B101: Pilgrimages/Catholic Travel

Honors travel guides, historical pilgrimage accounts and cultural studies of holy sites intended for Catholic pilgrims and travelers.

B102: 21st Century Popes

Honors biographical, historical, pastoral and theological examinations of modern popes and official magisterial teachings.

B113: Pope Leo XIV

This category is for books related to his life, upbringing, and the Papal transition. Submissions may also include books that include his writings as a Bishop and Cardinal.

B103: Spirituality Classical

Honors scholarly and accessible works examining classical Christian spiritual traditions, historical mystics, monastic rules and pre-Vatican II theological spirituality. If your work is a collection of classical writings from the Saints or Doctors of the Church, please submit into category B1553. Please submit books about prayer, or collections of prayers, devotionals, or retreat books to B105.

B104: Spirituality Contemporary

Recognizes original titles exploring personal spiritual growth, discernment, prayerful living and interior formation in the contemporary world. Please submit books on prayer, collections of prayers, devotionals, and retreat books to B105. Submissions must be published between 2021 and 2026.

• B104a: Spirituality Contemporary – Children's and Teens' Faith and Spiritual Life
• B104b: Spirituality Contemporary – Young Adults (Ages 18-35)
• B104c: Spirituality Contemporary – Adult Spiritual Development

B105: Prayer and Devotional Books

Honors structured devotional aids, collections of prayers, novenas, litanies, seasonal retreat manuals and guided journals designed for personal, family or parish prayer life.

• B105a: Prayer and Devotional Books – Children's and Teens' Devotions and Prayer
• B105b: Prayer and Devotional Books – Young Adult Devotion and Prayer (Ages 18-35)
• B105c: Prayer and Devotional Books – Adult Devotions and Prayer

B108: Liturgy or Worship

Recognizes liturgical studies, sacramental theology, liturgical catechesis and guides for the formal celebration of the sacraments and the divine office.

• B108a: Liturgy or Worship – Sacred Music
• B108b: Liturgy or Worship – Liturgical Catechesis

B109: Pastoral Ministry – Parish Life

Recognizes practical guides, ministry resources and leadership frameworks developed for parish ministers, pastoral staff, chaplains and parish leaders serving in pastoral care settings.

B110: Catechetical Resources

Honors curricula, teaching tools, leader handbooks and instructional texts designed for formal religious education, sacramental preparation and Christian initiation across all age brackets. Subcategories include:

• B110a: Catechetical Resources – Faith Formation & Religious Education
• B110b: Catechetical Resources – OCIA and OCIC
• B110c: Catechetical Resources – Educational Resources & Materials

B112: Pastoral Leadership

Books in this category provide knowledge and professional growth for those directly involved in Church ministry and Church-related work (non-profit leaders). Topics include but are not limited to:

• Evangelization
• Stewardship/Advancement
• Small Faith Communities
• Pastoral Councils

B151: Newly Canonized Saints or Those in the Process

Recognizes biographical, historical and devotional treatments of canonized saints, blesseds, venerables and servants of God whose causes are active.

B201: Modern Exploration of the Catholic Faith

Honors popular, non-academic presentations of Catholic doctrine, apologetics and cultural life written for an adult trade readership seeking to understand or deepen Catholic belief. If your book is a prayer or devotional, please submit to category B104 or B105.

B202: Theological Studies

Recognizes advanced academic and systematic theological works, peer-reviewed scholarship and foundational dogmatic treatises intended for scholars, seminarians and theological libraries. If your work is an edited collection, please submit to category B1553.

B203: History of Theology, Church Fathers and Mothers

Honors historical studies and critical analyses of early Church fathers, desert mothers, medieval scholasticism and the intellectual development of Christian doctrine. If your work is an edited collection, please submit to category B1553.

B204: Morality and Ethics

Recognizes scholarly and applied works exploring Christian ethics, moral principles and the application of Catholic moral tradition to modern societal dilemmas.

B205: Scripture – Popular Studies

Recognizes accessible commentaries, study guides and thematic examinations of Sacred Scripture written for lay adult readers, parish Bible study groups and personal spiritual reading. For volumes that are a part of a series, please enter B1654. If your work is an edited collection, please submit to category B1553.

B206: Scripture – Academic Studies

Recognizes technical, peer-reviewed biblical scholarship, textual commentaries, hermeneutical treatises and exegetical works using scholarly methodologies. For volumes that are a part of a series, please enter B1654. If your work is an edited collection, please submit to category B1553.

B207: History

Honors narrative, archival and analytical histories of Catholic eras, movements, geographic regions, institutions and events.

