, now creatively reimagined for digital platforms, reaching 40,000 weekly.
- Highly Commended: Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney – Disciple Diaries, powerful testimonies shared online, leading to real conversions.
Category 19 – Best Advertising Feature
- Winner: The Catholic Weekly – The Christmas Story, a beautifully designed and informative booklet celebrating Catholic schools.
- Highly Commended: The Record Magazine – for a thoughtful feature highlighting the importance of Catholic school funding.
Bishop Kennedy Memorial Trophy
- Winner: CathNews – recognised as Australia’s premier Catholic news service. With 13,000 daily subscribers, more than 100,000 web visitors every quarter, and a vibrant social media presence, CathNews combines reach, authority, and integrity. More than news, it offers prayer, reflection, jobs, and resources—serving the whole Catholic community with excellence.
The Australasian Catholic Press Association comprises professionals working in print and digital Catholic publications, media and communications in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. ACPA aims to promote cooperation and celebrate excellence in communication among members of the Catholic media; give voice to Catholic perspectives on the issues of our societies; and engage ecumenically with other religious media. Click here to learn more about membership.