B208: Biography

Recognizes published biographical accounts of historic, contemporary or cultural figures whose lives illuminate faith, Catholic history or the human struggle for virtue.

B209: Reference/Academic Studies

Recognizes foundational reference volumes, research guides, dictionaries, encyclopedias, annotated concordances and professional compendiums designed for scholarly and institutional research.

B210: Faith and Science

Recognizes scholarly and popular works investigating the intersection, historical dialogue and constructive harmony between scientific inquiry, reason and Catholic theological truth.

B211: Faith Formation

Honors theoretical, pedagogical and historical studies of how the Christian faith is transmitted, handed on and taught within institutional and home environments. Historical educators of the Catholic faith may be entered here. Please note that this category excludes lesson plans.

B212: Jesus – Christology

Recognizes academic, pastoral and theological works focused specifically on the person, life, nature, message and saving work of Jesus Christ.

B213: Sacraments

Honors substantive theological and doctrinal treatises investigating the theology, efficacy, history and ecclesial meaning of the seven sacraments.

B214: Philosophical Studies

Honors scholarly and accessible works engaging philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology and the history of philosophical thought from a Catholic or classical Christian perspective.

B215: Mariology

Recognizes scholarly, pastoral and historical examinations of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Marian dogmas, apparitions and historical devotions. If your book is an edited collection, please submit to category B1553.

B301: Children's Board and Picture Books

Honors illustrated board books and picture books created for infants, toddlers and preschool children introducing fundamental Catholic concepts, prayers and biblical narratives. For a series, please enter B1652.

B302: Preschool Reading

Recognizes early reader titles, beginning chapter books and illustrated intermediate stories designed for children transitioning to independent reading fluency. For a series, please enter B1652.

B303: All Children's Books

Honors non-fiction, biographies and fiction titles written specifically for middle-grade readers exploring Catholic history, values, character formation and spiritual questions. Ages 0-12. For a series, please enter B1652.

B304: Family Life

Honors books written for parents, guardians and families providing guidance on establishing a Catholic home, raising children in the faith and navigating domestic life challenges.

B305: Children's Independent Reading

Honors transitional early readers and beginning chapter books designed specifically for children who are reading independently or transitioning from picture books to text-driven narratives. Entries are evaluated on age-appropriate vocabulary, narrative pacing, engagement, readability and the seamless integration of faith themes, moral virtues or saintly role models suited to emergent readers (Ages 6-12).

B351: Book for Teens (Ages 13-18)

Recognizes fiction and non-fiction written specifically for adolescent audiences confronting faith, virtue, peer relationships and vocation. For a series, please enter B1653.

B401: Coffee Table Book

Recognizes large-format visual volumes, art collections, architectural surveys and display books that convey Catholic beauty, culture and history through design and imagery.

B452: Lifestyle Books

Honors trade books illustrating Catholic daily life, liturgical living in the home, culinary traditions, gardening and practical household craft grounded in faith.

B453: Work, Vocation, and Professional Life

Honors books guiding working professionals, entrepreneurs and executives in integrating Catholic faith, professional ethics and personal leadership in the marketplace.

B501: Inclusion in the Church

Recognizes works addressing multicultural ministry, racial harmony, disability access, women in the Church and pastoral outreach to marginalized groups within the Catholic tradition.

B502: Catholic Social Teaching

Honors books engaging systemic poverty, economic justice, care for creation, immigration and labor rights through the principles of Catholic social thought.

B503: Religion in the Public Square

Recognizes analyses of modern political issues, constitutional law, public discourse and civic participation evaluated through Catholic moral principles.

B505: Ecumenism or Interfaith Relations

Honors books dedicated to fostering understanding, formal theological dialogue and cooperative action between Catholicism and other Christian communions or world religions.

B506: The Future of the Church

Recognizes forward-looking, diagnostic analyses assessing cultural trends, institutional transformation, demographic changes and emerging challenges facing the Church in the 21st century.

B507: Life and Dignity of the Human Person

Honors books upholding the consistent Catholic ethic of life across all stages and conditions of human existence.

B601: First-Time Author: Children's Book

Recognizes outstanding literary or artistic merit in a first published book written or illustrated for children, middle grade or young adult readers.

B602: First-Time Author: Novel

Honors narrative excellence, character development and storytelling craft in an author's debut published novel or short-story collection.

B603: First-Time Author: Biography

Recognizes exceptional research, historical accuracy and prose craft in a first published biography, autobiography or spiritual memoir.

B604: First-Time Author: Poetry, Essays, or Short Stories

Honors artistic merit, voice and thematic depth in a debut collection of poetry, collected personal essays or literary commentary.

B605: First-Time Author of Theological Subject Matter

Recognizes exceptional scholarship or pastoral communication in a debut published book on theology, scripture, spirituality or ministry.

B606: Author of the Year

Honors an established author whose cumulative publishing achievements and exemplary service in the eligible calendar year significantly enriched Catholic literature and culture. The author's work may be produced by different publishers, including self-publishing, but a commercial publisher must publish at least one book. Entry samples can be of any subject matter. Judging will focus on demonstrated talent, creativity, thoroughness, and effectiveness.

An entry consists of three to five books that showcase the author's writing. You may also submit a PDF file or a Word Document listing URLs if the samples are available online.

A letter may be submitted to explain the circumstances that made the individual's success notable. The letter should focus on how the author's work contributes to the Catholic community. One or more books may have previously won a book award for their single entry. All books submitted must be published in English between 2021 and 2026. At least one book must be published in 2026.

B607: Self-Published Author of the Year

Recognizes excellence in independent publishing, writing craft and contribution to Catholic readership by an author whose works are entirely self-published or author-subsidized. Entry samples may be on any subject. Judging will focus on demonstrated talent, creativity, thoroughness, and effectiveness.

An entry consists of three to five books that showcase the author's writing. You may also submit a PDF file or a Word Document listing URLs if the samples are available online.

A letter may be submitted to explain the circumstances that made the individual's success notable. The letter should focus on how the author's work contributes to the Catholic community. One or more books may have previously won a book award for their single entry. All books submitted must be published in English between 2021 and 2026. At least one book must be published in 2026.

B701: Diocesan/Parish Directory

Honors comprehensive institutional directories published by dioceses, parishes, religious institutes, eparchies or national organizations.

B702: Best Book Published by a Diocese

Recognizes non-fiction trade books, historical commemorative volumes, pictorial retrospectives or cookbooks published directly by a diocese or eparchy.

B703: Best Book Published by a Parish/Catholic School

Recognizes print volumes conceived, edited and published directly by a parish, Catholic elementary school or Catholic high school.

B801: Catholic Novel

Recognizes literary and commercial adult novels in which Catholic theology, sacramental consciousness, Church history or Catholic cultural reality serve as foundational structural elements of the narrative.

B802: Faith-Based Novel

Honors commercial adult fiction exploring themes of grace, redemption, moral courage and spiritual seeking within a general Christian moral universe without requiring explicit Catholic doctrine.

B803: Teen and Young Adult Novels

Recognizes novels written specifically for teens and young adults that explore moral growth, personal faith and adolescent discovery through fiction. If your book is part of a series, please consider entering the full series into category B1653.

B804: Science Fiction Novels

Honors books whose underlying theme involves faith, imagination, faith-based stories, the power of grace, the struggles of life at all levels, the gifts of the Spirit, and God's closeness in the struggles of faith, in times of loss and sadness, and in times of joy. Books in this category also include science fiction and fantasy themes.

B805: Christian Romance

Honors romantic and relationship-driven novels that center on marital fidelity, virtuous courtship and the spiritual journey of relationships grounded in Christian virtue.

B806: Fiction Short Story Collections

Recognizes published single-author collections of short fictional stories exploring themes of grace, faith, human struggle and spiritual transformation. For multiple-author collections, please enter category B1501.

B901: Healing and Self-Help

Honors books providing psychological support, pastoral encouragement and spiritual insight for individuals facing chronic illness, clinical depression, trauma, addiction, divorce or emotional distress. Please enter books on Grief and Bereavement in category B902.

B902: Grief and Bereavement

Honors compassionate, practical and spiritually grounded guides written specifically to comfort those mourning the death of a spouse, parent, child or loved one.

B1201: Design and Production

Recognizes overall excellence in book packaging, typography, paper selection, typesetting, cover-to-cover interior layout and manufacturing execution. The designer/artist will receive the award for their work. Please enter their name(s) under the bylines section of the submission form. Judges will not consider book content.

B1202: Design and Production: Children's Book

Recognizes total design excellence, visual pacing, color reproduction, typography and durable packaging. The designer/artist will receive the award for their work. Please enter their name(s) under the bylines section of the submission form. Judges will not consider book content.

B1203: Front Cover Artwork

Honors visual impact, artistic merit, original illustration or photography and typographic balance of a printed book's front cover. The written content of books in this category is not judged, only the front cover. The entry must include a PDF file of the artwork with the submission form.

B1204: Catalog

Honors excellence in design, organization, promotional copywriting and commercial functionality in a publisher's complete, seasonal or trade announcement catalog.

B1205: Illustrations

Honors exceptional original illustration, technical drafting, cartography or iconography featured within the interior body of any published book.

B1301: Best Book by a Small Publisher

Recognizes overall publishing excellence across editorial quality, design and production by an independent publishing press with gross sales under $500,000 per year. Books in this category can be on any topic of theological interest.

B1401: Self-Published Fiction Books

Honors narrative craft and production quality in an author-financed, print-on-demand or independently published novel or fiction collection on Catholic themes with gross sales under $500,000 per year. This category includes teen fiction (ages 12-18).

B1402: Self-Published Non-Fiction Books

Honors research, clarity and production excellence in an author-financed, print-on-demand or independently published non-fiction book exploring Catholic theology, history or spirituality. This category recognizes books produced by self-published authors with gross sales under $500,000 per year, covering any topic of theological interest.

B1403: Self-Published Children's Books

Honors storytelling, illustration and packaging in an author-financed, print-on-demand or independently published book on Catholic themes. This category recognizes books produced by self-published authors with gross sales under $500,000 per year, covering any topic of theological interest. This category includes books intended for ages 0-12.

B1501: Anthology

Honors curated collections of essays, short stories or theological papers written by multiple authors and gathered under a common editorial framework.

B1502: Memoir

Recognizes narrative craft, honesty and spiritual depth in first-person autobiographical accounts of conversion, vocational crisis, faith struggles or spiritual growth.

B1551: Poetry

Honors single-author collections or curated anthologies of verse engaging Christian theology, prayer, sacred mystery, grace and Catholic imagination.

B1553: Edited Collections

Recognizes critical editions, translated collections and curated compilations of historical Christian writings brought together with scholarly annotations and editorial apparatus under a unifying theme by one or more editors. Please choose the subcategory that best suits your work.

• B1553a: Edited Collections – Church Fathers/Mothers Books in this category reflect works originally written by authors from 100 to 800 AD
• B1553b: Edited Collections – Classic Authors Books in this category reflect works originally written by authors from 800 to 1800 AD
• B1553c: Edited Collections – Contemporary/Modern Authors Books in this category reflect works originally written by authors from 1800 to the present

B1651: Religious Book Series Multi-year

Honors thematic coherence, editorial consistency and sustained literary merit across a planned multi-volume non-fiction book series on religious topics. A series is any set of two or more books on related topics. The best religious book series includes a set of books with at least one volume published in 2026. A book series may be of any religious theme. A series may have more than one author. One or more books may have previously won a book award for their single entry.

• If your series is more than two volumes, please send the two most recent books.
• Send two sets of hard copies for judging. These three must be consecutive. One of these two must be the book published in 2026.
• The series must not have placed in a previous awards season for a series submission.

B1652: Children's Book Series Multi-year

Recognizes storytelling continuity, character development, artistic consistency and durable appeal across a multi-volume book series. The best children's book series includes a set of books with at least one published in 2026. Book series may be of any subject matter. A series may have more than one author. One or more books may have previously won a book award for their single entry.

• If your series is more than two volumes, please send the two most recent books.
• Send two sets of hard copies for judging. These three must be consecutive. One of these three must be the book published in 2026.
• Books must not have placed in a previous awards season for a series submission.

B1653: Young Adult Fiction Book Series Multi-year

Honors narrative development, world-building, moral depth and character arcs across a multi-volume fiction series written for teenage and young adult readers. The best young adult book series includes a set of books with at least one published between 2021 and 2026. The series may be on any subject matter of Catholic interest. A series may have more than one author. One or more books may have previously won a book award for their single entry.

• If your series is more than two volumes, please send the two most recent books.
• Send two sets of hard copies for judging. These three must be consecutive. One of these three must be the book published between 2021 and 2026.
• Books must not have placed in a previous awards season for a series submission.

B1654: Scripture Series Multi-year

Recognizes scholarly rigor, theological depth and sustained editorial execution across a multi-volume biblical commentary series on Old or New Testament texts.

• Send two sets of hard copies for judging. These three must be consecutive. One of these two must be the book published in 2026.
• The book must not have placed in a previous awards season for a series submission.

B1655: Adult Fiction Book Series Multi-year

Honors narrative craft, thematic resonance and sustained character arcs across a multi-volume adult fiction or mystery series rooted in faith or moral values. An adult book series is a set of books with at least one published between 2021 and 2026. The series may be on any subject matter of Catholic interest. A series may have more than one author. One or more books may have previously won a book award for their single entry.

• If your series is more than two volumes, please send the two most recent books.
• Send two sets of hard copies for judging. These three must be consecutive. One of these three must be the book published in 2021-2026.
• Books must not have placed in a previous awards season for a series submission.